My doctoral research investigates the democratic dimensions of ownership governance in municipally owned energy companies, drawing on energy democracy theory as its analytical framework.
Antti Tiilikainen ([email protected])
In my doctoral dissertation I research voluntary national defence in Northeast Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway and Estonia). Concurrently I belong to Kone funded project “Not just a fence: Disentangling the boundaries of order, logic, and control”.
Antti Voss ([email protected])
Postdoctoral researcher Antti Voss did his PhD on non-destructive testing of concrete using electrical methods, especially focusing on monitoring internal moisture distributions of cement-based structures with electrical capacitance tomography. Currently, he is working on an application that aims at detecting and quantifying environmental gas leakages utilizing remote sensing data and Bayesian state estimation approaches.
Antti-Jussi Kouvo ([email protected])
I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland. My teaching focuses on research methods, especially statistical ones. My research focuses on well-being, social cohesion and social networks. I have studied the topics in the contexts of welfare states, neighborhoods and the disadvantaged groups. For example, in our research project “The neighboring networks of the older city dwellers” we looked at the role of neighborhood networks for the well-being of older people and in our current project called SISU (funded by Research Council of Finland) I lead a work package that focuses on the role of institutional trust during the green transition. In CoROL project funded by the Finnish Research Council we analyze the current state of public trust towards the legal system in European countries as well as threats to rule of law. I also love to collect data. At the moment, together with our country team, I implement the data collection and research of the European SHARE survey research infrastructure (Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe) in Finland. The focus of my teaching activities has been statistical research methods and the broader philosophical-methodological questions of social research. In addition, I have practiced many kinds of teaching that deal with the themes of inequality, community and well-being. The development and management of teaching is also close to my heart. SISU project (in Finnish) SHARE Home Publications (Google Scholar)
Anu Laakkonen ([email protected])
I study forest sector’s change as a part of sustainability transformation and circular bioeconomy. In my interdisciplinary doctoral dissertation, I investigated the reconfiguring value creation logic and networks of the Finnish forest sector under changing business environment and a transition to sustainable circular bioeconomy. I have also done research on corporate foresight in the forest-based bioeconomy, pulp industry in Uruguay and forest owners’ climate change attitudes. Currently I work as a grant funded post doctoral researcher and a WP leader in a three-year project which investigates strong sustainability business models of forest service companies. My post doctoral research interests are related to investigating how forest-based companies can co-create sustainable, sufficiency-oriented and regenerative value to nature and society with their business operations. I’m involved in teaching related to sustainable forest bioeconomy, foresight in forest bioeconomy and qualitative research methods.
Anu Lainio ([email protected])
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the research project ‘Breadline Utopias: Alternative Futures of Material Assistance,’ funded by the Kone Foundation. We explore utopias of those working in food assistance now and in the future, as well as those who need food aid. I earned my Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2024 from the University of Surrey in the field of sociology of education. My doctoral research was part of the ERC-funded Eurostudents project, which explored constructions of contemporary higher education students by various social actors across six European countries. In my thesis, ‘Discursive Politics of Studentship: Representation of Higher Education Students in the News Media Across Europe,’ I examined and compared constructions of students in newspapers in Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and Spain. My research interests encompass a wide range of higher education-related themes, including student identities and discursive practices of identity formation, marketisation of higher education, educational inequalities, media studies, and cross-national and international higher education research. Currently, my research focuses on utopian theories and methods, students’ utopias of food assistance, as well as the political imagination and agency of students in a changing welfare society.
Anu Liikanen ([email protected])
Director of Research Services of the UEF: Research and Innovation Services at the University of Eastern Finland is responsible for providing expert services to support researchers and research processes, and for assisting the university’s leadership in the strategic management of research and innovation activities. Research and Innovation Services also provides supporting services related to research funding, business collaboration and innovation activities, as well as doctoral education. Research assessment and development, strategy work on research, profile building of research activities (PROFI funding of the Academy of Finland), secretary of UEF’s Research Leadership Group
Anu Morikawa ([email protected])
Morikawa’s doctoral research focuses on existential well-being and how to support it. She examines the topic in Finnish university communities from three different perspectives; students, university staff and, as a support provider, the Chaplaincy. In particular, attention is focused on the factors that constitute support for existential well-being. The results of the first article in the dissertation show that existential well-being support in the educational institution was conceptualised as the strengthening of the experience of meaningfulness and was implemented through three main themes: multifaceted expertise, an understanding of inclusivity and tools for existential well-being support. Morikawa’s research deepens our understanding of holistic well-being and how to support it at different stages of life.
Anu Puusa ([email protected])
I work as a Professor in Management. My current research interest areas are co-operatives, work-community skills/Organization Citizenship behaviour, organizational identity and change. I have published textbooks and numerous journal articles and other publications. I also believe in giving back: I have positions of trust such as membership of the board at Cooperatives Europe and Pellervo Coop Center (I am bit of a co-operative enthusiastic). I am experienced organizational speaker and an awarded teacher. I am an academic who does not believe that theory and practice are opposites. My philosophical background lies in the interpretative paradigm: “We look at the same target, but do we see the same thing?” I am a realist who tend to look at the bright side of life. I believe in the power of questions. Joint pondering and cooperation are the ways forward.
Anu Ruusunen ([email protected])
The main focus of my research is to investigate the role of nutrition and dietetics in mental health/psychiatric disorders both in general and clinical populations.