Himat Shah ([email protected])
Dr. Himat Ali Shah is a University Lecturer at the School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio campus). He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Eastern Finland, has lived in Finland since 2018, and previously lived in London, United Kingdom, for three years, where he completed a Master’s degree. He holds two Master’s degrees in total and is Oracle certified (OCP-10g).
Prior to his current position, he served as a Project Manager (ADINO) and AI Expert at Centria University of Applied Sciences. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant Professor at QUEST Nawabshah, Pakistan, a public sector university, contributing to teaching, academic administration, and curriculum development. He later worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Turku and has since built a strong profile across applied research, higher education, and industry collaboration, with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics.
He brings extensive teaching and administrative experience, combining academic leadership with hands-on project management.
His professional contributions include innovative keyword extraction methods and participation in high-impact AI and data-driven projects that bridge academia and industry. Proficient in Python, SQL, R, and web technologies, he is dedicated to leveraging Artificial Intelligence to deliver actionable insights, drive innovation, and create measurable impact.
Innovation Management (INNO)
Irina Lavikainen ([email protected])
– Receipt, processing and evaluation of further utilization of invention disclosures
– Proof of Concept funding application and project implementation support services
– Draft funding application support services
– Spark Finland program support services
– Technology transfer and advocacy related to the commercialization of research results
– Administration related to university patent applications and other industrial property rights
– General support and advice related to innovation activities and research impact planning
Isaac Afara ([email protected])
I am an Associate Professor with more than a decade of experience in applied and translational spectroscopy. My research interests range from applied spectroscopy, through multivariate and machine learning analysis in biospectroscopy, to computational biophotonics, all with the aim of bench-to-bedside translational of spectroscopy-based innovation for state-of-the-art optical characterization and diagnosis of biological tissue pathologies.
I currently lead the Biomedical Spectroscopy Lab (BSL, est. 2018), a multi-disciplinary team of Physicists and Engineers focused on applied spectroscopy and computational biophotonics research.
Jasmiina Leskinen ([email protected])
I work as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland in the Department of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education in Joensuu. My duties include both research and teaching tasks.
Throughout my career, I have studied STEAM learning, particularly in makerspace learning environments. My research focuses on the collective learning processes of children and adults. I have examined these processes from various perspectives, drawing on sociocultural theoretical understanding. I have studied, among other topics, distributed leadership, relational expertise, innovation practices, and the collective construction of (in)equity in technologically supported makerspace learning environments.
In our current research group, we explore the potential of AI-based chatbots to support teaching and learning.
Jenni Bäckman ([email protected])
In my doctoral dissertation, I investigate how students in the fields of mathematics and the natural sciences develop their engagement with studies in various learning environments. My focus is particularly on pedagogical approaches, teaching models, and learning environments. Nowadays, university education is offered in multiple formats, such as on-campus, remote, and online, which pose challenges for building student engagement. Engagement with studies is crucial for completing a degree and fostering a sense of belonging.
In addition, I work as a project researcher in the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) initiative. Our work package 5.2 focuses on innovations in education, such as teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and the use of educational technology and learning analytics.
Research projects:
- 2024-2026 YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) – WP 5.2 Research Publication on Innovation in Education in the YUFE Context, Project researcher
- 2022 Utilization of learning analytics in the various educational levels for supporting self-regulated learning (OAHOT) project (Business Finland), School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Project researcher
- 2021 DigiCampus -Retrofitting Learning Landscapes-subproject (Ministry of Education and Culture), School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, Project researcher
Johanna Krohns ([email protected])
Johanna is currently pursuing a PhD on the topics of emotions, multimodal learning analytics, education, and escape rooms at the University of Eastern Finland. Her work focuses on determining if emotions can be used to affect the learning outcomes of escape rooms. She has built her career so far as a project specialist and project manager for a series of innovation and research projects outside of the university. Johanna also has experience in planning and developing digital games, and she has worked on planning and creating pedagogical escape rooms.
Juha Kinnunen ([email protected])
I work as a Project Manager in a project called “Circular economy skill development for working life” (CE4ALL) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher in ToFuCa project. I earned my Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration) degree in the autumn of 2025. Furthermore, I teach part-time as an hourly teacher in work and organizational psychology. I am a member of the Center for Sustainable Circular Economy (CECE) and the Sustainable Innovation Research Team (SUN LAB). My research focuses on topics such as: sustainability themes in working life, resilience, self-management, self-determination theory, organizations, leadership/management themes, metacognitive skills, fear of change, etc.
Katariina Ylönen ([email protected])
University Teacher and Doctoral Researcher in the International Business and Sales Management Research Group
Research Areas
The role of the sales function in organizational innovation. The role of B2B sales in organizational innovation processes and in developing innovation potential, sales innovativeness, innovation culture, and the management of innovation activities in sales teams.
Sales management and knowledge sharing in sales teams. Opportunities and challenges in sales management when developing innovation activities, barriers and enablers of knowledge sharing, and the use of technology and artificial intelligence in innovation and knowledge sharing in sales teams.
Workplace and organizational culture. Leadership and development of workplace culture, changing workplace cultures, and research on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB).
Teaching and Supervision
Sales and Buyer Behavior in Retailing; International Sales; Introduction to Business Studies; Supervision of theses.