- 2023-2026: Project manager in the Horizon EU Critical Changelab project that aims to build a resilient European democracy by reinvigorating the relationship between youth and democracy through civic interventions in which young people envision alternative futures for (shared) European democracy, and act on that. In addition to project management duties I actively participate in research, and workshop planning. In an example workshop designed by me, the youth exploring topics such as youth marginalization, polarization of society, or pressures caused by social media learned 2D design, and used hands-on digital fabrication processes to transform their ideas into artifacts and experiences into advocacy. These activities provided an empowering experience for them, and underlined the critical Changelab commitment to bridging thought and action.
- 2023-2026: Project coordinator in the ESR+ ARTiFAB project organizing workshops for those currently outside of working life, that combine digital small-scale manufacturing and art. The topical combination supports the goals of Oulu’s European Capital of Culture 2026 program and inspires those who have not previously been interested in technology to learn the skills of the future.
- 2022-2025: Researcher in the Academy of Finland funded FutuProta project that examines ‘technology protagonism’, i.e., how the future citizens, as private persons, employees, entrepreneurs, or policymakers – and also as technology developers – would be able to act as technology protagonists who have the ability to question digital technology use and demand for socially sustainable technological solutions that augment humans and societies, and even design such technologies themselves. The project PI is Marianne Kinnula.
- 2020-2023: Project coordinator in the ESR+Make4Change project aiming to strengthen the employability of unemployed, young people and immigrants outside the labor market through digital fabrication and making.
- 2021-2023: Researcher in the Academy of Finland Make-A-Difference project aiming to understand and facilitate the emergence of critical designer and maker identities among children. The project PI is Professor Netta Iivari.
- 2021: Researcher in the COMnPLAY SCIENCE – project, aiming to make learning science fun and creative. The project is funded by EU H2020.
- 2020: Researcher at the youth and social media study at University of Central Florida aiming to understand the activities that teens and young adults engage in on social media.
- 2018-2019: Developer teacher in the national Digital Education for All -project that aimed to make the first year university studies on information processing science open to everyone at University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, and University of Turku. Developer teacher in University of Oulu Revolutionize and Streamlining education development projects
- 2019: Researcher in the Luno -project, a collaborative project between University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences that aimed to increase the proportion of female students in post-secondary education in the software industry. It was funded by the European Social Fund.
- 2018: Researcher in the DeMaKids project at University of Oulu that aimed to empower children through technology making and designerly thinking in education. Funded by North-Osthrobothnia Regional Fund.
- 2012-2013: Researcher in the BCBU + (Barents Cross Border University Development) -project at Luleå University of technology. Funded by Kolarctic ENPI
- 2009-2011: Researcher in the Nordic Security and Safety (NSS) project at Luleå University of Technology. financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the County Council of Norrbotten.
- 2008: Research assistant in the Protage project at Luleå University of Technology, Centre for long term digital preservation.
- 2007-2008: Research assistant in the Inforsec project at Luleå university of technology and University of Oulu (Meri-Lappi Institute).
Heidi Hartikainen 