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Digital and Sustainability Transitions in Society

Research platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-organisational collaboration

Cross-Disciplinary Researcher Identities: Panel discussion on 21 January

While many research careers attach firmly to a specific tradition, some scholars find themselves adventuring between disciplines and fields. While interdisciplinarity is a buzzword easily thrown around in academia, it is not so obvious what it actually takes to "do" interdisciplinary work.

Cross-Disciplinary Researcher Identities: Academic Nomads, Bridge-Builders, or Jacks-of-all-trades?

How do you build a researcher identity when traversing multiple scientific traditions? What are the ways of working in an interdisciplinary setting? Where can you find support to cross fields? And is it worth all the hassle? To find some answers and share your thoughts, welcome to join our event.

  • Time: Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 10:15–11:45 (with coffee and networking 9:45–10:15 on-site)
  • Location: Café Aula & Toivo, Main building, Tampere University centre campus & online via Zoom
  • Register through this link by 14 January especially if you plan to attend on site.

In this panel, you’ll learn how researchers from different fields tackle interdisciplinarity and how it affects one’s career path. Expect a lively discussion on the joys and burdens of cross-disciplinary research careers, and please join the discussion afterwards with your own experiences. Before and after the panel, you’ll also have a chance to make new interdisciplinary connections that can pave the way for fruitful future collaborations.

Panelists

We have the honor of hosting a great set of panelists from Tampere University community:

  • Inigo Flores Ituarte, academy research fellow, Automation Technology and Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
  • Sirkku Kotilainen, professor, Media Education,  Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
  • Elina Mäkinen, professor, Science, Technology, and Organization, Faculty of Management and Business
  • Nelli Piattoeva, professor, Sociology of Education, Faculty of Education and Culture
  • Otto Sahlgren, doctoral researcher, Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences

Chairing the panel: Thomas Olsson, professor, Human-Centered Design, Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences

The panel is organised by DigiSus together with Tampere University HR Services and the doctoral study field of Convergence of Humans and Machines. The event is a part of the Perspectives on a Research Career event series at Tampere University.

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Photo: Jonne Renvall / Tampere University