معرفی
Pirjo Turk is a PhD student and Junior Research Fellow in Political Science at the University of Tartu's Faculty of Social Sciences, specifically at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies. Her career spans multiple institutions including the Ministry of Social Affairs where she served as Head of Family Policy and Adviser of Employment Policies, and Praxis Centre for Policy Studies where she worked as an analyst in labor and social policy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the Estonian Institute of Humanities (1999-2003), a Master's degree in Sociology from Helsinki University (2005-2009), and another Master's degree in Change Management of Society from the University of Tartu (2020-2022, cum laude).
Dr. Turk's research focuses on gender equality, social and labor policy, child and family policy, and behavioral policy. Her dissertation explores "Applying Behavioural Insights to Decrease Digital Data Waste," highlighting the environmental impact of digital waste and climate change. She has extensive expertise in evidence-based policymaking, particularly in gender mainstreaming in labor and social policy, work-life reconciliation, and gender aspects in social inclusion. Her work often bridges academic research with practical policy development, as demonstrated by her leadership in reforming parental leave and benefit systems to encourage greater paternal involvement in childcare.
Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a clear progression from traditional social policy topics toward innovative applications of behavioral insights to contemporary challenges like digital waste. The research shows an interdisciplinary approach connecting gender equality concerns with broader environmental and technological issues, reflecting her commitment to addressing complex societal problems through multiple lenses.
Dr. Turk has supervised at least one Master's thesis titled "Policy Dynamics and Gender Dimension in the EU Platform Economy: An Analysis of the Platform Work Directive" completed by Mariia Nedosekova in 2024. Her advisory work demonstrates her commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers in gender and policy studies.
