UEF Neuro-Inno PhD Programme

01/06/2026

Wrapping up a PhD and graduating takes much more than completing the dissertation manuscript 🎓
In our recent UEF Neuro-Innovation workshop on finalising the and preparing for the , our researchers explored not only the formal process and rich academic traditions, but also the practical arrangements surrounding the defence day and the post-doctoral celebration ( ) 🎉

We were also joined by two “experts by experience”, UEF postdocs, sharing valuable insights and hints on how to not just survive, but also enjoy, the big day ✨

Key takeaways:
* Prepare to explain your research and present your argument clearly and calmly 🧠
* Rehearse the protocol and flow of the public examination in advance 📖
* Anticipate questions on methods, results, limitations, impact, and future directions 🔍
* Remember: your defence is not just an endpoint, but also a milestone in a longer academic tradition, continuing beyond graduation to the conferment of doctoral degree in the doctoral conferment ceremony 🎓 (https://www.uef.fi/en/conferment-ceremonies)

Interested in learning more about the dissertation requirements and public examination at the University of Eastern Finland?
👉 https://kamu.uef.fi/en/tietopankki/doctoral-researcher/dissertation-requirements-and-public-examination/

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

27/05/2026

📢 Again a new publication by a UEF Neuro-Innovation PhD researcher ✨
Congratulations Shekhar Singh and the team!🧬

📄 Read the paper here: https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.uef.fi:2443/doi/10.1111/cpr.70232

13/05/2026

Interdisciplinary and intersectoral exposure of doctoral researchers has been a key aspect of theNeuro-Innovation MSCA COFUND PhD programme. What other things do the PhD researchers, their supervisors, programme coordinators and partners appreciate about the programme? Read in this 👇 article!
https://www.uef.fi/en/article/brain-health-researchers-equipped-for-an-innovation-journey




Itä-Suomen yliopisto - University of Eastern Finland (UEF)

04/05/2026

❓ What comes after a PhD in Neuro-Innovation?
Since 2021, the Neuro-Innovation MSCA COFUND PhD Programme at the has hosted 14 doctoral researchers working on brainhealth throughout life.

The programme has combined neuroscience, innovation management, social sciences and law, as well as computer science and applied physics to prepare researchers for careers across academia, industry, the public sector, the third sector and entrepreneurship.

Where will these young talents end up? 🌍 Time will tell — but below you can already get a glimpse of both their research and their future aspirations! 👇

🎥 In this video, our doctoral researchers present their research, explain why it matters, and share what they hope to do after their PhD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V9mmEgVfcI&t=19s

📘 Prefer reading? The booklet Neuro-Innovation MSCA COFUND PhD Programme: Meet the Researchers is now available online: https://erepo.uef.fi/items/76cbdadd-bde6-472f-9f22-4b7518ac80e4

3 likes. "Meet Our Neuro-Innovation PhD Researchers"

20/04/2026

✨ New publication alert! ✨

Utilizing advanced 3D imaging and machine learning, Andrius Penkauskas from UEF Neuro-Inno PhD Programme and colleagues found that a new 3D brain marker, asphericity of the brain’s lateral ventricles, may help identify which patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) are likely to benefit from shunt surgery. This finding supports more accurate treatment decisions and helps avoiding ineffective surgery. 🧠

Read more:
in English: https://www.uef.fi/en/article/novel-3d-brain-marker-predicts-surgical-success-in-dementia-causing-hydrocephalus
in Finnish: https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/uusi-3d-aivomarkkeri-ennustaa-leikkaushoidon-onnistumista-inph-muistisairaudessa

The paper was recently published in Fluids and Barriers of the CNS:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-026-00788-4

16/04/2026

What has it been like doing a PhD in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND programme at the University of Eastern Finland?

Our UEF Neuro-Innovation doctoral researchers summarize their experience as:
- emotional
- transformative
- smooth
- energizing
- creative
- evolving
- vibrant
- surprising
- eye-opening

The experience has also included the luxury of not having to worry about funding for 4 years, learning to unlearn and learning resilience. All in all, it has been a new experience for everyone!

Are you doing a PhD? How would you describe your experience so far? Comment below!

12/04/2026

✨️Here is what the rest of our PhD researchers have been up to and what they hope to do in the future✨️

11/04/2026

Last Thursday, we had our official Kick-out event where our researchers got to reflect on their Neuroinnovation journey🧠

What have our researchers been up to, and what do they hope to do in the future? This is what some of our researchers had to say.

10/04/2026

Yesterday we had our official Kickout event. Although the programme will be going on until September 2027, for some of us our time in the Neuroinnovation programme is coming to an end.
So what better way to reflect on the past 4 years of our programme than a big Kick-out event with everyone involved in this project?

University of Eastern Finland Neuro-Innovation PhD Programme

09/04/2026

‼️Older immigrants in Finland face everyday problems that impede the realisation of their rights‼️

A fresh study by our Alex Berg and colleagues reveals challenges faced by older immigrants in Finland when seeking social and healthcare services, employment and citizenship.

➡️ Limited access to trained interpreters and missing health records can delay or compromise healthcare.
➡️ Discretionary decision-making and inconsistent information create unequal access to services.
➡️ Limited recognition of foreign qualifications and structural discrimination hinder employment.
➡️ Health challenges can impede language learning, restricting pathways to employment and citizenship.

What could be done about this?
💠 Use specialised interpreters in healthcare settings.
💠 Provide personal orientation sessions to inform immigrants of their rights and available services.
💠 Promote inclusive labour market reforms, including anonymous recruitment.
💠Improve health assessments and consider language barriers in citizenship processes.

An open-access version of the article is available in the repository of the Itä-Suomen yliopisto - University of Eastern Finland (UEF): https://erepo.uef.fi/handle/123456789/37136

https://www.uef.fi/en/article/older-immigrants-in-finland-face-everyday-problems-that-impede-the-realisation-of-their-rights

A new study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland highlights the challenges faced by older immigrants in Finland when seeking social and healthcare services, employment and citizenship.