Fabian Fagerholm is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University. His work bridges software engineering, human-computer interaction, and empirical research methodologies. He actively participates in research groups such as Software and Service Engineering (SSE) and Human-Computer Interaction and Design (HCID). Fagerholm's research explores: Continuous experimentation in software development Developer cognition and mental models Agile methodologies and team dynamics Low-code platforms and end-user programming Software engineering education and pedagogy His publications reflect a strong empirical focus, with recurring themes of human factors in technical systems and educational innovation. He has received notable awards including: Journal of Systems and Software Best Paper Award (2018) EUROMICRO SEAA Distinguished Paper Award (2017) Teacher of the Year (2013) Nokia Foundation Scholarship (2013) Fagerholm contributes to software engineering infrastructure through tools for experimentation and boundary artifacts, enhancing collaboration in distributed teams.
Masood Masoodian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Media at Aalto University, Finland. He leads the Visual Communication Design research group, focusing on interactive visualization for health, energy, and sustainability contexts. Previously, he held roles at the University of Waikato (2000-2016), University of Southern Denmark, and Massey University. Education: Doctoral degree in Other disciplines from the University of Waikato (1999) Research interests include design thinking, visualization of complex data, and creative aging interventions. Notable projects include the EU-funded INT-ACT initiative (2024-2026) addressing intangible cultural heritage. He has received an award for collaborative work on video game ludonarrative analysis (2019). Recent activities include organizing workshops on map-based interfaces, co-creating cultural heritage methods, and delivering public talks on digital design. Supervised two theses and contributed to 131 peer-reviewed outputs, emphasizing human-centered design and sustainability. Grants: Principal investigator for multiple EU projects totaling over 3 years of active funding. Awards: Prize for 'Comedy in the Ludonarrative of Video Games' (2019). Labs/Teams: Visual Communication Design group, collaborating internationally on projects like INT-ACT's cultural heritage mapping.
Suvi Saarikallio is a Professor of Music Education at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland , affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Music, Art and Culture Studies . She leads interdisciplinary research bridging music psychology, education, and therapy, with a focus on youth development, emotion regulation, and well-being. Research Groups: Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain (2022-2029), Musiconnect (2022-2027) Key Projects: Music and You, Stress & music listening, MPACT (Music and Sports), Music and Cross-modal Associations, SOSUS (Social Sustainability for Children) Research Trends: Her recent publications explore music's role in emotional regulation, cross-modal perception, health outcomes, and educational applications. Themes include AI's impact on music evaluation, rhythm's connection to cognitive skills, and music's influence on stress and social-emotional development. Contact: suvi.saarikallio@jyu.fi
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.
Teemu Malmi is a Professor in the Department of Accounting at the School of Business, Aalto University, Finland. He has been an influential figure in management accounting research, particularly in management control systems and performance measurement. His academic qualifications include a Doctoral degree (1997), Licentiate degree (1994), and Master's degree (1990), all in Business and Economics from the Helsinki School of Economics. His research interests span management control, performance measurement, digitalization in finance, public sector accounting, and organizational behavior. His work often integrates empirical analysis with case studies, including a notable investigation into Nokia’s management control challenges. He has published extensively in top-tier journals and contributed to major handbooks in accounting and information systems. The recent trend in his publications (2020–2025) reflects a growing emphasis on digital transformation, blockchain, data analytics, and the evolving role of finance functions. His research increasingly bridges traditional accounting with technology and public policy, especially in healthcare financing and sustainability. Scientific Awards: “Thirst for knowledge” (“Tiedon Jano”) award by JOKO Executive Education Oy (2001) Teemu Malmi has supervised at least five theses and led externally funded research projects, including the SOTE/Kaks project (2015–2016) on social and healthcare services. He has been actively involved in academic service, such as serving on editorial boards, hosting international scholars, presenting keynote lectures, and participating in funding organization committees. His media appearances demonstrate his engagement in public discourse on welfare policy and regional financing in Finland. There is no indication of part-time status, retirement, or former staff designation; he remains an active academic.
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUTFinland
Lea Hannola is a researcher at the LUT School of Engineering Sciences (Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT) focusing on digital twins, sustainable manufacturing, and Industry 5.0. Her work bridges technological innovation with eco-conscious business practices. Academic Rank: Researcher Contact: Lea.Hannola@lut.fi Hannola's research emphasizes digital twin applications for sustainability, including circular manufacturing, smart energy systems, and human-centric industrial design. She explores competencies required for Industry 5.0 adoption, workforce empowerment through digital tools, and integration of environmental and data-driven strategies in manufacturing. Her publications span topics like smart building management , quantum computing challenges , and supply chain sustainability , with a recurring focus on simulation, interoperability, and lifecycle value creation. Key trends include AI-driven sustainability, green HRM, and digital ecosystems. As a scholar, Hannola contributes to advancing digitally extended product-service systems and addressing sociotechnical challenges in industrial digitalization. Her work impacts manufacturing competitiveness, energy efficiency, and organizational transformation.
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUTFinland
Ari Jantunen is a Professor in Strategy Research at the LUT Business School, LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland. He is affiliated with the Department of Business Studies and has been actively contributing to academic research in strategic management and organizational behavior. University: LUT University School: LUT Business School Department: Business Studies Position: Professor, Strategy Research Email: Ari.Jantunen@lut.fi He earned his D.Sc. (Econ.) from Lappeenranta University of Technology in 2005, establishing a long-standing academic career focused on strategic change and innovation. Ari Jantunen’s research centers on strategic change and renewal, organizational cognition, dynamic capabilities, dominant logic, and industry dynamics . His work explores how managerial cognition influences strategic decisions and organizational performance, particularly in industries undergoing transformation such as media, energy, and forest sectors. He also investigates sustainability strategies, the circular bioeconomy, and corporate social performance. His recent publications reflect a strong trend in using cognitive mapping, qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and simulation modeling to understand strategic phenomena. Articles on dominant logic, strategic renewal, and cognitive diversity highlight his focus on the cognitive underpinnings of strategic management. Among his notable works are studies on the bioeconomy transition in the pulp and paper industry, innovation races in high-tech sectors, and the interplay between corporate social and financial performance. Jantunen has collaborated extensively with researchers such as Anni Tuppura, Satu Pätäri, Kalevi Kyläheiko, and Anssi Tarkiainen, often co-authoring studies in journals like European Management Journal , Journal of Business Research , and Futures . Ari Jantunen is actively engaged in research and supervision, though no specific students are listed in the provided sources. He does not appear to have received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards, but his consistent publication record in high-impact journals underscores his academic contributions. He has been involved in interdisciplinary research projects, particularly those examining the interface between the energy and forest sectors, the diffusion of energy services, and innovation in cleantech firms. His work often combines theoretical rigor with practical insights, contributing to both academic discourse and industry applications.
Satu Rekonen is a Lecturer at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University School of Engineering. She holds a Doctoral degree (2019), Licentiate degree (2018), and Master's degree (2010) in Engineering and Technology from Aalto University. Her research focuses on Design Thinking, innovation management, and creative processes in multidisciplinary teams. A key contribution is exploring how diverse expertise impacts creativity and organizational innovation. Her work addresses wicked problems through collaborative frameworks exemplified in the Sitra Lab case study. Rekonen has received the 2014 Teaching achievement of the year award from Aalto University School of Engineering for educational excellence. She has conducted visiting research at Stanford University (2017), ESADE Business School (2018), and Swinburne University of Technology (2012), enriching her cross-cultural academic perspectives.
Heidi Maija Wilhelmiina Lammassaari serves as Doctoral Researcher and Project Manager within the Research Group for Educational Psychology at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, actively contributing to innovation initiatives through the Doctoral Programme in Cognition, Learning, Instruction and Communication. Education: Master's in Educational Psychology (KM) from LO Her research examines the intersection of teacher cognition and modern educational challenges, with particular expertise in epistemic belief systems, digital competency development (especially practical and algorithmic ICT skills), and cross-cultural well-being frameworks. She investigates how teachers' theoretical understanding shapes classroom practices across diverse sociocultural contexts, while simultaneously exploring interventions for enhancing financial literacy among youth in digital consumer societies through projects like DigiConsum. Analysis of her 2022-2024 publications reveals a cohesive research trajectory emphasizing methodologically rigorous cross-national comparisons, with growing attention to mixed-reality learning environments and job-crafting strategies that optimize educator engagement. Her work consistently bridges theoretical educational psychology with practical innovation in teacher training. Grant Leadership: Helsinki Innovation Hub (2024-2026): Developing collaborative innovation ecosystems in education DigiConsum (2022-2025): Strategic Research Council-funded project improving youth financial skills in digital consumer society Uutta Luova Opettajankoulutus (2018-2019): Creative teacher education development Yrityselämän nuoret sukupolvet (2016-2017): Business life generational study (as Project Manager) She actively participates in the Helsinki Education Hub network, fostering connections between academic research, educational policy, and technological innovation through regular seminars and conference presentations across Nordic and international venues.
Matti Minkkinen is a Docent at the Turku School of Economics (University of Turku) and a Postdoctoral Researcher in Information Systems Science at the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship. His work bridges futures studies with ethics, privacy, and socio-technical systems in digital transformation. Recent roles focus on responsible AI governance and foresight methodologies. University: University of Turku School: Turku School of Economics Department: Department of Management and Entrepreneurship His research explores how digital technologies reshape organizational practices, emphasizing Futures Consciousness as a human capacity. Key themes include responsible AI , privacy protection , and causal layered analysis in scenario planning. Publications highlight ethical governance frameworks and EU policy debates. Recent articles address generative AI ethics , ML system integration , and AI auditing across journals like Communications of the Association for Information Systems and Information and Management . Topics cluster around socio-technical systems, digital ethics, and institutional adaptation to AI. Teaching and editorial roles include co-curating student research collections at Finland Futures Research Centre. No explicit scientific awards are listed, but his work contributes to foresight theory and practice.
Elina Mäkinen serves as Professor of Science, Technology, and Organization at Tampere University's Faculty of Management and Business. She concurrently holds a docentship at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences and serves on editorial boards including the Journal of Organizational Change Management. Her institutional affiliations reflect deep engagement with organizational studies across Nordic academic networks. Her academic background includes a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Sociology from the University of Helsinki and a Ph.D. in Organization Studies from Stanford University. This foundation supports her research at the intersection of institutional theory and scientific practice. Mäkinen's research centers on interdisciplinary knowledge production, examining how academic careers evolve at disciplinary boundaries. She investigates ethical regulation in science, academic entrepreneurship, and team science dynamics, with particular focus on boundary work and knowledge integration processes. Her work reveals how researchers navigate institutional constraints while pursuing translational science. Analysis of her publication trajectory shows consistent focus on boundary phenomena in science, evolving from early work on clinical recruitment to recent studies of ethical governance. The corpus demonstrates methodological diversity across ethnographic, interview-based, and network analysis approaches within organizational sociology frameworks. As principal investigator, she leads two major projects: The Emergence of Health and Life Science Innovations (HeLSI) and Competing Imaginaries of Ethical Science (IMAGES), funded by the Foundation for Economic Education (2020-2023) and Emil Aaltonen Foundation (2023-2025). These projects examine structural and ethical dimensions of contemporary science. Her laboratory work centers on transdisciplinary collaboration, particularly through the New Social Research unit, where she investigates how researchers build shared epistemic frameworks across disciplinary divides. Current efforts focus on ethical regulation systems in non-medical research contexts.
Raisa Carpelan is a University Lecturer and Docent in Educational Sciences specializing in school development and leadership at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Educational Sciences. She serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Program in Cognition, Learning, Teaching and Communication and the Doctoral Program in School, Education, Society and Culture. Her research focuses on educational leadership, inclusive education, diversity, multilingualism, and social justice in education. With expertise in educational change, reforms, and special education development, Carpelan examines leadership practices through multiple lenses including early childhood education settings, comprehensive schools, and policy implementation contexts. Her work particularly addresses how principals construct meaning around inclusive leadership and navigate diversity in Finnish educational environments. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of leadership theories in real-world educational settings, with particular attention to multicultural contexts, migrant communities, and equity-focused practices. Her research consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation challenges faced by educational leaders. As an active researcher, Carpelan participates in numerous funded projects including EDUCA (Academy of Finland Flagship Program), OPH VEPO leadership development initiatives, MångSam research on multilingualism, and INSPECT COVID19 studies. She has supervised doctoral work and contributed to educational evaluation through the University of Helsinki Centre for Educational Evaluation (HEA). Her professional activities extend to academic service including membership on the Swedish Research Council evaluation panel, conference organization, and invited presentations on reimagining teacher education and inclusive school community development.
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.
Junlin Yu is an Academy Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Education, University of Helsinki (Faculty of Educational Sciences). His research focuses on educational psychology, particularly student motivation, school burnout, achievement goals, and gender role influences. Yu has supervised doctoral theses at multiple universities including University College Dublin and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He has received significant funding including Academy Research Fellowships and Strategic Research Council grants. Research Interests Student motivation and mindset profiles Socioemotional well-being in educational contexts Gender differences in academic performance and engagement Climate change education and youth development Key Projects "ClimComp": Climate change competency education (2021-2026) Resilient School Systems (2021-2024) Growth mindset cultivation in classrooms (2023-2028) Yu's recent work explores interconnected trajectories of achievement goals and well-being, as well as the impact of teacher beliefs on student mindset development. His studies frequently appear in top journals like Learning and Instruction and British Journal of Educational Psychology.
Dr. Honglin Chen is a Professor of Gerontological Social Work at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), based in the Department of Social Sciences within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Her research focuses on digital health interventions, cross-cultural care policies, and aging populations, with a strong emphasis on nonpharmacological interventions for older adults. She leads the Social Work Research and Education team and has contributed to projects like the EU-funded DigiWELL initiative and WHO-commissioned studies on multi-sector collaboration for healthy aging. Her interdisciplinary work integrates social sciences, healthcare, and ethics to advance welfare technologies in geriatric care. Notable collaborations include studies on mild cognitive impairment interventions, caregiver support, and mental health service needs in urban China. She has published extensively in journals such as the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and Ageing International , with a focus on intervention efficacy, policy analysis, and cross-cultural methodologies. Key research interests include gerontological social work, digital health, and the psychosocial impacts of aging. Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing both clinical and policy dimensions of eldercare. Grants and projects highlight her role in shaping innovative eldercare solutions and evidence-based practices.
