Find Academic Supervisors

• Human-Robot Interaction
• Technology for Elderly Care
• User-Centered Design
• +4 more

Aino Ahtinen is a University Lecturer in Computing Sciences at Tampere University's Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. Her work focuses on human-robot interaction, particularly in educational and healthcare contexts. She has extensive experience designing socially assistive robots, wellness technologies, and participatory design frameworks for diverse populations including older adults, children, and professionals. Her research emphasizes co-learning models involving social robots, accessibility in senior-robot interactions, and the integration of robotics into primary education and workplace well-being. Notable projects include the ROBOTOUR co-learning initiative for seniors and ROBOCAMP programs for youth. She has pioneered studies on robot literacy metrics and ethical design considerations in social robotics. Dr. Ahtinen has contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed publications since 2003, with recent work focusing on robot-assisted physical activity, privacy-aware robotic systems, and cross-generational technology education. Her research bridges human-computer interaction, gerontechnology, and educational technology, consistently prioritizing user-centered design principles.

Martina ČaićView profile

Assistant Professor

• Service Design
• Strategic Service Design
• Artificial Intelligence
• +10 more

Martina Čaić is an Assistant Professor in Strategic Service Design at Aalto University's School of Arts, Design and Architecture. She leads the ENCORE (Engaging Co-Design) research group, focusing on innovative service design methodologies. Her PhD from Maastricht University, supported by a Marie Curie Fellowship, emphasized service design for innovation. Research Interests: Her work explores intersections between service management, AI, and emerging technologies like social robots and chatbots. Key themes include human-agent interactions in healthcare, education, and industrial contexts, emphasizing ethical implications, well-being, and organizational transformation. She advocates for network-conscious design approaches to address complex service ecosystems. Publications: Recent work highlights frameworks for human-robot collaboration (e.g., chatbot integration in workplaces, ethical robotic care systems) and the role of smart technologies in aging populations. She also investigates scaling diversity initiatives and the societal impact of AI/robots in service networks. Labs/Teams: The ENCORE group develops participatory design methods for inclusive services, with projects ranging from healthcare AI ethics to municipal diversity programs. Her research bridges academic rigor with practical industry applications.

• Virtual Reality (VR)
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Haptic Feedback Systems
• +7 more

Roope Raisamo is a Professor in the Department of Computing Sciences at Tampere University, part of the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences. His research focuses on advanced human-computer interaction, virtual/augmented reality systems, haptic feedback technologies, and their applications in medical, automotive, and assistive technology domains. He leads multidisciplinary projects involving collaboration with industry partners like car manufacturers and healthcare institutions. Key areas of expertise include: (1) Design of immersive XR environments with multimodal feedback integration, (2) Haptic actuator development using smart materials like magnetorheological fluids, (3) Ergonomic interfaces for autonomous vehicles, and (4) Accessibility solutions for seniors and disabled populations. His work bridges theoretical HCI research with practical applications seen in surgical training systems, automotive UIs, and wearable communication aids. Raisamo's research outputs from 2023-2025 show strong focus on: - Sensory augmentation in food perception through XR (2025) - Medical VR applications for surgical planning and tumor visualization (2024-2025) - Haptic-mediating technologies for automotive and industrial interfaces (2023-2025) He has pioneered the use of embedded haptic waveguides in steering wheel interfaces and developed novel textile-based AAC systems for non-verbal communication. Current projects include exploring the medical metaverse for collaborative surgical planning and creating AI-enhanced research tools like TAUCHI-GPT.

Sari KujalaView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Long-term user experience
• +5 more

Sari Kujala is a Senior Lecturer at Aalto University's School of Science , specializing in Human-Computer Interaction , Long-term User Experience , and eHealth Systems . Her research bridges psychology and technology to enhance digital health equity for marginalized groups. Focus on aging populations and vulnerable user needs Expert in patient portal usability and AI transparency Active in cross-national studies across Nordic countries Research trends show consistent exploration of digital inclusion , health informatics , and user-centered design for healthcare systems. Recent work emphasizes AI explainability requirements and mental health digital services . Key collaborations include institutions in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Estonia , working on projects like NORDeHEALTH and STAR Duodecim . Publications span journals like Journal of Medical Internet Research and International Journal of Medical Informatics .

Mira PalonenView profile

Researcher

• Nursing
• Oncology Nursing
• Geriatric Nursing
• +13 more

Mira Palonen is a researcher in Health Sciences with a strong focus on nursing, gerontology, palliative care, and health services research. Her work spans patient experiences with incurable diseases, fall prevention in the elderly, access to care in rural areas, and methodological approaches in studying hidden populations. She is actively involved in academic supervision, conference presentations, and peer review activities. Active researcher with 51 research outputs including articles, reviews, and a doctoral thesis Supervisor of multiple master’s theses in nursing and health sciences Regular presenter at academic conferences and contributor to journal peer review Expertise recognized through academic qualification as a docent Her research interests include nursing leadership, psychological empowerment, hospice care, emergency medical services, and healthcare for underserved populations. She contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through her work on equitable and effective healthcare delivery. The most recent publications highlight a trend toward qualitative synthesis, scoping reviews, and applied health research in Finland. Her work increasingly integrates interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in technology-based interventions for aging populations, as seen in the SOL-TECH project. She also contributes to understanding complex care environments, including emergency triage accuracy and staff redeployment in nursing. Mira Palonen has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text. She actively supervises master’s students and engages in academic service through peer review, conference organization, and public outreach. While no specific grants are listed, her involvement in multi-author studies and collaborative projects suggests participation in funded research initiatives. She is part of an active research network focused on gerontology, oncology nursing, and health equity, with recent collaborations extending to interdisciplinary projects involving smart technologies for healthy aging.

Martina CaicView profile

Assistant Professor

• Service Design
• Human-Robot Interaction
• Healthcare Innovation
• +3 more

Martina Caic is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Design, Aalto University. Her research focuses on service design, human-robot interaction, and healthcare innovation, with particular emphasis on ethical implications and consumer behavior in automated systems. 2022 Aalto ARTS Teaching Award 2018 Robert Johnston Outstanding Paper of the Year Award 2019 Outstanding Paper of the Year Award 2021 Outstanding Reviewer (Emerald Literati Awards) As a Full Researcher Profile at Aalto University, she explores themes like: Role changes in human-AI collaboration Smart technologies for healthy aging Service design for Industry 5.0 Ethical frameworks in robotic care Her publications span top journals like Journal of Service Management , Journal of Services Marketing , and International Journal of Social Robotics . Martina collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on topics ranging from parasocial interactions in digital reviews to systemic diversity initiatives.

Helena HirvonenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Social Policy
• Welfare State
• Gender Studies
• +3 more

Helena Hirvonen is a Senior Lecturer (Doctor of Social Sciences with Docent title) at the University of Eastern Finland’s Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. She specializes in Social and Public Policy, focusing on working life, welfare state dynamics, gender studies, and digitalisation in care sectors. Her research examines intersections between Lean management practices, biocapitalism, and care work ethics. She leads the EXMEN research project (Kone Foundation, 2022–2025) and the CareQuAI consortium (JPI/MYBL, 2025–2028), exploring hybrid masculinities in service economies and AI-driven care innovations. Key publications include *Gender and Welfare Service Work in Biocapitalism: Lean in Action* (2023) and *Digital Transformations in Care for Older People* (2021), analyzing Lean’s sociomaterial impacts and digital agency in aging care. She has contributed to Routledge’s series on health sociology and co-edited volumes on interpersonal violence (2017). Her work critiques managerialism in public services, emphasizing care workers’ agency and resistance. Current projects address client safety in elderly care, technology’s role in care communities, and the ethical dimensions of digital tools in aging populations.

• Social psychology
• Emotion in interaction
• Vocal and non-vocal interaction
• +7 more

Johanna Ruusuvuori is Professor of Social Psychology at Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Social Research. Her work integrates social psychology, health communication and interaction research, focusing on how emotions and social practices unfold in professional and care settings. Education : (Detailed educational background not provided in the text.) Research Interests Her research programme revolves around emotion in interaction , vocal and non-vocal communication , and social interaction at work . She investigates work-life participation , the quality of working life , and health-care practices , especially how digitalisation is reshaping service delivery. Methodologically, she is an expert in qualitative methodologies , ethnomethodology and conversation analysis , often using research interviews as a key data source. Current Projects Reliable knowledge for health care: Process and practice of shared decision making Touch and affect in health-care interaction SOL-TECH: Human-centred solar smart-technology design for healthy ageing Testaamisen sosiologia (Sociology of testing) Etätyöterveysneuvottelu – new models and functional interaction for supporting work ability Scientific Awards : (No specific awards mentioned in the provided text.) Advising & Grants : The text does not list individual students, but Professor Ruusuvuori leads multiple nationally funded projects and supervises research within her unit. Her teams include post-doctoral researchers, doctoral candidates and research assistants working on health-interaction studies. Labs & Teams : She carries out her research within the Unit of Social Research at Tampere University, collaborating across disciplines such as nursing science, gerontology, audiology and occupational health.

Päivi Maria Rasi-HeikkinenView profile

Professor

• Lifelong learning
• Media literacy education
• Digital inclusion of older people
• +3 more

Päivi Maria Rasi-Heikkinen is a Professor of Education at the University of Lapland's Faculty of Education, with a secondary appointment as an Associate Professor in Media Education. She holds a PhD in Education and an SScD in Social Psychology. Her research focuses on lifelong learning, media literacy education, and digital inclusion of older populations. She leads projects such as 'MediaRoboLit65+' and 'Arctic RoboWelfare', addressing older adults' robot literacy and well-being robotics. Education: PhD (Education), SScD (Social Psychology) Docent Title: Media Education (University of Helsinki) Her research explores older people's digital competences, internet use, and learning environments in higher education using design-based methodologies. Recent work includes national surveys on robot literacy and co-learning models in care settings. She has secured grants from the European Regional Development Fund and Social Fund, emphasizing Lapland's unique demographic and technological challenges. Awards: Teacher of the Year (2011), Rovaniemi Vanhustekotunnustus (2024) She advises on multiple projects and collaborates internationally, focusing on combating misinformation and fostering intergenerational digital literacy. Her work bridges sociology, education, and technology, advocating for inclusive digital policies.

• Digital Inclusion
• Ageing and Digitalization
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +5 more

Laura Pajula is a doctoral researcher at the Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care, affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä. She actively contributes to the DigiIn-project (Towards Socially Inclusive Digital Society: Transforming Service Culture), funded by the Strategic Research Council. Her work focuses on the intersection of digital public services and older adults' inclusion in society. Doctoral Researcher, Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care Project Member, DigiIn-project Part-Time Teacher (past role) Doctoral Student, University of Jyväskylä Laura’s research explores the design of digital public services for and with older adults, emphasizing mental access, peer support, and non-formal learning. She investigates how societal digitalization impacts elderly populations and identifies strategies to bridge digital divides through collaborative design and stakeholder engagement. Her publications highlight challenges in digital inclusion, including ambivalent user experiences, the role of warm experts, and systemic gaps in user involvement practices. Articles span topics from societal digital policy to practical implementations of digital support systems. Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation Grant (2025)

Hanna VarjakoskiView profile

Researcher

• Cultural Gerontology
• Ageing Studies
• Media Studies
• +3 more

Hanna Varjakoski is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland (UEF). She holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Turku, focusing on media representations of ageing and cultural imageries of later life. Her research interests include cultural gerontology, age diversity in neighbourhoods, and the intersection of media, digitalization, and health in ageing contexts. Varjakoski contributes to the Healthy Ageing in a Digital World (HAIDI) project and studies older adults’ experiences in diverse neighbourhoods, including intergenerational relations and community wellbeing. She teaches courses on cultural ageing, media, and digitalization. Recent research highlights include a mixed-methods analysis of age diversity’s impact on community wellbeing, published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health . Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to gerontology and policy-relevant insights for age-friendly environments. Key projects include investigations into older drivers’ life transitions and neighbour relations. Varjakoski’s findings advocate for inclusive urban policies supporting intergenerational connections and social networks in ageing populations.

Kaisa PihlainenView profile

Assistant Professor

• Lifelong learning
• Special education
• Inclusive education
• +5 more

Kaisa Pihlainen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Eastern Finland's School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Department of Special Education. She specializes in lifelong learning, inclusive education, and participatory research methods. Her work focuses on digital literacy for older adults, peer interactions among children with autism spectrum disorder, and student teacher well-being. She has held visiting scholar positions at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Karlstad University (Sweden), and Siegen University (Germany). Pihlainen holds a PhD in Special Education (2016) and a title of Docent in Lifelong Learning from the University of Lapland. She leads projects such as PEICAS (Peer Interactions in Inclusive Classrooms) funded by the Finnish Research Council. Her research employs mixed methods, including visual and participatory approaches, emphasizing real-world applications in education and technology. Key contributions include studies on ICT adoption by older adults, narrative research in teacher training, and multimodal data collection in special education. She actively collaborates internationally, publishing in journals like International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, and co-edits books on autism across life stages and digital inclusion. Pihlainen teaches and supervises master's and doctoral students while advocating for inclusive educational practices through innovative technology integration.

• Gerontology
• Social Gerontology
• Aging Studies
• +3 more

Anu Siren is a Professor of Gerontology at Tampere University's Faculty of Social Sciences and holds an Associate Professorship in Social Gerontology at the University of Helsinki. She specializes in the social, cultural, and material environments influencing aging populations. Her research focuses on mobility patterns of the elderly, digital service utilization, family relationships in later life, and long-term care policies. She has held roles in Denmark from 2005–2021 before joining Tampere in 2021. Key research areas include transportation equity for the elderly, vulnerability negotiation in aging with vision impairment, and intergenerational support dynamics. Her work bridges gerontology with sociology, public policy, and technology studies. Over 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2003 reflect interdisciplinary approaches to aging challenges, with a strong focus on Nordic contexts and systemic solutions. Publications highlight aging-related topics such as driving cessation behaviors, health outcomes of volunteering, and policy implications of demographic shifts. She frequently collaborates with institutions across Europe, contributing to longitudinal studies like the Danish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Her research emphasizes practical applications for improving elderly quality of life through inclusive urban design, digital accessibility, and evidence-based care systems.

Susanna RivinenView profile

Researcher

• Media Education
• Media Literacy
• Digital Competence
• +3 more

Susanna Rivinen - Academic Profile Susanna Rivinen is a Researcher at the Faculty of Education of the University of Lapland, focusing on Media Education, Digital Competence, and Aging Populations. She leads projects addressing robotics in welfare services, digital literacy for seniors, and gerontechnology innovations. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in Northern Finland. Research Interests Media Literacy for Older Adults Robot Literacy and Gerontechnology Design-Based Educational Strategies Social Robotics in Welfare Services Arctic Context Challenges Key Projects Arctic RoboWelfare : Developing well-being robotics for Lapland (2023-2026) GeroDigiLead : Enhancing digital competence for elderly care managers (2023-2026) IkäihMe : Teacher education for older adults' media literacy (2018-2021) Awards & Recognition 2024: City of Rovaniemi Award for Promoting Older People’s Wellbeing 2023: University of Lapland's Recognition for Communication Activities Grants & Collaboration Rivinen has secured funding from the European Social Fund , European Regional Development Fund , and the Ministry of Education and Culture . Her collaborative network includes robotics experts (e.g., Suhonen, Pekkala), gerontologists, and policymakers. Media & Outreach Her work has been featured in media discussions on aging populations' digital challenges, robot literacy in education, and intergenerational learning strategies.

Elena ComincioliView profile

Visiting Professor

• Design for Aging
• Affective Sciences
• Participatory Design
• +3 more

Elena Comincioli is a Visiting Professor and MA Doctoral Student at Aalto University's School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Art and Media. She holds external roles as Visiting Teacher at Beijing Jiaotong University, IED, and Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, and serves as a Member of CISA (Doctoral School in Affective Sciences) at the University of Geneva. Her research focuses on aging-related design, addressing ageism, participatory design, and affective sciences. Research interests include Older Adults, Experience Design, Visual Communication Design, Emotions, and Service Design. Her work explores paradigms in aging-related design, implicit ageism in service design, and storytelling approaches for older adults' needs. She actively organizes workshops, such as 'What is Aging?' at UC Berkeley (2023) and 'Designing for Aging People' (2019). Recent publications (2020–2022) emphasize participatory methodologies, language in design practices, and paradigm shifts in aging research. Despite no listed awards, her work has been cited and shared widely. Activities include visiting research at UC Berkeley (2021–2023) and membership in transdisciplinary networks.