Doctoral researchers

Take a look at the publications, blogs and news by SusTra people in the News section!

In addition, we have 24 doctoral researchers on board, funded by Nessling Foundation

Our doctoral researchers in alphabetical order

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Abraham Openy

Doctoral researcher

University of Oulu

PhD topic: Respiratory Health Effects of Household and Ambient Air Pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Geospatial and Epidemiological Assessment Using Demographic Health Survey (DHS) and Satellite Derived Particulate Matter (PM)

Akseli Tolvi UTU SusTra

Akseli Tolvi

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Participatory GIS and GeoAI in sustainable management of cultural heritage in dynamic landscapes

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Anudini Wijayarathna

Doctoral researcher

University of Helsinki

PhD topic: Engaging Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Land Stewardship in the Arctic Amidst the Green Transition

Arpa Aishwarya UTU SusTra

Arpa Aishwarya

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Operationalizing Socio-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS) framework to integrate Justice in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Planning

Charlotte Ehrmann UEF SusTra

Charlotte Ehrmann

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

The legal relationship between energy, climate, and environmental EU law – A case study of critical raw materials

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Claudia Kovács

Doctoral researcher

Aalto University

PhD topic: Rethinking organizational relations with nature: From extractive logics to regenerative economic action

David Caicedo Sarralde UH SusTra

David Caicedo Sarralde

Doctoral researcher

University of Helsinki

PhD topic: Political ontologies and the cultural political economy of seed sovereignty: Indigenous and ancestral knowledges of Nariño as a guide for agroecology policies

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Emil Österman

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Conservation of unknown diversity in the age of global decline in biodiversity

Emma Nykänen TAU SusTra

Emma Nykänen

Doctoral researcher

Tampere University

PhD topic: Business Model Innovations for Circular Economy and Carbon Management: Value Creation for Sustainability and Decarbonization

Felix Dade JYU SusTra

Felix Dade

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: Civil society and governance of the energy transition: Participation and energy citizenship in Zambia

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Heli Kukkurainen

Doctoral researcher

University of Oulu

PhD topic: Investigating the direct and indirect effects of sustainable diets on respiratory health

Inka Lappalainen TAU SusTra

Inka Lappalainen

Doctoral researcher

Tampere University

PhD topic: Multi-stakeholder perspective on corporate biodiversity management in sustainability transitions

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Janna Jokela

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Transformational futures narratives for human-material relationships

Juni Sinkkonen UEF SusTra

Juni Sinkkonen

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: Planetary psychology and psychologists’ perceptions on their roles in sustainability transformation

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Kaisa Kurki

Doctoral researcher

LUT University

PhD topic: Towards sufficiency in food consumption: An empirical study on combining good life with sustainable food system

Katri Jurvakainen JYU SusTra

Katri Jurvakainen

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: The hidden abode of subjectivity production: The role of desire cultivation in reproducing and resisting capitalist relations

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Krista Leppänen

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: The impact of sustainability reporting practices on strategic decision-making

Kristiina Tolvanen UTU SusTra

Kristiina Tolvanen

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Future biodiversity visions

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Kukka-Maaria Vuorikoski

Doctoral researcher

University of Lapland

PhD topic: Possibilities of contemplative pedagogy as part of sustainability and human flourishing

Liisa Mäkinen JYU SusTra

Liisa Mäkinen

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: Exploring future orientations and pro-environmental behaviour among Finnish youth: implications for sustainability transitions

Lotta Staffans LUT SusTra

Lotta Staffans

Doctoral researcher

LUT University

PhD topic: Market concentration and wealth inequality as root drivers of the planetary crisis – what should the public sector do?

Lu Fu SusTra Univ of Lapland

Lu Fu

Doctoral researcher

University of Lapland

PhD topic: Measuring Sustainability Competencies at the Workplaces

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Marleena Halonen

Doctoral researcher

Aalto University

PhD topic: Systems approach to strategic sustainability management

Miia Toikka VY

Miia Toikka

Doctoral researcher

University of Vaasa

PhD topic: Sustainability agency of civil servants: navigating tensions of sustainability transformations within the politico-administrative system

Mikko Lampinen UEF SusTra

Mikko Lampinen

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: Ecosystem governance in circular economy of sustainability transition materials

Myele Rouxel UEF SusTra

Myele Rouxel

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: The EU Legal System and Sufficiency: Legal Constraints and Opportunities for Transformational Change in the Food and Energy Contexts

Niko Nesterinen UEF SusTra

Niko Nesterinen

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: Interactive Promotion of Sustainability Transformations in the North Karelia Biosphere Reserve: A Case Study on Networked Environmental Governance

Niko Väistö LY SusTra

Niko Väistö

Doctoral researcher

University of Lapland

PhD topic: Pohjoisen jokiluonto ja luontokulttuuri. Osana väitöskirjaa taideproduktio yhteisön kanssa: osallistava dokumenttifilmiprojekti jokivarren ihmisten kanssa

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Paul Petry

Doctoral researcher

University of Helsinki

PhD topic: Predict spatial and temporal shifts in bird communities in remote landscapes due to human disturbances to inform other species’ needs

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Rose Thompson Coon

Doctoral researcher

University of Vaasa

PhD topic: Strengthening legal systems for sustainability transformation through complexity-aware evaluation

Satu Aavanranta UH SusTra

Satu Aavanranta

Doctoral researcher

University of Helsinki

PhD topic: Multispecies justice in biodiversity conservation

Silja Holma UEF SusTra

Silja Holma

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: Perceptions of planetary belonging

Suvi Autio LY SusTra

Suvi Autio

Doctoral researcher

University of Lapland

PhD topic: Producing and visualizing young people’s images of the future through media art in the north

Tanja Niemi JYU SusTra

Tanja Niemi

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: Nordic eating for planetary well-being: identifying and fostering interfaces for socio-culturally accepted dietary transition

Tarian Jenkins SusTra UTU

Tarian Jenkins

Doctoral researcher

University of Turku

PhD topic: Imagining the good life, exploring how images of a good life future can be utilised to develop sufficiency solutions

Tiia Kontkanen JYU SusTra

Tiia Kontkanen

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: Enablers and Constraints of Nonformal Sustainability Education

Valtteri Vuorinen UEF SusTra

Valtteri Vuorinen

Doctoral researcher

University of Eastern Finland

PhD topic: Institutionaalinen luottamus ja kollektiivisen toiminnan logiikka kestävyyssiirtymässä – vertaileva tutkimus

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Venla Isomäki

Doctoral researcher

Aalto University

PhD topic: Just water governance in sustainability transformations: comparative case study from Finland

Venla Leppilampi JYU SusTra

Venla Leppilampi

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä

PhD topic: The carbon and biodiversity footprint of Finnish transportation system

Vilma Ristikangas Aalto SusTra

Vilma Ristikangas

Doctoral researcher

Aalto University

PhD topic: Unpacking different resilience understandings in the implementation of European water policy