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Johanna Sumiala is a Professor of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences. She holds a Docent title in Communication and leads research initiatives such as the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) and the Helsinki Research Hub on Religion, Media and Social Change. Her expertise spans media anthropology, media and religion, visual culture, and media history. She has supervised doctoral candidates in Social Sciences and Theology, and her work bridges academic research with public engagement through media appearances and policy consultations. Education: Master of Arts (History of Ideas and Learning), University of Oulu, 1996 Licentiate in Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, 2000 Doctor of Philosophy (Journalism), University of Jyväskylä, 2001 Docent of Communication, University of Helsinki, 2010 Research Interests: Her work examines digital death rituals, media’s role in religious populism, and the intersection of technology and existential security. Projects include Digital Death: Transforming History, Rituals and Afterlife and Mediatized Religious Populism . Grants & Collaborations: Funded by the Academy of Finland and EU CHANSE consortium, her research explores topics like hybrid media events, digital witnessing, and transnational Islam governance. She collaborates internationally with institutions like the London School of Economics and University of Bath. Labs/Teams: Leads the Helsinki Research Hub on Religion, Media and Social Change, focusing on digital religion’s methodological challenges and societal impacts.

• Media Anthropology
• Media and Religion
• Visual Culture
• +4 more

Eero Vaara serves as a Visiting Distinguished Professor in the Department of Management Studies at Aalto University, where his research centers on organizational and strategic change through discursive and narrative lenses. His work critically examines strategy processes, radical transformations like mergers and acquisitions, institutional legitimation, multinational corporation dynamics, and historical perspectives on management. His research interests encompass organizational change, strategic discourse, narrative analysis, institutional theory, and multinational corporate identity. Vaara investigates how language constructs organizational realities during crises, mergers, and cross-cultural interactions, with particular attention to power dynamics in identity politics and the role of historical narratives in strategic renewal. His scholarship bridges theoretical rigor with practical implications for managing complex change in global contexts. Recent publications (2020-2022) reveal consistent thematic focus across top management journals including Academy of Management Journal and Strategic Management Journal. Key trends include the interplay of language and social inequality during global crises like COVID-19, entrepreneurial phenomena in isolated economies such as North Korea, strategic ambiguity in organizational protection, and national identity construction within multinational corporations. His methodological innovations integrate critical discourse analysis with computational approaches like structural topic modeling. Scientific awards highlight his scholarly impact: Best Article Finalist 2023 (Academy of Management Discoveries) 2014 OMT Best Published Paper Award for advancing theoretical understanding of organizations While specific advising relationships and grant funding details aren't documented in the source material, Vaara's collaborative publications demonstrate extensive international research partnerships. His work with scholars across Europe and North America indicates active supervision of doctoral research and leadership in multinational research consortia, particularly in discourse-focused organizational studies. Though laboratory affiliations aren't specified, his methodological work suggests engagement with digital humanities research groups and discourse analysis laboratories, especially evident in publications combining computational text analysis with critical theoretical frameworks.

• Organizational Change
• Strategic Change
• Discourse Analysis
• +7 more

Jukka Rintamäki is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Studies at Aalto University's School of Business. His work focuses on organizational behavior, corporate social responsibility (CSR), collective memory, and sustainability. He holds a doctoral degree from Aalto University (2016), with earlier master's (2010) and bachelor's (2007) degrees in business administration from Helsinki School of Economics and Aalto's business school. Research interests include the interplay between memory and organizational ethics, institutional dynamics, power struggles in academic and corporate settings, and CSR in emerging sectors like esports. His 2024 work on 'Institutional Parasites' explores organizational dependency relationships, while 2023 studies investigate CSR's role in sport development and memory work across organizations. He has contributed to top journals like Academy of Management Review and Annals . Rintamäki's work addresses UN SDGs related to responsible consumption and partnerships. He has been active in peer-review roles for major management journals since 2015. Media engagements include commentaries on corporate responsibility and economic policy in 2023-2024.

• Organizational Behavior
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Collective Memory Studies
• +5 more

Olli Sotamaa is a Professor of Game Culture Studies at Tampere University's Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Department of Communication Sciences. He leads the Tampere University Game Research Lab alongside Professor Frans Mäyrä and serves as team leader in the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies. Specializes in game cultural phenomena: online communities, fandom, modding, data-driven game development Co-edited Game Production Studies (Amsterdam University Press, 2021) His research focuses on game industry practices, data analytics impact, and player production cultures. Recent work examines game data labor, industry ethics, and digital preservation challenges. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles include: Game data work and algorithmic culture (2023-2025) Game modding and user-generated content (2021-2022) Game development practices (2019-2021) Game preservation and heritage (2020) Industry sustainability and ethics (2021-2025) Scientific awards: ERC-Advanced-Grant project 'Making Sense of Games (MSG)' Labs/teams: Tampere University Game Research Lab Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies

• Game Studies
• Media Studies
• Production Studies
• +5 more

Emilio Del Pupo is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). His research focuses on EU-Mercosur trade negotiations, civil society engagement, and Latin American identity formation. Master of Social Sciences from Åbo Akademi University (2022) Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidade Vila Velha, Brazil (2018) Research Interests: Emilio specializes in political economy of trade agreements, particularly analyzing Brazilian interest groups in EU-Mercosur negotiations. His work examines civil society's role in trade policy, green extractivism, and contested spaces in international cooperation. Article Trends: Recent publications and manuscripts explore sustainability challenges in trade agreements, agricultural policy exceptionalism, and lithium extraction impacts in the Global South. Themes include both Brazilian perspectives and transnational identity dynamics in South America. Teaching & Academic Merits: Completed University Pedagogy training (5 ECTS). Designed and instructed course on 'Free Trade and Development in the Global South' (YMV-K507). Guest lecturer for 'Critical Thinking in Latin America' (ALKU-L3150). Peer reviewer for Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional and board member of Finnish Society for Development Research (2024–2025). Conference Participation: Active presenter at International Studies Association conferences (2024–2025), including paper presentations, panel discussions, and chair roles. Organized Development Days 2024 Conference and involved in UniPID DocNet research network.

• Latin American Studies
• EU-Mercosur Relations
• Civil Society Engagement
• +3 more

Sarah Green is a Professor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Her research focuses on the anthropology of borders, livestock and microbial movements, and Mediterranean and Balkan regional dynamics. She has led projects such as "Crosslocations in the Mediterranean" and "Opening Pandora’s Box: Assessing The Risks of Permafrost Thaw" , exploring environmental and health intersections. As Editor-in-Chief of Social Anthropology , she has shaped academic discourse. Her recent work examines zoonotic disease control and nonhuman animal migration. She advises doctoral theses on topics ranging from Roma policy to digital intimacy in Egypt. Affiliated with Helsinki One Health, she bridges social and medical sciences. Education: Not explicitly detailed in texts, but her academic roles imply advanced anthropological training. Research Projects: Includes "InterEarth RESET" (climate change), "Trade, Transit and Travel in the Mediterranean" , and "EastBordNet" . Grants: Recipient of University profiling funding and Research Council of Finland grants. Her theoretical contributions include "Crosslocations" theory, analyzing spatial entanglements. She frequently participates in conferences like the American Anthropological Association meetings and contributes to editorial boards. Recent publications address border entanglements, postmodern gender theory, and Mediterranean geopolitics.

• Anthropology of Borders
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Mediterranean Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Isak Vento is a Project Researcher at the Institute for Social Research, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Law at Åbo Akademi University. His research focuses on collaborative governance, political compromise, and public policy dynamics through innovative methodologies such as survey experiments. Role: Project Researcher Institution: Åbo Akademi University Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Law Research Institute: Institute for Social Research Research Interests: Collaborative governance models and legitimacy perceptions Political compromise mechanisms in democratic systems Project-based administration and EU policy implementation Transparency dynamics in fiscal consolidation Language minority issues in social research Service satisfaction metrics in public administration Recent Publications (2024-2025): Analyzed governance trade-offs through experimental designs, explored EU cohesion policy impacts, and investigated political compromise perceptions using qualitative methods. Articles demonstrate methodological diversity combining survey experiments with policy analysis. Contact: isak.vento@abo.fi

• Collaborative Governance
• Political Compromise
• Survey Experiment
• +3 more

Tiina Ritvala is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (Teaching and Education) at the Department of Management Studies, Aalto University. Her research focuses on cross-sector collaboration between multinational corporations (MNCs), cities, and nonprofits in contexts like sustainable cities, energy transition, and cultural fields. She holds a D.Sc. (Econ.) from the Helsinki School of Economics (2008) and has been a Visiting Scholar at SCANCOR/Weatherhead (Harvard), Queen's University (Canada), and WU Vienna. Her work bridges organizational theory, international business, and social purpose. **Research Interests**: Cross-sector partnerships, multinational corporations, institutional change, sustainable cities, cultural and creative fields, energy transition. These areas are explored through case studies on global-local dynamics, MNE-NGO interactions, and sustainability initiatives. Recent work emphasizes spatial analysis in international business and geopolitical influences on corporate strategies. **Awards**: Received the Best Paper Award at EIBA 2017 for research on MNEs and sustainable development, the 1997 McKinsey Award for academic excellence, and a distinguished paper honor in the EDAMBA Thesis Competition (2009). **Professional Background**: Prior to academia, she worked in business consulting for a decade and engaged in volunteer work. Her teaching and administrative roles complement her research, focusing on international business education and institutional innovations. **Key Contributions**: Leads the Sustainability in Business research group, exploring topics like energy utilities' transition to renewables, MNC spatial strategies, and transnational commons governance. Her work often highlights the interplay between global institutions and localized action in addressing societal challenges.

• Cross-sector partnerships
• Multinational Corporations
• Institutional change
• +3 more

Carlos Diaz Ruiz is an Associate Professor (tenure-track) at the Department of Marketing, Hanken School of Economics in Vasa, Finland. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from Finland and has held faculty positions at Hanken, Aalto University, KEDGE Business School (France), and the University of Auckland (New Zealand). His research focuses on market-shaping, consumer culture, and disinformation, particularly in digital advertising and social media contexts. He authored the book *Market-Oriented Disinformation Research: Digital Advertising, Disinformation and Fake News on Social Media* (2025) and received the 2025 Thomas C. Kinnear Award for his work on disinformation in social media echo chambers. Dr. Diaz Ruiz’s academic career includes roles as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, and prior to academia, he worked as a consumer insights consultant for Latin American companies, recognized in ESOMAR's Insights250 (2022, 2024). He is an Associate Editor at the *Journal of Marketing Management* and actively publishes in top journals like *Journal of Public Policy & Marketing* and *New Media & Society*. His teaching emphasizes bridging academic research with industry needs, offering courses in qualitative research, strategic branding, and consumer culture. Methodologically, he employs business anthropology and ethnography to study consumer-led marketing strategies. Key research themes include the intersection of disinformation, social media business models, and the performative role of market representations.

• Market-Shaping
• Consumer Culture
• Disinformation Research
• +4 more

Timo Koivurova is a Research Professor at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland. He holds visiting and adjunct professor roles at Kobe University (Japan), Riga Graduate School of Law, University of Eastern Finland, and University of Turku. His research focuses on Arctic law, international environmental law, and geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic region. He has authored over 465 publications and led 43 research projects, including major initiatives like the ICEBERG project on Arctic Ocean governance and the Co-CREATE project on solar radiation management. Key research interests include legal frameworks for indigenous peoples, climate change regulations, Arctic geopolitics, and China’s Arctic engagement. He has received awards such as the 2015 Honorable Mention for environmental policy analysis and the 2008 Nordenskiöld Stipend for Arctic legal research. Over 100 media contributions discussing Arctic policy and geopolitics. Active in 552 professional activities, including editorial roles and conference presentations. Principal Investigator for EU-funded projects like Arctic PASSION and MARCS. His work bridges legal scholarship with policy practice, addressing contemporary challenges like Arctic Council functionality post-2022 Ukraine invasion and sustainable development goals in the region.

• Arctic Law
• International Environmental Law
• Indigenous Peoples' Legal Status
• +7 more

Ali Nickpour is a Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Accounting at Aalto University. His research focuses on behavioral economics within archival auditing, integrating topics such as political finance, openness to experience, and compensation systems. His work bridges psychology and social sciences with auditing practices. Education: Doctoral degree in Business and Economics from Aalto University (Completed March 2025). Research Interests: Nickpour explores intersections between behavioral economics and auditing, particularly in political finance dynamics and materials control mechanisms. His recent thesis investigates how psychological factors like openness to experience influence auditing practices in politically charged financial environments. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided information. No advising roles or lab affiliations are detailed here.

• Behavioral Economics
• Political Finance
• Auditing
• +3 more

Marjo-Riitta Diehl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management Studies at Aalto University's School of Business . Her research focuses on organizational behavior, psychological contracts, justice in workplaces, and human resource management dynamics. She investigates how socio-economic conditions influence employee well-being and performance, particularly during organizational crises like the pandemic. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks (e.g., social exchange theory) with practical managerial challenges, emphasizing ethical leadership and employee relationships. Research Interests: Psychological Contracts & Reciprocity Organizational Justice & Inequity Workplace Relationships & Care Crisis Management (e.g., Pandemic Impact) Managerial Identity & Career Transitions Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations Recent work analyzes post-pandemic employment relationships, justice perceptions in teams, and the role of care in professional interactions. She has collaborated internationally on projects addressing layoff management, nonprofit sector transitions, and digital leadership roles. Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary research groups focusing on organizational change, digital transformation, and ethical management practices at Aalto University. Her work often involves cross-sector partnerships with industry and non-profit organizations.

• Organizational Behavior
• Management Studies
• Psychological Contracts
• +5 more

Sheraz Ahmed is an Associate Professor (Tenure Track) at LUT Business School, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland, where he also serves as Academic Director of the Master’s Degree Program in Strategic Finance and Analytics. He holds a Doctor of Science in Financial Economics from Hanken School of Economics and has been affiliated with LUT since 2011. Doctor of Science, Financial Economics and Economic Statistics, Hanken School of Economics (2004–2009) Master of Science, Computational Finance, Hanken School of Economics (2001–2003) His research focuses on international finance, asset pricing, factor investing, portfolio management, high-frequency trading, corporate governance, and emerging markets . He employs advanced econometric techniques to analyze financial market behavior, market efficiency, liquidity risk, and the impact of governance reforms. His work frequently appears in journals covering finance, accounting, and economics. His recent publications explore topics such as the adaptive market hypothesis in cryptocurrencies, dynamic dependence between ETFs and crude oil, liquidity risk pricing, and financial integration in CIVETS and African markets. His research demonstrates a consistent focus on empirical analysis of financial markets in transitional and emerging economies. Sheraz Ahmed is an active peer reviewer for journals including Applied Economics, Journal of Economic Surveys, and Journal of Forecasting . Member, European Finance Association (2014–present) He has supervised over 80 master’s theses and multiple doctoral students in finance and analytics. He teaches financial theory, valuation of financial securities, and empirical research in finance at the master’s level. He is affiliated with the Department of Finance and Statistics within the School of Business and Management at LUT.

• International Finance
• Asset Pricing
• Factor Investing
• +10 more

Marko Terviö is Professor of Economics at Aalto University School of Business, where he teaches intermediate microeconomics and labor economics. He is affiliated with Helsinki GSE (Helsinki Graduate School of Economics), a collaboration between Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and Hanken School of Economics. His research focuses on labor market dynamics, economic inequality, housing economics, and institutional design. Professor Terviö employs theoretical models combined with empirical analysis to address questions about talent markets, wage determination, housing policy, and political economics. His work demonstrates particular expertise in assignment models applied to housing and labor markets, with significant contributions to understanding cognitive ability and earnings, superstar phenomena in labor markets, and housing policy impacts. His publication record spans top economics journals including Review of Economic Studies , American Economic Review , Journal of Political Economy , and Economic Journal . Recent work (2022-2025) shows continued high-impact research in labor economics and housing markets, with publications in European Sociological Review and Economic Journal . His research demonstrates consistent methodological rigor combining theoretical modeling with empirical validation. Professor Terviö has contributed significantly to Finnish economic policy discussions, notably as lead author of the influential 2018 report 'On the transfer of residential plots in Helsinki' for the Aalto Economic Institute. This work provided economic analysis of land allocation practices in Helsinki, examining how residential plots should be priced and allocated to maximize economic efficiency while considering urban development goals.

• Labor Economics
• Microeconomics
• Housing Markets
• +3 more

Johanna Oksala is the Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches in the Department of Philosophy within the College of Arts and Sciences. She maintains an additional affiliation as Docent in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, in the Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies. Previously, she has taught at Pratt Institute, New School for Social Research, University of Helsinki, and University of Dundee. Oksala's research spans political philosophy, feminist philosophy, environmental philosophy, and phenomenology, with particular expertise in Foucault studies. Her work critically examines neoliberal governmentality, feminist politics, and the intersections of capitalism with ecological crisis. She approaches these topics through both Foucauldian and phenomenological frameworks, developing what she terms 'critical phenomenology' as a method for social critique. Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward integrating feminist theory with ecological concerns in the context of capitalist critique. The 2023 book Feminism, Capitalism, and Ecology represents a major contribution to ecofeminist thought, arguing that neither feminists nor environmentalists can merely preserve an imagined 'nature' outside capitalism—they must challenge the capitalist system itself. Her conference presentations and articles increasingly focus on climate change as an existential threat, the subject of capitalism, and the possibilities for feminist politics in the Anthropocene. Oksala has been honored with the Arthur J. Schmitt Professorship at Loyola University Chicago and previously held a Research Fellowship from the Academy of Finland (2005-2007). She has participated in numerous prestigious research projects including 'Rethinking Feminist Politics: Gender, Globalization and Neoliberal Governmentality' (2012-2017) and the Centre of Excellence PolCon / Politics of Philosophy and Gender. With over 100 conference papers and invited talks internationally, Oksala is an active contributor to philosophical discourse. Her editorial work includes serving on the boards of several academic journals. Her research projects have received significant funding, particularly through the Academy of Finland, reflecting the importance of her interdisciplinary work bridging philosophy, gender studies, and environmental thought. Oksala's academic leadership extends to directing and participating in major research initiatives that bring together scholars across disciplines to examine the intersections of philosophy, politics, and gender. Her work with the Centre of Excellence PolCon demonstrates her commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing contemporary issues through philosophical inquiry.

• Political Philosophy
• Feminist Philosophy
• Environmental Philosophy
• +5 more