Doctoral Dissertation Awards presented to 57 researchers

The awards ceremony took place during Tampere University’s Annual Celebration, which was held in the Main Building on the city centre campus on Wednesday 15 April 2026.

The awards were presented by Tapio Visakorpi, Vice President for Research at Tampere University, together with representatives of the University of Tampere Foundation and the Industrial Research Fund.

Doctoral Dissertation Awards from the Industrial Research Fund at Tampere University of Technology

Doctoral Dissertation Awards (€1,500)

Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC)

Mirza Begh, Doctor of Science (Technology), Electrical Engineering 
Gradient-Based Predictive Pulse Pattern Control of Induction Machine Drives

Arne Fischer-Bühner, Doctor of Science (Technology), Communications Engineering
Advanced Neural Network Modeling Techniques for RF Power Amplifier Linearization

Davi De Carvalho Freitas, Doctor of Science (Technology), Plenoptic Imaging
Sensing and Reconstruction of Plenoptic Point Clouds

Andrea Cruz Blandon, Doctor of Science (Technology), Signal Processing and Machine Learning
Computational Modelling of Early Language Acquisition: Towards naturalistic simulations and robust model assessment

Anna Gaydamaka, Doctor of Philosophy, Communications Engineering
System-Level Methods and Models for Coordination and Resource Management in UAV Networks with Directional Antennas

Eleftherios Kontodinas, Doctor of Science (Technology), Electrical Engineering 
Optimal Modulation for Automotive Electrical Drives

Isavella Koukoula, Doctor of Science (Technology), Electrical Engineering
Advanced Optimized Pulse Patterns for Medium-Voltage Drives

Vesa Lampu, Doctor of Science (Technology), Communications Engineering
Digital Self-Interference Cancellation Methods in 5G and Beyond STAR Systems

Maija Mäkelä, Doctor of Science (Technology), Communications Engineering
Cooperative Methods and Algorithms for Infrastructure-free Positioning

Elizaveta Rastorgueva-Foi, Doctor of Science (Technology), Communications Engineering
End-to-End Positioning and Mapping in Millimeter-Wave Networks : From physical signals to situational awareness

Natalia Yarkina, Doctor of Science (Technology), Communications Engineering
Value-Added Functions in 5G Cellular Systems and Associated RAN Resource Sharing

Faculty of Management and Business (MAB)

Prashanth Madhala, Doctor of Science (Technology), Information and Knowledge Management
Enhancing Data Analytics Capabilities for Value Realization in Organizations

Jarmo Uusikartano, Doctor of Science (Technology), Industrial Engineering and Management
Metatheoretical Exploration of Resource Management Concept in Industrial Ecology

Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET)

Annika Ahtiainen, Doctor of Philosophy, Biosciences
In Vitro Neuron-Astrocyte Networks and Their Modulation on Microelectrode Arrays

Kateryna Gaertner, Doctor of Philosophy, Biosciences
Molecular Determinants of Speciation, Adaptation and Interspecies Compatibility: Lessons Learned from Cell Lines

Maija Kauppila, Doctor of Science (Technology), Biomedical Engineering
In Vitro Recapitulation of the Limbal Stem Cell Niche : A mechanobiological perspective

Paula Puistola, Doctor of Science (Technology), Biomedical Engineering
Developing Clinically Compatible Bioinks and Novel Multi-material 3D Bioprinting Strategies: Applications in Human Stem Cell Based Cornea

Faculty of Built Environment (BEN)

Petteri Huttunen, Doctor of Science (Technology), Civil and Infrastructure Engineering
Hygrothermal Modelling of Sorption-Effects in Vapour Permeable Wood-Based Materials

Lauri Jaamala, Doctor of Science (Technology), Civil and Infrastructure Engineering
System-level Design Method for High-strength Steel Hollow Section Structures: Eurocode-compliant approach

Joona Vaara, Doctor of Science (Technology), Civil and Infrastructure Engineering
Race for Failure: Rendering fatigue as a competition between defects

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS)

Zixuan Deng, Doctor of Science (Technology), Chemistry
Light-Fueled Self-Sustained Soft Robotics

Royson Dsouza, Doctor of Science (Technology), Materials Science and Engineering
Numerical Analysis of Fibre-Matrix Interface for Accurate Debonding in Microbond Tests

Mathilde Hary, Doctor of Science (Technology), Physics
From Optimization to Computation : Metaheuristic Control of Optical Fiber Systems and Optical Computing

Mahdi Hejrati, Doctor of Science (Technology), Automation Science and Engineering
Systematic and Robust Control Framework for Immersive Bilateral Teleoperation: Toward Human Skill Transfer to Beyond-Human Scale

Mehdi Heydarishahna, Doctor of Science (Technology), Automation Science and Engineering
Robust Deep Learning Control with Guaranteed Performance for Safe and Reliable Robotization in Heavy-Duty Machinery

Joonas Lahtinen, Doctor of Science (Technology), Mathematics
Mathematical Methods for the Neuroelectromagnetic Inverse Problem for Focal and Unbiased Brain Imaging

Stella Zakeri, Doctor of Science (Technology), Materials Science and Engineering
Towards an Improved Ceramic Vat Photopolymerization Process Chain for Novel Complex Porous Structures : From resin formulation to post-processing

Doctoral Dissertation Awards from the University of Tampere Foundation 

Doctoral Dissertation Awards (€1,500)

Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC)

Riikka Aurava, Doctor of Philosophy, Information Studies
Game Jamming in Schools: Affordances of game jam events in general formal education

Riku Haapaniemi, Doctor of Philosophy, Translation Studies
Materiality in Translation Theory and Practice : A semiotic perspective on the materiality of texts in the translation process

Manu Harsu, Doctor of Philosophy, Mathematics
Ephemeral Modules and Scott Sheaves in Persistence

Ville Kankainen, Doctor of Philosophy, Information Studies
Hybrid Play Experience and Design in Tabletop Gaming

Taina Pitkänen, Doctor of Philosophy, Finnish Language
Puheen ymmärtäminen ja ymmärrettävyys suomea toisena kielenä käyttävien lääkäreiden kielitaidon ilmentäjänä

Faculty of Management and Business (MAB)

Luiz de Andrade Alonso, Doctor of Administrative Sciences, Social Sciences; Business, Administration and Law
Clerical Bureaucracy: An inquiry into Brazilian street-level social policy implementation 

Sami Jysmä, Doctor of Science (Economics), Social Sciences; Business, Administration and Law
Essays on the Economics of Taxation

Faculty of Education and Culture (EDU)

Nicholas Haswell, Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Education
Nurturing Relations after Forced Migration : A practice-theory perspective on participation, inclusion and belonging in the lives of unaccompanied young people

Camila da Rosa Ribeiro, Doctor of Philosophy, Education
Fractal Futures : Worlds to come in-the-making of educational theory

Jussi Mäkelä, Doctor of Philosophy, Education
Kysymys ihmisenkokoisuudesta: Taidekasvatus mahdollisuutena teknologian ajassa

Pauliina Rantavuori, Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Education
Adolescents Gaining Power: A Change Laboratory in a School Setting

Pihla Rautanen, Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Education
The Relational Social Support System and Study Engagement in Primary Schools

Jan Varpanen, Doctor of Philosophy (Education), Education
A Place Regained: Re-imaging education with immanence

Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET)

Rabab Batool, Doctor of Philosophy, Medicine
Impact Assessment of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine in South Asian Slums

Samu Luostarinen, Doctor of Medical Science, Medicine
TRPA1 in Skin and Lung Inflammation

Essi E. Honkonen, Doctor of Medical Science, Medicine
Non-operative Management of Traumatic Patellar Dislocation : Analysis of risk factors and cartilage deterioration

Ilari Mäki-Opas, Doctor of Medical Science, Medicine
TRPA1 Is Involved in Inflammatory Skin Diseases Through Inflammation Phenotype Skewing

Faculty of Social Sciences (SOC)

Eija Eronen, Doctor of Social Sciences, Social Policy
Tuki ja toimijuus äitien vertaisryhmässä: Kokemuksia toimintaan osallistumisesta

Heli Hagfors, Doctor of Social Sciences, Social Psychology
Why Do We Gamble? An integrative approach to gambling motives and problem gambling

Anna Huhtala, Doctor of Philosophy, History
Sanoin kuviteltu kuolema: Väkivalta- ja onnettomuuskuolemien julkinen käsittely Suomessa 1920-1930-luvuilla

Noora Hyysalo, Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), Psychology
Substance Use in Motherhood: Unraveling its role in the mother-child relationship, maternal caregiving behavior, and child adaptation

Hannu Jouhki, Doctor of Social Sciences, Social Psychology
The Easy Way Out: Escapism as a central motive for addictions

Pete Kinnunen, Doctor of Medical Science, Epidemiology
Anticoagulation Drugs and Risk of Cancer Death: Focus on cancers of the prostate and the breast

Inka Koskela, Doctor of Social Sciences, Social Psychology 
Training Professional Skills in and for Safety-Critical Mobility Systems: A Multimodal Analysis of Air Traffic Control Apprenticeship

Jussi Lahtinen, Doctor of Philosophy, History
Kerrottu luokka: Pitkän 1970-luvun työläiskirjallisuus yhteiskunnallisten valta- ja vastakertomusten kentillä

Markus Laukkanen, Doctor of Philosophy, Comparative Literature
Co-Opting Game of Thrones with Digital Paratext Narratives: Interactivity, authorship, and affordances in the storytelling environment of the internet

Arvi Pihlman, Doctor of Social Sciences, Social Anthropology
Rescue and Exchange: Tracing sprouts of viable living in the field of help and care in Finland

Anu Soikkeli-Jalonen, Doctor of Health Sciences, Nursing Science
Omaisten psykososiaalinen tuki potilaan palliatiivisen osastohoidon aikana: Mittarin kehittäminen ja psykometrinen arviointi

Elena Zacharenko, Doctor of Social Sciences, Gender Studies
Outsourcing, Marketisation and Migrant Labour: How EU policy addresses the crisis of social reproduction

Manman Zhai, Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), Psychology
Looking at Gaze through Social and Emotional Lenses: Attentional and perceptual responses to eye gaze