When science and movement lead the way – Tiina Föhr’s career story
My path toward sports medicine felt right from early on. I was originally trained as a physiotherapist, and already during my studies it became clear to me that I wanted to deepen my expertise in sports medicine. One thing led to another, and in 2009 I began my master’s studies in sports medicine at the University of Jyväskylä. The academic world drew me in, and before long I found myself working alongside my studies as a technical assistant on various research projects.
After graduating, in 2012, I started as a doctoral researcher under the supervision of Urho Kujala. In my dissertation, I examined the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and stress during workdays, with a particular focus on heart rate variability. I completed my PhD in 2016 and then spent several years on parental leave.
A new vantage point to the intersection of research and healthcare
I returned to research in 2020 as a postdoctoral researcher in Elina Sillanpää’s research group. A new turn in my career came in 2023 when I began working in the BioRecall project. The project has given me a front-row seat to building and developing research collaboration between the university and the wellbeing services county. My workdays are filled with meaningful tasks, variety, continuous learning and flexibility. At the same time, I am able to continue my own research on workplace well-being.
In the BioRecall project, we collect data on lifestyle, health and living environments from individuals registered in the Central Finland Biobank. Our aim is to gather more biobank consents and expand the pool of potential respondents.
Movement for everyday balance
My days usually begin and end with movement: I commute by bike or on foot, or at the very least, I walk my kids to and from daycare. Jyväskylä’s compact structure and short distances make this possible. This way, I can reserve as much free time as possible for my family. Morning movement and fresh air help me tune into the workday, and movement after work helps me unwind from it.
