Arto Koistinen ([email protected])
Deputy Head of Department is responsible for e.g., strategic development and follow-up related to research, postgraduate education, innovations and reserarch infrastructures.
My duties include actions related to impact through e.g., local and national ecosystems, and collaboration with industry and institutes.
Research
My expertise in the research include research on material technology, especially on material analysis, development of materials and methodology, and material interactions. We are one of the leading teams for microplastics research in Finland. I have lead several microplastics’ research projects (e.g. funded by the Academy of Finland).
Circular Economy of water in industrial processes
This “Circular Economy of water in industrial processes”, CEIWA project develops solutions for digitalization, technology development, management of different pollutants, and legislative aspects to enhance circular economy of industrial waters. In addition to providing solutions to water intensive industries, the project also serves technology and service providers. This project supports various industries to obtain circular economy of waters as core business. University of Eastern Finland will concentrate on development of multimetal and microplastic analysis.
Circular Economy Solutions for Microplastics: Indo-Finnish Scientific Collaboration for Innovation
Direct microplastic exposure via foodstuff and food packaging – plastic leachables and their health effects (diMPex)
Hanna Lehtimäki ([email protected])
Hanna Lehtimäki (Ph.D., Title of Docent), is a Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Eastern Finland Business School. Her research examines sustainable innovation with theoretical frameworks on strategic management, leadership, ecosystems and entrepreneurship. Her current research focuses on transition to sustainable circular economy. Her articles have appeared in academic journals internationally and she has authored and co-authored books on strategic management and leadership.
Hanna Lehtimäki (Ph.D. Bus Econ) is a professor of Innovation Management in Business School and a Director and Founder of Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy (CECE) since 2023 at the University of Eastern Finland. She and her research team, SunLab, advance transdisciplinary social sciences research and societal impact in sustainable circular economy transition. In her capacity as a Vice Director of UEF strategic research community Sustainable Resource Society: Circular Economy, Energy and Raw Materials (RESOURCE RC), she advances multidisciplinary social sciences research agenda for sustainability transition in business and society.
She is an experienced research project leader. Currently she leads a work package in a research consortium Partnership model – plastic circularity funded by Business Finland, a development project Circular economy microcredentials (CE4ALL) funded by EU Just Transition Fund, Northern Savo and Northern Karjala Regional Funds, and a research project Leading Regenerative Circular Economy (LEADSUS) funded by the Finnish Foundation for Economic Education. She was a a work package leader in Research Council of Finland funded research project Multi-level governance of critical materials for future electric mobility (GOVERMAT) 2022-2025, vicePI and a work package leader in an Academy of Finland Strategic Research Council project Circular Economy Catalysts: From Innovation to Business Ecosystems (CICAT2025) (2019-2023) and a leader in Finnish Indian research consortium Circular Economy Solutions for Microplastics: Indo-Finnish Scientific Collaboration for Innovation (CESMI) (2022-2024).
She is also active in advancing sustainability education in her capacity as a leader of Sustainability leadership international Master’s programme at the UEF Business School. She supervises doctoral researchers and serves as a supervisor in the doctoral education pilot Sustainability Transformations (SusTra) funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.”
Her research has appeared in journals internationally and she has recently co-edited books on art and sustainability and catalyzing sustainable circular economy. The recent edited books are:
Ghosh, Pooja, Carrasco-Navarro, Victor, Lehtimäki, Hanna (Eds.) (2025). Circular Plastics Economy: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Elsevier.
Lehtimäki, Hanna, Taylor, Steve, Galvão-Lyra, Mariana (Eds.) (2024). Art and Sustainability Transitions in Business and Society. Theoretical Insights and Engagement. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-031-44218-6. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-44219-3
Lehtimäki, Hanna, Aarikka-Stenroos, Leena, Jokinen, Ari, & Jokinen, Pekka (Eds.) (2023). The Routledge Handbook of Catalysts for a Sustainable Circular Economy. Routledge. ISBN 9781032212449.
Joni Järvenpää ([email protected])
I study the health effects and movements of nano-sized microplastics in the human body and cells using molecular modeling. I also do modeling for our sirtuin research group.
Kaisa Raninen ([email protected])
Food researcher in the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
I have knowhow in food analysis, microbiology, microplastics, clinical nutrition interventions and biorefining, and special expertise in analysis of volatile compounds (GC-MS).
I am currently working in the ELTUVA project, which investigates the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) and freeze-drying on the microbiological quality of food in cooperation with local food companies. I am also a contact person of Food Valley network, which is promoting the local food sector.
Kristina Leppälä ([email protected])
My mission is to create knowledge and understandings of the phenomena of practices in life, work, and work life practices, particularly during technology innovations and during sustainability transitions and implementations. I study practitioner logics, emergence, and co-creation with qualitative methodologies and adopt a practice theoretical approach.
Microplastics and health are particular emerging topics which interest me.
Laura Tomppo ([email protected])
I manage the SIB Labs services. We offer versatile imaging and characterisation services for both companies and research groups. In addition to service activities, we implement research and development projects in cooperation with educational institutions, research organisations and industry.
I am involved in a number of projects that focus on material technology, material characterization and continuous monitoring, the use of artificial intelligence in the analysis of continuous measurements, biorefining and microplastics. My background is in research on natural materials such wood and natural fibers, like hemp, and composites produced from these. I am involved in the implementation and development of education in materials technology and bioeconomy.