Juhana Venäläinen

Juhana Venäläinen is Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at the School of Humanities at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu. His key research interests are in the transformations of work and the economy, including novel concepts such as the sharing economy, the platform economy, and the gig economy. Currently, he leads a research project on “Post-ownership as an interpretation and experience of economic change” (2022–2025, funded by Kone Foundation) as well as UEF’s sub-project in the consortium “Digital Aestheticization of Fragile Environment (DigiFREN)” (2022–2025, funded by Academy of Finland and ERA-NET/Horizon Europe). Venäläinen has published and edited volumes and special issues about employment precarity, the experience economy, and financial cultures. His research articles have gained awards such as “Vuoden tiedekynä 2016” (“Academic pen of the year”, for the best Finnish article in social sciences in 2013–2015, together with Tero Toivanen) and “Best article of the year” (in Oikeus journal, 2011). Currently, he also works closely with the ERC Advanced Grant project “SENSOTRA” (Sensory Transformations and Transgenerational Environmental Relationships in Europe, 1950–2020). He holds a Title of Docent (Adjunct Professorship) in Cultural Studies of Work and the Economy in the University of Jyväskylä.