AGNES research group

Principal investigator

Taina Rantanen Professor of Gerontology and Public Health

• Promotion of functional ability and wellbeing in ageing population, active ageing, person-environment interaction, physical activity and mobility, epidemiology, randomized controlled trials, longevity

Katja Kokko Docent in Psychology (life-span psychology), Research Director

• Psychological and emotional well-being and their links to active ageing and physical functioning.

Erja Portegijs Senior Researcher, PhD

• Personal and environmental factors and their associations with activity and mobility of older people.

Timo Rantalainen Senior Researcher

• Gait dynamics, and sedentary and physical activity behaviour quantification based on multiple day wearable sensor recordings.

Mary Hassandra Senior Researcher

• Intervention development, application and evaluation to change behaviors across life span and different settings

Anne Viljanen Senior Lecturer, Ph.D., Docent in Gerontology

• Sensory functions and active aging

Merja Rantakokko Docent in Gerontology, PhD, Postdoctoral researcher

• Equal opportunities for participation in physical activity, person-environment interaction and wellbeing

Milla Saajanaho Postdoctoral Researcher

• Resilience, active ageing and psychological well-being

Laura Karavirta Postdoctoral Researcher

• Ambulatory assessment of physical activity and heart rate for health and performance

Katja Pynnönen Postdoctoral Researcher

• Counsellor in AGNES-promo: Promotion of active ageing among Finnish older people -study,

• Active ageing, perceived well-being, life goals, motivation, support of autonomy, social interaction

Johanna Eronen Postdoctoral Researcher

• Health literacy among older persons

Anu Karvonen Postdoctoral Researcher

• Mind-body connection; ambulatory heart rate in connection with psychological well-being and cognitive functioning, psychological and physiological resilience

Eeva Aartolahti Postdoctoral Researcher

Timo Törmäkangas Postdoctoral Researcher in statistics

• Application of item response theory (IRT) models in measurement scale development.

Inna Lisko Postdoctoral Researcher

• Physical and cognitive health

Pia Laukkanen Doctor, D.Med.Sc.

Timo Hinrichs Senior Researcher, Doctor of Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland

• The association between arterial stiffness and active ageing.

Doctoral candidates

Kirsi Keskinen Project Researcher, MSc

• Outdoor mobility, environmental gerontology, spatial analyses

Lotta Palmberg M.Sc. (Health Sciences), public health nurse

• Fatigability, sleep, physical activity and unmet physical activity need

Sini Siltanen M.Sc. (Health Sciences)

• Doctoral dissertation about the associations of psychological resilience, physical performance, and perceived autonomy with active ageing.

Heidi Skantz Technical Assistant, M.Sc. (Health Sciences)

• Themes related to the walking, walking modifications, unmet physical activity need and active ageing.

Other research group

Markku Kauppinen Project Researcher, Statistician, M.Sc

Eeva-Maija Palonen Project Researcher, M.Sc. (Health Sciences), physiotherapist

• Research coordinator

Niina Kajan Project Researcher, M.Sc. (Sport Sciences)

• Project management, communication