Statistical research at the University of Jyväskylä has been recognised

In his award-winning doctoral thesis, Santeri Karppinen developed new Bayesian statistical simulation methods for state space models and applied state space models to medical patient data and citizen science data in ecology.   

- I would like to thank the Finnish Statistical Society for my award. I would also like to thank my thesis supervisor, Matti Vihola, and my co-authors, whose support during the thesis process was invaluable, says Santeri Karppinen. 

Cooperation with the Natural Resources Institute Finland and Tampere University Hospital 

In collaboration with researchers from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Karppinen developed a model in his doctoral thesis that can be used to estimate the location and number of animal populations' territories based on preliminary data and citizen science data.  

Karppinen also conducted applied research in collaboration with Tampere University Hospital. The collaboration resulted in the development of new prediction models that are simpler than previous models and offer comparable or better prediction accuracy. The patient data collected in this way could potentially be used to support treatment in the future.  

- The development of statistical methods and models plays a key role in interpreting the masses of data accumulated from various scientific fields. Statistics can be used to distill essential information from complex data sets to support decision-making, explains Karppinen.  

Santeri Karppinen defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Jyväskylä in 2022. He worked with his supervisor, Professor Matti Vihola, on a research project funded by the Academy of Finland.  

Santeri Karppinen's doctoral dissertation can be read at:  https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-39-9226-2  

Master's thesis supports the development of social security  

Each year, Kela awards a prize for a scientifically meritorious master's thesis on a topic of interest to social security. The 2024 thesis award was granted to Annakaisa Ritala. She graduated in statistics from the University of Jyväskylä. 

In her thesis, Ritala developed a statistical model that can be used to improve the SISU microsimulation model's ability to predict social assistance clientele and the amount of assistance received.  

- It has been rewarding to see how statistical methods can be applied to research on socially significant topics. I am very grateful that Kela has also appreciated my work, says Annakaisa Ritala.  

The Kela press release states that Ritala's thesis is exceptionally meritorious and has received an excellent grade. The panel evaluating the candidates for Kela's thesis award also considered the topic of the thesis to be highly relevant to society and its findings to be useful in improving the impact assessment of social security legislation. The purpose of the Kela award is to encourage students to study social security and its development.  

The Kela thesis award is 2000€. Annakaisa Ritala's master's thesis can be read at: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202406204913    

Statistical Society awards several University of Jyväskylä theses  

Previous doctoral dissertation awards from the Finnish Statistical Society have also been given to theses completed at the University of Jyväskylä. The dissertation award for the four-year period 2017–2020 was shared between Santtu Tikka and Anna-Kaisa Ylitalo, who both defended their dissertations at the University of Jyväskylä. In addition, the Finnish Statistical Society awarded the Leo Törnqvist Prize to Antti Yläjärvi for the best master's thesis in statistics in 2023. He graduated from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Jyväskylä. 

- The awards for research in statistics demonstrate the University of Jyväskylä's excellence in the field and show how statistical thinking supports the development of society in many ways, says Professor of Statistics Juha Karvanen from the University of Jyväskylä.  

Further information:  

• Professor Juha Karvanen, +358408054667, juha.t.karvanen@jyu.fi 

• Professor Matti Vihola, +358408053448, matti.s.vihola@jyu.fi   

• Doctor of Philosophy Santeri Karppinen, skarppinen@iki.fi  

• Master of Science Annakaisa Ritala, 020 634 1327, annakaisa.ritala@kela.fi