Find Academic Supervisors

Juho KahilaView profile

Researcher

• AI Education
• Artificial Intelligence
• Datafication
• +6 more

Juho Kahila is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), affiliated with the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education within the Philosophical Faculty. His research focuses on AI education, children’s gaming behaviors, metagaming, and the societal impacts of datafication. He is actively involved in projects like Generation AI, which explores AI literacy in K-12 education, and DigiErko, investigating digital learning environments. Education: PhD in Education (2022), University of Eastern Finland Research interests include developing pedagogical frameworks for teaching AI concepts, analyzing gaming-related metacognitive activities, and enhancing children’s data literacy through interactive tools. Kahila collaborates on projects such as 'Escape game pedagogy' and 'TOTY', aiming to integrate computational thinking into primary education. His work emphasizes ethical considerations in AI education and the design of no-code platforms for student-created ML applications. Key contributions include studies on gamer rage among youth, typologies of metagamers, and frameworks for cultivating data agency. He has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on machine learning pedagogy, serious games, and digital literacy. Kahila leads the 'Did It Get to You?' project (2025–2028), examining gamer rage dynamics, and participates in the EU-funded 'Generation AI' initiative. His research bridges educational technology, child development, and societal data practices, advocating for inclusive AI literacy programs.

Anna KuusiView profile

Researcher

• Motivation
• Perfectionism
• Academic Well-being
• +3 more

Anna Kuusi is a Doctoral Researcher at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, University of Eastern Finland. Her research focuses on motivation, perfectionism, and academic well-being outcomes, particularly examining how perceived support influences secondary students' perfectionism and well-being. She is part of the Motivation, learning, and well-being (MoLeWe UEF) research group. Her ongoing project (2022–2027) investigates developmental dynamics of perfectionism and well-being in secondary education. Her work bridges educational psychology and developmental psychology, emphasizing practical implications for educational settings. Key themes include perfectionism profiles, well-being moderators, and the role of school environments. Conference presentations highlight her contributions to understanding gender differences, stability of perfectionism, and cross-cultural comparisons in Finnish education. Anna collaborates with institutions like the International Conference on Motivation and EARLI Junior Researchers Network. Her future research aims to inform interventions that enhance student well-being through targeted support systems.

Mia NiemiView profile

Researcher

• Gerontological Social Work
• Social Relations in Aging
• End-of-Life Care
• +3 more

Mia Niemi is a Doctoral Researcher at the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) and affiliated with the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences under the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences. Her work focuses on gerontological social work, emphasizing family relationships, social exclusion, and end-of-life care dynamics. Research Interests: Mia investigates how gerontological social work addresses complex support needs in aging populations. Her studies analyze discursive constructions of family ties, relational dynamics in palliative care, and the adaptation of social services to evolving demographic challenges. Projects: She contributes to initiatives like CoE AgeCare (2018-2025) and the GERIT project (2021-2022), which examine caregiving models, aging policies, and intergenerational support systems. Earlier projects (2017-2019) explored relational aspects of death and migration impacts on aged care. Publications: Mia's recent work spans family dynamics in later life, social exclusion at end-of-life, and policy-driven service transformations. Her 2024 article on special support needs and 2023 studies on gerontological expertise reflect her commitment to advancing aged care practices. Activities: She has presented internationally at events like the Nordic Congress of Gerontology (2022) and delivered oral presentations on topics such as family care in gerontological contexts and collaborative approaches to specialized social work.

Sanna-Kaisa HerukkaView profile

Research Professor

• Biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases
• Alzheimer's disease
• Mild cognitive impairment
• +2 more

Sanna-Kaisa Herukka, MD, PhD, is Research Director at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland. A neurologist and neuroscientist, she leads the Biomarkers for Neurological Disorders group and several multi-disciplinary research teams focusing on fluid biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Education MD, University of Eastern Finland, 2011 PhD (Neurosciences), University of Eastern Finland, 2009 MSc (Applied Biotechnology), University of Eastern Finland, 2008 Research Focus Herukka’s work centers on the discovery, analytical validation, and clinical implementation of cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based biomarkers for early detection and differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. She has particular expertise in Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Her team integrates proteomics, metabolomics, neuroimaging, and machine-learning approaches to improve diagnostic accuracy and prognostic stratification. Scientific Output & Trends Across more than 220 peer-reviewed publications, her recent work (2018-2025) demonstrates a clear emphasis on synaptic proteins, phosphorylated tau species (especially p-tau217), neurofilament light chain, and multimodal biomarker panels. Collaborative multinational studies (e.g., Nature Medicine 2025, JAMA Neurology 2022) highlight reproducible biomarker signatures that predict cognitive decline and therapeutic response. Grants & Collaborations She has received continuous competitive funding from the Academy of Finland, EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), and industry partnerships. Current consortium grants support the TWINGEN cohort, FinnGen clinical recall studies, and the UEF Brain Research Unit 2.0 infrastructure. Labs & Teams Herukka directs the UEF Biomarker Laboratory within the Brain Research Unit, which provides ISO-accredited CSF and blood biomarker analyses for academic and clinical trials across Europe. She also co-chairs the Clinical Alzheimer Research group and the NPH & Early AD program, integrating neurosurgery, neurology, and radiology expertise.

• Language Education
• Bilingual Education
• Curriculum Development
• +3 more

Michaela Pörn is a Professor and Dean at Åbo Akademi University’s Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies. Her work focuses on bilingual education, language policy, and curriculum development, particularly for Finnish and Swedish language instruction in Finland’s minority-language contexts. Key Research Areas: Bilingual education, digital learning, curriculum design, and collaborative teaching frameworks. Projects: Leading initiatives like Mofilitteracitet , Tandem på spel , and cross-linguistic language policy studies. Collaborations: Partnerships with researchers like Kristiina Hansell and Irina Rebers on native-level Finnish instruction and game-based language learning. Her recent publications address Finnish language teaching in Swedish-medium schools, cross-curricular literacy, and collaborative pedagogy. She actively contributes to policy debates and has presented at Nordic educational conferences.

Maija PeltolaView profile

Lecturer

• Speech Perception
• Non-native Speech Learning
• Bilingualism
• +7 more

Maija Peltola is a Lecturer in Phonetics and Vice Rector at the University of Turku, leading the LAB-laboratory Phonetics research group and the Learning, Age & Bilingualism laboratory. Her research focuses on speech perception/production, non-native language learning, bilingualism, and multilingualism, with emphasis on age-related factors, pronunciation training, and speech data analysis. She coordinates the Kone Foundation-funded project on Namibian languages and collaborates internationally via Sanako-sponsored networks. Education: Holds a PhD from the University of Turku’s Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, with postdoctoral studies in preattentive speech processing. Her academic career includes teaching phonetics courses on speech theories, acoustic analysis, and laboratory techniques. Research highlights include studies on Namibian English phonetics, neuroplasticity in speech learning, and multilingual childhood education. She advocates for endangered language preservation and applies speech data to improve non-native Finnish learning for children. Grants: Kone Foundation project on Namibian languages, Sanako collaboration funding. Professional roles include President of the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers, and local union chair for over a decade. Labs: Directs LAB-lab (measuring brain responses, ultrasound imaging) and the Learning, Age & Bilingualism lab. Collaborates with Tanssi uhanalaisten kielten project linking dance and language preservation.

Satu-Maarit KorteView profile

Lecturer

• Technology-mediated Learning
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychosocial Well-being
• +5 more

Satu-Maarit Korte is a University Lecturer at the University of Lapland's Faculty of Education, affiliated with the Department of Media Education. She is a core member of the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education. Her research focuses on technology-mediated learning, embodied cognition, psychosocial well-being in education, and Arctic/Indigenous pedagogical approaches. She leads and collaborates on projects such as the Global Media Education initiative (GloMEd) and the HEI-SAMI Nordplus program, which emphasize cross-cultural collaboration and Indigenous rights. Her research interests span neural foundations of learning, AI literacy integration in education, and remote teaching methodologies. She has published extensively on topics like AI literacy models, Sámi pedagogy, and teacher well-being. Notable awards include the 2021 Best Paper Award at ICITL. Korte's work bridges cognitive science, technology, and cultural contexts to advance equitable and holistic educational practices. Recent projects include virtual production studio technologies (VTST) and the TRUST initiative promoting Indigenous cultural heritage preservation. She actively participates in international conferences and editorial roles, contributing to global education discourse.

Pigga KeskitaloView profile

Professor

• Indigenous Education
• Sámi Language Revitalization
• Teacher Education
• +3 more

Pigga Keskitalo is a Professor in Global Northern Communities and Societies at the Faculty of Education, University of Lapland. Her research focuses on Sámi education, indigenous rights, and digitalization in cultural heritage preservation. Education: PhD in Educational Science (University of Lapland, 2011), specializing in Sámi school culture through educational anthropology. Key Research Areas: Sámi language revitalization and teacher education Land-based pedagogy and Indigenous rights Technology integration in Arctic education Decolonial approaches to education Projects: LOHKANLIHKKU: Digital literacy tools for Sámi children CAP-SHARE: Revitalizing Sámi community languages REBOUND: Land-based teacher education for Indigenous justice Grants & Leadership: Principal Investigator in 28 funded projects (2016–2028), including EU and Finnish government grants. Supervised 5 doctoral works. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with global networks in Arctic education, digital heritage, and Indigenous language preservation.

Ilkka RatinenView profile

Professor

• Sustainability Education
• Outdoor Education
• Climate Change Mitigation
• +3 more

Ilkka Ratinen is a Professor at the University of Lapland's Faculty of Education, affiliated with the Sustainable Naturecultures and Multispecies Future (SuMu) research group. His research focuses on sustainability education, outdoor learning, and climate change mitigation strategies. He actively participates in global initiatives such as the Kestävyyspaneeli (Sustainability Panel) and the IPBES working group (2023–2026). Ratinen has led multiple projects, including the GROWTH national leadership development initiative and Finnish National Agency-funded programs on trauma-informed education and digital skills integration. His work emphasizes systemic approaches to education reform, equity in energy transitions, and fostering nature-related well-being. Key research interests include measuring sustainability competencies, promoting constructive hope in climate education, and exploring factors influencing student engagement across institutions. Ratinen has published widely in environmental education and sustainability journals, with recent articles addressing workplace justice, fair energy transitions, and interdisciplinary collaboration in higher education. His media engagements highlight practical strategies for discussing climate change with children and promoting ecological literacy in early education. Ratinen has contributed to over 40 research outputs since 2017, including chapters on plant literacy and energy market transparency. He frequently presents at international conferences and serves as an expert reviewer for academic journals. His collaborative projects bridge academia and public policy, aiming to translate research into actionable educational practices and sustainable development frameworks.

Inker-Anni Linkola-AikioView profile

Researcher

• Indigenous Education
• Sámi Studies
• Language Preservation
• +3 more

Inker-Anni Linkola-Aikio is a Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Education, University of Lapland, focusing on Indigenous education, Sámi language preservation, and decolonial methodologies. Her work bridges cultural sovereignty, digital heritage, and educational transformation in Sápmi. Research Focus Her interdisciplinary research emphasizes: Revitalization of endangered Sámi languages through education systems Decolonizing digital archiving of Indigenous cultural heritage Community-led governance models for cultural sovereignty Land-based pedagogies in Sámi educational institutions Collaborative Projects She co-leads significant EU/national initiatives: LINCOSY (2023–2027): Documenting endangered Sámi languages through interdisciplinary frameworks TRUST (2022–2024): Developing sustainable practices for digital Indigenous heritage HEI-SAMI Nordplus (2023–2025): Advancing Sámi teacher education and Indigenous rights

Outi Kyrö-ÄmmäläView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Teacher Professional Development
• Inclusive Education
• Cognitive Skills
• +3 more

Outi Kyrö-Ämmälä is a Senior Lecturer and PhD holder at the Faculty of Education, University of Lapland. She serves as Vice Dean and University Lecturer, contributing to academic leadership. Her research focuses on teacher professional development, inclusive education, and cognitive skills in teaching environments. She is actively involved in the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education. Key projects include TIPOTE (2024-2026) and TEPATE (2020-2024), emphasizing inclusive and practice-oriented teacher education, theory-practice balance, and digital competence. She has received the Suomen valkoisen ruusun ritarikunnan ritarimerkki award (2019). Her work spans transnational studies on remote teaching during the pandemic, comparative education models, and policy development in inclusive education. Recent activities include presentations on inclusive teacher competence, video-enhanced observation in teacher training, and Finland's support for Mozambique's teacher education. She co-organized the Opettajankoulutuspäivät 2024 conference and hosted international collaborators like Lúcia Suzete Simbine.

• Japanese Language Education
• Critical Pedagogy
• Cultural Studies
• +4 more

Rie Fuse is a University Lecturer in Japanese Studies at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Languages. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and specializes in Japanese Language Education, Critical Pedagogy, and Media Literacy. Her research explores intersections of language education, cultural representation, and digital humanities. She actively participates in academic organizations like the European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists (EAJRS) and the Finnish Oriental Society. Education: PhD in Cultural Studies, Pedagogical certifications including University Pedagogy and Teaching through English. Teaching: Japanese language courses at BA and MA levels, project-based learning, and job training programs. Grants: Recipient of the Kone Foundation Research Grant (2014-2017), Japan Foundation Project Grant (2023), and CIMO Scholarship (2011-2012). Her research interests include Japanese language pedagogy, cultural studies, and media literacy. Recent work focuses on food culture in Japanese literature, telecollaboration in language education, and health communication during the pandemic. She has organized numerous seminars and conferences, including the 'Japanese Stories about Food' project and Tandem Language Learning initiatives. Awards: European Association for Japanese Studies Travel Grant (2014), Finnish Government Scholarship (CIMO). Professional Roles: Board Member of EAJRS, Suomen Itämaisen Seura, and Japanin kielen ja kulttuurin opettajain yhdistys (JOY). Fuse collaborates with institutions like the University of Granada and Niigata University. Her current projects include exploring interdisciplinary Japanese studies and sustainability science through the Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies.

Anni KajanusView profile

Associate Professor

• Social and Cognitive Anthropology
• Morality
• Cooperation
• +5 more

Anni Kajanus is an Associate Professor in Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences. Her research bridges social and cognitive anthropology, focusing on culture-cognition interfaces, morality, and cooperation, with a regional emphasis on China. She explores topics like migration, education, child development, and intergenerational dynamics in Chinese families. Kajanus leads two major projects funded by the ERC Starting Grant and the Research Council of Finland, investigating irritation's role in human sociality. She holds a PhD from the University of Helsinki, an MSc in Migration Studies from the University of Amsterdam, and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Kent. Education: PhD in Anthropology, University of Helsinki MSc in Migration Studies, University of Amsterdam BA in Anthropology, University of Kent Research Interests: Kajanus examines cultural influences on child development, including morality, social hierarchy perception, and cooperative behaviors. Her comparative studies span China, the UK, and Finland, with recent work on dominance and prestige recognition in children. She employs interdisciplinary methods combining anthropology and psychology. Grants & Projects: ERC Starting Grant: 'IRRITATION: Irritation and Human Sociality' (2022–2027) Research Council of Finland: 'Ärtymys ja ihmisen yhteistyö' (2022–2026) Advising & Labs: Kajanus supervises doctoral research, including the thesis 'Becoming an adequate child: Learning to relate to others in cultural context.' She collaborates in initiatives like the Negative Emotions Research Group and chairs the 'Culture and Cognition' conference (2025).

Per ErtbjergView profile

Lecturer

• Meat Science
• Food Science
• Meat Technology
• +7 more

Per Ertbjerg is a University Lecturer in the Department of Food and Nutrition at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, where he has been employed since August 2011. He previously served as a Professor (2011-2017) and Associate Professor (2017-2022) before assuming his current position. His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to meat science and food technology. Dr. Ertbjerg obtained his doctoral degree in Meat Science in 1996 from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark. Prior to joining the University of Helsinki, he held teaching positions at the University of Copenhagen and The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University. His research focuses on the biochemical processes affecting meat quality, with particular emphasis on meat tenderness, protein oxidation, and water-holding capacity. Muscle and meat biochemistry Meat technology and processing Relationship between meat tenderness and proteolytic processes Protein and lipid oxidation in meat products Water-holding mechanisms in meat Wooden breast syndrome in poultry Development of plant-based meat analogs His recent publication record shows a strong focus on emerging meat quality issues, particularly wooden breast syndrome in broiler chickens and the development of plant-based meat alternatives. His work integrates biochemical analysis with practical meat quality assessment, often examining the relationship between muscle structure, protein functionality, and final meat characteristics. The research spans both fundamental biochemistry and applied food technology, with increasing attention to sustainable food systems. Dr. Ertbjerg has served as an opponent for doctoral dissertations, reviewed manuscripts for numerous journals including Food Chemistry and Meat Science, and supervised multiple Master's theses. He has also assessed candidates for academic posts and participated in international conferences such as the International Congress on Meat Science and Technology. As head of the Meat Technology research group, he oversees laboratory operations and collaborates with international researchers. His current projects focus on wooden breast myopathy, meat and muscle properties of Nordic Food Chain, and legumes for sustainable food systems, demonstrating his commitment to addressing both fundamental and applied challenges in meat science.

• Digital teaching methods
• Physiotherapy
• Global responsibility
• +4 more

Heini Maisala-McDonnell is a Lecturer at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, specializing in Health Business Management and international education development. She holds a Master of Health Care in Global Health and Crisis Management, a Master of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (USA), and is a professional physiotherapist. Her roles include thesis supervision for international students, multidisciplinary innovation project guidance, and RDI (Research, Development, Innovation) support. Education qualifications: Global Health, Crisis Management, Orthopedic Manual Therapy Key responsibilities: Virtual teaching collaboration with Tallinn Health Care College, Sustainable Development Goals integration, and leadership in the SAFE project addressing age-friendly workplaces. Her expertise spans digital learning environments, intercultural competence development, and wellbeing initiatives. She actively contributes to projects like Oona 2.0 and Wellbeing Hybridist, promoting innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration. Proficient in Finnish (native), English (excellent), and Swedish/German (average). As part of the BiRaYa Team, she focuses on rehabilitation and teamwork strategies. Her work emphasizes global responsibility, diversity, and sustainable development in higher education contexts.