I work as a doctoral researcher in early childhood teacher education. My research focuses on play pedagogy and how early childhood education professionals can support all children’s participation in play situations. In my doctoral research, I examine the possibilities of brain-ergonomic play pedagogy in early childhood education.
Minna Lipponen ([email protected])
I am a doctoral researcher at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, and otorhinolaryngologist currently training in phoniatrics at Kuopio University Hospital.
My research investigates Finnish speech-in-noise tests (FINSIMAT and FMST) in children. The aim is to establish age-specific normative values for FINSIMAT and to identify factors influencing test performance. This work seeks to improve the validity and clinical utility of paediatric hearing assessment and auditory rehabilitation.
Work history (Employment)
Doctoral Researcher, University of Eastern Finland (2026– )
Physician specializing in phoniatrics, Kuopio University Hospital (2023-)
ENT Specialist, Kuopio University Hospital (2015–2023 )
Education
Specialist in Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) 2015
Licentiate of Medicine, Kuopio University 2009
Minna Niittykoski ([email protected])
I am senior scientist (Docent/Adjunct Professor) and an initiator of the brain tumor research line which utilizes patient material. The current interest involve malignant brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma. We are determing its characteristics and aiming for the discovery of new cancer biomarkers. In addition, we are using multiple approaches to modeling disease. I have coordinating role in the study which is working in the network manner. More detailed information of biomarkers may benefit patient diagnostics and help to select and design better and more personalized therapies in the future.
Minna Piipponen ([email protected])
I am a Human Geographer, DSocSci, My latest research interests focus on international migratory processes related to Russia. The earlier interests covered community and regional development related to restructuring processes of natural resource industries especially in North-West Russia and border regions. In addition, I do organizational tasks at the Karelian Institute including e.g. providing support for the Institute’s researchers and projects in their daily work, as well as communication and reporting tasks.
I work also as the Coordinator of the Borders, Mobilities and Cultural Encounters research community (BOMOCULT RC). This research community brings together research teams and scholars from the Karelian Institute, the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Historical and Geographical Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, as well as from the School of Humanities and the School of Theology at the Philosophical Faculty.
Minna Ruokonen ([email protected])
I am a teacher and researcher of translation who is particularly interested in translators’ experiences of their status and working conditions. I have conducted three extensive surveys on these subjects in Finland: one among translation students (277 respondents), one among professional translators (450 respondents, with Leena Salmi, Tiina Tuominen and Taru Virtanen) and one among in-house translators (185 respondents, with Minna Hjort). I am also an active developer of translation teaching: I am one of the administrators of The Finnish Database of Teaching Methods in Translation and Interpreting. I regularly add new methods and materials to the Database and organise workshops for developing the Database. In 2017 I was awarded one of the four annual “Excellent Teaching Practitioner” awards at the University of Eastern Finland.
Minna Tanskanen ([email protected])
As Vice Dean responsible for higher education in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, I work in close cooperation with the Vice Deans of other faculties and the Rector responsible for higher education, lead the faculty’s Education Development Committee, and am responsible for many issues related to student selection, curriculum work, teaching quality development and monitoring of study progress. My university-level task is to lead UEF’s sustainability and responsibility activities and act, among other things, as the chair of UEF’s sustainability and responsibility steering group.
My basic position is a senior university lecturer in cultural geography and my special area of responsibility is the development of subject teacher training, which is why I have also collaborated extensively with other faculties. Through Erasmus projects, I have been involved in international education development work for over 20 years.
My research keywords are geography, landscape geography, social environmental research, didactic geography and the development of higher education. In recent years, I have participated in the interdisciplinary research of forest owners’ forest discourses. I also supervise doctoral dissertations, especially in themes of environmental education and landscape geography.
Mire trend research project
Mirella Miettinen ([email protected])
I work as an Associate Professor (regulation of chemicals and advanced materials) and research group leader at the UEF Law School. My Environmental and Pharmaceutical Law research group focuses in particular on the regulation of chemicals and medicinal products, see our research group page for more details.
Current projects
- Mainstreaming pollinator stewardship in view of cascading ecological, societal and economic impacts of pollinator decline (Butterfly) (European Union, Horizon Europe; 2025-2029)
- The impact of EU chemicals policy and legislation on green transformations in the pharmaceutical sector in the EU (PharGTrans) (the Research Council of Finland; 2023-2027)
Mirjami Ikonen ([email protected])
I started at the beginning of 2025 as a Senior Lecturer in Pedagogical Development at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. As a researcher and university lecturer at the Business School, I study leadership issues and trust development, breaches, and restoration in work communities and networks, particularly from a process ontological perspective. Processes of organizational behavior inspire me as interpretations of actors. In my studies, I use experimental, creative qualitative methods of data collection and analysis (e.g., method of empathy-based stories, compassion method, portraiture, and co-produced autoethnography). In pedagogy, I rely on inquiry learning with different collaborative learning methods (e.g., drama, escape room, LEGO blocks for improvisation). I received the University of Eastern Finland’s Excellent Teaching Practitioner Award in 2018, the Finnish Economists’ Teaching Award in 2019 for the development of online teaching, and the Student Association Optimi’s Good Teacher Award in 2023.
Mithilesh Prakash ([email protected])
Academy of Finland Postdoctoral Researcher