Tuuli Kurki

Tuuli Kurki is a Grant-funded researcher at the Swedish School of Social Science, University of Helsinki, where she serves as Supervisor for the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences and the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society, and Culture. She is affiliated with CEREN (The Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations and Nationalism) and the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ), focusing on critical examinations of race, gender, mental health, and educational equity in Finnish society.

Dr. Kurki's research interests center on the intersection of race, gender, and mental health, with particular attention to Black experiences in Finland. Her work critically examines how colonial legacies manifest in contemporary educational and mental health systems, especially regarding young people of color. She investigates systemic inequalities through frameworks of intersectionality and decolonial theory, with a focus on what she terms the 'coloniality of student support services' where race, disability, and mental distress intersect.

Her recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong thematic focus on visibilizing marginalized experiences, particularly through the lens of Black women's embodiment of colonial mentality and expressions of Black joy in Finland. Kurki consistently applies critical race and feminist frameworks to analyze how whiteness operates in supposedly neutral spaces like youth mental health services, revealing how Blackness becomes hyper(in)visible in these contexts. Her work spans academic journals, policy-relevant commentaries, and public engagement through media appearances addressing racism and social inequality.

• Honorable mention by the Nordic Journal of Migration Research Editorial Board for the Best Article Award 2022-2024
• Kunniamaininta: Nuorisotutkimusseuran gradupalkinto 2008
• Vuoden Tiedekynä 2025 -ehdokas (yhteiskuntatieteet)

As an academic supervisor, Kurki has guided multiple doctoral students through their research journeys, with 7 doctoral theses under her supervision or co-supervision. Her externally funded research projects demonstrate significant grant acquisition success, including the MadEnCounters project funded by Koneen Säätiö (2023-2026), the RaMePOC project on Racism, Mental Health and Young People of Colour (2020-2023), and active participation in the AGORAEd research center focused on social justice and equality. She has received funding from foundations and research councils for 11 projects throughout her career.

Dr. Kurki leads and participates in several collaborative research initiatives including the MadEnCounters project which aims to visibilize counter-stories of mental health, and the RaMePOC project investigating the intersection of racism and mental health among young people of color. Her work often involves partnerships with NGOs and community organizations to create antiracist change through research collaboration, and she has delivered numerous invited talks and public presentations addressing racism in mental health services and educational systems.