“This research is not just about making connections. It is about making the right connections that can propel industries forward. In a world where networking is pivotal, understanding the delicate balance in the diversity-similarity continuum can reshape how we approach professional relationships,” says Ekaterina Karjalainen.
In her doctoral dissertation, she goes beyond the conventional paradigms of professional networking. By delving into the nuanced relationship between diversity, similarity, and serendipity, her work presents a roadmap for more dynamic and fruitful connections in the professional landscape.
“The traditional recommendation models often rely solely on similarity. In this work, I am showing that strategically introducing diversity into recommendations can broaden users' networks, potentially leading to valuable collaborations that otherwise would be missed”, Karjalainen summarizes.
Her approach addresses the need for diversity in networking and shows the potential of serendipity in driving innovation and knowledge exchange. The research comes at a crucial juncture when the professional world recognizes the limitations of echo chambers, isolated environments where individuals are exposed only to information and ideas that align with their existing beliefs.
“I envision recommendation strategies that can open doors one did not even know existed, building unexpected connections that can drive innovation and change the course of one's career,” Ekaterina Karjalainen says.
Karjalainen's research offers tangible insights to professionals, organizations, developers, and designers looking to enhance recommender systems in fostering diverse and serendipitous connections. By bridging the gap between the theoretical and the practical, Karjalainen's work has the potential to reshape the landscape of professional networking. It also urges us to rethink how we connect, collaborate, and innovate in the digital age. This work doesn't just contribute to academic discourse but offers a blueprint for a more vibrant and interconnected professional world.
Ekaterina Karjalainen's doctoral dissertation is a compilation of five articles published in recognized academic venues.
Public defence on Friday 15 December
The doctoral dissertation of MSc Ekaterina Karjalainen (née Olshannikova) in the field of Human-Computer Interaction, titled Serendipity and Diversity in Professional Social Matching: Towards Diversity-enhancing Recommendation Strategies, will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences of Tampere University in auditorium Paavo Koli in the Pinni A building (address: Kanslerinrinne 1, Tampere) at 13:00 on Friday 15 December 2023.
The opponent will be Senior University Lecturer Antti Salovaara, Aalto University. The custos will be Professor Thomas Olsson, Tampere University.
The doctoral dissertation is available online.
The public defence can be followed via remote connection.
Photograph: Matti Karjalainen