My research is mostly focusing on medication, patient and client safety. I am an Academy Research Fellow and Professor at the University of Eastern Finland, Department of Nursing Science. I have the title of docent (medication safety) at the University of Helsinki and title of docent (nursing science) at the University of Eastern Finland. I am also working as a Research professor at the Research Centre for Nursing Science and Social and Health Management, Kuopio University Hospital, Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, Finland. I have also a Visiting Fellow position at King’s College London. Years 2023-2024, I was working as an editor-in-chief of the Finnish Journal of Nursing Science and since 2025 as an editor in the Nurse Education Today – journal.
Marja Kuittinen ([email protected])
I am responsible for maintaining the library system’s customer interface UEF Primo and managing the library’s publication metrics services. I am actively involved in both the assessment of responsible research and the promotion of open science.
Marja Laasonen ([email protected])
Marja Laasonen is a psychologist, special psychologist of clinical neuropsychology, and teacher. Since 2021, she has been a professor of logopedics and the head of the subject at the University of Eastern Finland. In addition, she works as an adjunct professor and principal investigator at the University of Helsinki, as well as directs research at the Helsinki University Hospital. Previously, Marja Laasonen has held professorships in psychology and logopedics at the University of Turku and worked as a university lecturer in clinical neuropsychology specialisation at the Department of Psychology at the University of Helsinki.
Laasonen has extensive experience in clinical neuropsychology and has been conducting research on developmental and learning difficulties for over 20 years. Her research areas have included dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental language disorder. In her most important current project, Laasonen focuses on developmental language disorder in a longitudinal setting and at multiple levels of analysis, ranging from genetics and brain research to multilingualism and interaction: https://www.hus.fi/helsli-seurantatutkimus The project applies advanced machine learning methods, comparisons to international cohorts, and register-based research.
In education development, Laasonen has promoted blended and digital practices, and most recently, artificial intelligence experiments. She also utilises the possibilities of artificial intelligence in science communication and in making scientific knowledge accessible to the public: https://childdmatters.substack.com/
Marja Maljanen ([email protected])
My research interests have been: Greenhouse gas (GHG ) fluxes and biogeochemical cycles in drained or disturbed peatlands; GHG fluxes from agricultural and forest soils under different management (e.g. manure, min. N or ash fertilization); GHG fluxes from geothermal areas; Nitrous oxide dynamics at low soil temperatures; HONO (nitrous acid) emissions and production mechanisms in boreal soils
Marja Sorvari ([email protected])
Marja Sorvari is Professor of Russian Literature and Culture, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus. She specializes in post-Soviet Russian literature from the perspectives of gender, cultural memory and multilingualism. Her Ph.D. dissertation examined Russian women’s autobiographical texts of the 1990s. Her current research focuses on multi- and translingual literature, displacement and (post)memory, and the reception of Russian literature in Finland. She has published two monographs, many peer-reviewed articles and co-edited several collections of articles.
Marja Syrjämäki ([email protected])
My responsibilities in the field of special education primarily include early childhood special education teacher (VEO) training: supporting professional growth as well as supervising pratical training and theses. My research interests focus on the structures of child support in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and inclusive pedagogy that strengthens children’s peer interactions and participation.
Research Gate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marja-Syrjaemaeki/research
Marjorita Sormunen ([email protected])
I work part-time as a Senior University Lecturer in the Unit of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition. My duties include supervising theses (Master’s theses and doctoral dissertations) and working on research projects.
My Title of Docent includes health promotion, particularly in the school context. I serve as the co-principal investigator of the WHO Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study and as the principal investigator of the research area Children’s and youth health learning environments. From 2019 to 2024, I served as the leader of the research group of the SHE Network (Schools for Health in Europe).
My main position is at the University of Turku, Department of Nursing Science, where I work as a Professor of Nursing Science (population health choices and health promotion)
Marjukka Kolehmainen ([email protected])
My research concerns about the health effects of foods and their components that I have been studying in acute, short and long term clinical dietary interventions for more than 20 years. Regarding foods, main scientific interest has been in the impact of whole grain cereals and berries and more recently also in other plant based foods and their bioactive components from the molecular level to whole body physiology. The recent research focus has been in the effects mediated by the gut microbiota and related gut barrier function. Thus, we have been setting up in vitro model for studying gut microbiota activity and will continue developing it further with modular gut barrier interaction modelling. Gut related activities are of great interest since its strong interaction with high fibre and protein foods and contribution to the development of inflammation, but also its contribution to both physical and mental health and wellbeing. In addition, I am interested in gut-liver axis and gut barrier permeability in this context, if we can find diet related factors to support healthy gut barrier and to prevent liver disease.
Marjukka Laiho ([email protected])
The focus of my academic work is the process of knowledge production. Specifically, I make observations on research settings and positionalities, power relations, and partnerships among the diversity of humans and also other creatures involved in research processes. It is essential for me to create novel opportunities and explore such ways of knowledge production that construct a better world and promote solidarity, and justice. Interdisciplinarity and equity serve as guiding principles in both my empirical and theoretical work, which are also reflected in my teaching and lecturing.
My research is grounded in the sociology of religion and the sociology of knowledge. Within this framework, I have critically examined both the construction of theological knowledge and the nature of theology per se. While sociology of theology is at the core of my research, I also take a broader, power-analytic perspective to understand the world. This perspective is informed by my background in political science. The social and societal impact of both research and teaching are my key values and guiding principles.
Methodologically, I am drawn to critical, caring, and collaborative research approaches (e.g., Co-Research Network). In empirical research, I am particularly inspired by reflexive, creative and utopian methods, and I enjoy experimenting with these. Experience, the permeability of lived, everyday life, and the equity of all creatures serve as philosophical anchors in my research. These are the roots that I use in reaching towards queer and collaborative futures as well as planetary ways of knowledge production.
UEF CRIS/Publications and Research Activities
Teaching in University of Eastern Finland
Master’s course (obligatory) 5 ects: Practical Theology, Lived religion and Social Scientific Research (head teacher, in Finnish) (2020 –>)
Master’s course (obligatory) 5 ects: Theology as Constructing Meaning (visiting teacher, in Finnish) (2023 –>)
Bachelor’s course (optional) 5 ects: Methods Circle for Theology and Religious Studies (head teacher, in Finnish) (2023-2025)
Bachelor’s course (optional) 5 ects: Religion and Gender Studies: a Workshop (visiting teacher, in English) (2024–>)
Marjut Roponen ([email protected])
My research focuses on the early-life environmental exposure, immune development and the risk of allergic diseases. I also study how climate change affects pollen allergenicity factors and the prevalence of allergic diseases in Finland. I have specialized in immunotoxicology and -epidemiology.