phd psychology helsinki

Doctoral school

The University of Helsinki Doctoral School offers professional skills training to doctoral researchers studying in their doctoral programmes and develop doctoral education in their fields in collaboration with the doctoral programmes and faculties in charge of them.

The doctoral programmes working under the doctoral school provide doctoral researchers with systematic education and supervision in their fields.

Doctoral study rights are always applied to from the doctoral programmes.

Do you have questions? Please contact the office email of the new doctoral school: [email protected] .

The completion of a doctoral degree is a long-term, yet rewarding process. Doctoral graduates from the University of Helsinki are scientific experts with a diverse education who can work in demanding academic research and teaching positions as well as specialist positions in the information society that require academic expertise. If you decide to apply here, start preparing in good time before the next application round and don’t forget to acquaint yourself with the different options for funding your doctoral studies.

• Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research
• Doctoral School and Doctoral Programmes
• University of Helsinki Doctoral School
• Email [email protected]
• Website https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/doctoral-schools-and-programmes/doctoral-school-in-health-sciences/doctoral-programme-in-clinical-research

Organisation profile

Organisation profile.

The Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research at the University of Helsinki is aimed at training professional researchers and academic scientists in the field of clinical medicine. The objective of the doctoral programme is to ensure that enrolled doctoral candidates develop the skills and competence necessary for independent research. The programme supports doctoral training in clinical medicine by advancing the expertise and knowledge in the following key areas:

• studying epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, diagnostics, treatment and outcome, prevention and prognosis of diseases
• critical evaluation and practical application of research results

Doctoral candidates enrolled in the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research participate in a structured training environment encompassing basic and advanced courses in clinical medicine, as well as an extensive transferable skills curriculum provided by Doctoral School in Health Sciences (DSHealth). The doctoral programme supports integration clinical work with professional research training. The goal is to achieve the degree (Doctor of Medical Science, Doctor of Dental Science, or Doctor of Philosophy) from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki within a four-year net time period.

International and National Collaboration

Dive into details.

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Juho Aaltio

Person: Doctoral Researcher

Juho A M Aaltonen

Leena-Maija Aaltonen

• Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research - Supervisor for doctoral programme
• HUS Head and Neck Center

Panu L T Aaltonen

Sari Aaltonen

• Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland - Senior Researcher
• Clinicum - Title of Docent

Person: U3 Research and teaching staff

Research Infrastructure for Psychology and Logopedics (RIPL)

Laura Hokkanen (Manager) , Laura Hokkanen (Operator) , Tommi Makkonen (Operator) & Jaakko Kauramäki (Operator)

Facility/equipment : Research Laboratory

• 10 Not started
• 30 Finished

Projects per year

Oraalisia syöpälääkkeitä käyttävien potilaiden hoidon toteutumisen ja omahoidon varmistaminen - sujuvampi hoitopolku sairaalasta apteekin kautta kotiin

Kvarnström, K. , Eestilä, S., Helminen, M., Holmström, A. , Nevala, R., Hernberg, M. M., Utriainen, T. , Loukovaara, M. , Åkerblom, F., Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä, M. , Kallio, S. & Pirttijärvi, M.

01/03/2024 → 31/12/2024

Project : Other funder

Exploring the new landscape of teaching and assessment of learning in higher education

Myyry, L. , Haarala-Muhonen, A. , Kallunki, V. , Katajavuori, N. , Kinnunen, P. A. & Pyörälä, E.

01/02/2023 → …

Project : Research project

Cutavirus in inflammatory and neoplastic skin disorders

Salava, A. , Bugaeva, O., Väkevä, L. & Söderlund-Venermo, M.

01/01/2023 → …

Cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease: Early signs and determinants of progression

Jokinen, H.

01/09/2022 → 31/08/2026

Project : Research Council of Finland: Clinical Researcher

Wood hemicellulose - a new coating material to create novel functional food ingredients (Catalyst Fund - Royal Society of New Zealand)

Ho, M. T. , Mikkonen, K. S. , Colgrave, M. & Le, T.

01/06/2022 → 01/06/2024

Publications

• 592 Article
• 518 Doctoral Thesis
• 154 Meeting Abstract
• 48 Review Article
• 14 Conference contribution
• 14 Abstract
• 10 Editorial
• 4 Other conference material
• 4 Other contribution
• 3 Anthology or special issue
• 3 Comment/debate
• 1 Entry for encyclopedia / dictionary
• 1 Foreword / postscript
• 1 Book/Film/Article review

Research output per year

Adsorption study on the formation of interfacial layers based on birch glucuronoxylans

Research output : Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

An eye tracking-based lexical processing task for preterm children at 1;6 -preliminary findings

Research output : Conference materials › Poster › peer-review

Biomarkers in HPV-related and HPV-unrelated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma : novel tools to enhance survival assessment and treatment solutions

Research output : Thesis › Doctoral Thesis › Collection of Articles

Cardiometabolic health and morbidity in offspring of women with type 1 diabetes

Clinical outcome prediction with an automated eeg trend, brain state of the newborn, after perinatal asphyxia.

• 247 Oral presentation
• 228 Invited talk
• 172 Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
• 140 Supervisor or co-supervisor of doctoral thesis
• 135 Peer review of manuscripts
• 52 Membership or other role in national/international committee, council, board
• 37 Academic visit to other institution
• 35 Academic visit at UH
• 31 Opponent of doctoral dissertation
• 29 Types for other activities - Other
• 26 Supervision of other thesis (Master's, Licentiate)
• 20 Member of doctoral thesis committee / follow-up group
• 19 Pre-examiner of doctoral thesis
• 18 Membership or other role in review committee
• 10 Public Talks
• 10 Editor of research journal
• 8 Assessment of candidates for academic posts
• 8 Membership or other role in public Finnish or international organization
• 7 Types for other activities - External teaching and subject coordination
• 3 Consultancy
• 1 Editor of series
• 1 Editor of special theme number
• 1 Editor of research anthology/collection/conference proceedings
• 1 Membership or other role of body in private company/organisation

Activities per year

The Galien Foundation (External organisation)

Aarno Palotie (Board member)

Activity : Membership types › Membership or other role in review committee

Opponent of PhD thesis / Christian Grønhøj

Antti Mäkitie (Opponent)

Activity : Examination types › Opponent of doctoral dissertation

Editorial Board of Genomic Psychiatry (External organisation)

Activity : Membership types › Membership or other role in national/international committee, council, board

Mikä on FinnGen-tutkimushanke ja miten se voi auttaa kliinistä tutkimusta, ja tulevaisuudessa diagnostiikkaa ja hoitoa?

Aarno Palotie (Speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

List of selected invited talks

Anniina Färkkilä (Speaker)

Activity : Talk or presentation types › Invited talk

Aesculap EANS Research Prize 2020

Raj, Rahul (Recipient), 2020

Prize : Prizes and awards

Aikakauskirja Duodecimin vuoden 2019 kirjoituspalkinto

Nummela, Mari Tuulia (Recipient), 15 Oct 2019

American Society of Hematology (ASH) Abstract Achievement Award

Hohtari, Helena (Recipient), 2018

Article in Editor's Picks, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology

Salava, Alexander (Recipient) & Kluger, Nicolas (Recipient), 2022

Award of the year, Finnish Association for the Study of Obesity

Pietiläinen, Kirsi (Recipient), 2017

Suunnittele vaikuttava ohjaus

Folger, P. D. A. (Creator), Helin-Salmivaara, A. (Creator), Kortekangas-Savolainen, O. (Creator) & Putkuri, T. (Editor), Duodecim Oppiportti , 2020

Press/Media

Kysyimme asiantuntijalta: aarno palotie, finngen-tutkimuksen tieteellinen johtaja jättihanke voi tuoda apua jopa 3 000 eri sairauteen.

Aarno Palotie

1 Media contribution

Press/Media : Press / Media

Aivot vaarassa IS 9.4.2024

Liisa Myllykangas

TV-haastattelu Efter Nio: Perintö

1 item of Media coverage

At the crossroads of research and business

Johan Lundin

Uraauurtava suomalainen geenitutkimus alkaa etsiä sairauksien etenemisen syitä

Doctoral admissions

You can search for doctoral programmes on the application portal Studyinfo.fi , or you can contact the universities directly about the doctoral study and research options they offer. Check the application times and procedures, eligibility requirements and other details with the university you are interested in. The following links will take you to each university's Doctoral studies and research info pages.

• Aalto University
• University of Helsinki
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Jyväskylä
• University of Lapland
• LUT University
• University of Oulu
• Hanken School of Economics
• University of the Arts Helsinki
• Tampere University
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• Åbo Akademi University  

Doctoral / PhD funding opportunities

See the advice on doctoral level scholarships  to learn where you can search for doctoral level research funding. The universities may also offer paid doctoral and post-doc positions, see below.

Academic research positions and jobs

Announcements for doctoral and post-doc researcher positions at Finnish universities can also be found on academic recruitment sites like:

• Jobs in Finland / Academic
• Academicpositions.fi

Early career researcher info & advice

Information, advice and guidelines for early career researchers - compiled by the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers (FUURT)

Scientific research in Finland

Research.fi is a service offered by the Ministry of Education and Culture where you can learn more about the Finnish science and innovation system and policy, and research conducted in Finland.

• Research.fi

Counselling for doctoral studies

Search for degree programme, open university programmes.

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Bachelor's Programmes

• Bachelor's Programme for Teachers of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Agricultural Sciences Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Applied Psychology Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Art Studies Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Biology Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Chemistry Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Computer Science (TKT) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Cultural Studies Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Economics Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Class Teacher (KLU, in Swedish) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Class Teacher, Education (LO-KT) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Class Teacher, Educational Psychology (LO-KP) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Craft Teacher Education (KÄ) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Early Education Teacher (SBP) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Early Education Teacher (VO) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: General and Adult Education (PED, in Swedish) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: General and Adult Education (YL and AKT) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Home Economics Teacher (KO) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Education: Special Education (EP) Flag this item
• Bachelor's Programme in Environmental and Food Economics Flag this item
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• Bachelor's Programme in the Languages and Literatures of Finland Flag this item
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• Bachelor's Programme in Veterinary Medicine Flag this item

Master's and Licentiate's Programmes

• Degree Programme in Dentistry Flag this item
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• Degree Programme in Veterinary Medicine Flag this item
• International Masters in Economy, State & Society   Flag this item
• Master ́s Programme in Development of health care services Flag this item
• Master's Programme for Teachers of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Area and Cultural Studies Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Atmospheric Sciences (ATM) Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Computer Science (CSM) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Contemporary Societies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Cultural Heritage Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Culture and Communication (in Swedish) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Data Science Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Economics Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Class Teacher (KLU, in Swedish) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Class Teacher, Education (LO-KT) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Class Teacher, Educational Psychology (LO-KP) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Craft Teacher Education (KÄ) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Early Education (VAKA) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: General and Adult Education (PED, in Swedish) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: General and Adult Education (YL and AKT) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Home Economics Teacher (KO) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Education: Special Education (EP) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in English Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability Flag this item
• Master's Programme in European and Nordic Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Finnish and Finno-Ugrian Languages and Cultures Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Food Economy and Consumption Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Food Sciences Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Forest Sciences Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Gender Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Genetics and Molecular Biosciences Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Geography Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Global Politics and Communication Flag this item
• Master's Programme in History Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Human Nutrition and Food-Related Behaviour Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Integrative Plant Sciences Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Intercultural Encounters Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Languages Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Life Science Informatics (LSI) Flag this item
• Master's programme in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Literary Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Logopedics Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Materials Research (MATRES) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Mathematics and Statistics (MAST) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Neuroscience Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences (PARAS) Flag this item
• Master's programme in Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Safety Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Philosophy Flag this item
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• Master's Programme in Psychology Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Russian, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Scandinavian Languages and Literature Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Social and Health Research and Management Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Social Research Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Social Sciences (in Swedish) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Society and Change Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Theology and Religious Studies Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Theoretical and Computational Methods (TCM) Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Translation and Interpreting Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Translational Medicine Flag this item
• Master's Programme in Urban Studies and Planning (USP) Flag this item
• Master’s Programme in Global Governance Law Flag this item
• Nordic Master Programme in Environmental Changes at Higher Latitudes (ENCHIL) Flag this item

Doctoral Programmes

• Doctoral Programme Brain and Mind Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Atmospheric Sciences (ATM-DP) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine (DPBM) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences (CHEMS) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research (KLTO) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Flag this item
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• Doctoral Programme in Computer Science (DoCS) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Drug Research (DPDR) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Economics Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Food Chain and Health Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Gender, Culture and Society (SKY) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Geosciences (GeoDoc) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in History and Cultural Heritage Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Human Behaviour (DPHuB) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science (ILS) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences (DENVI) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Language Studies (HELSLANG) Flag this item
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• Doctoral Programme in Materials Research and Nanoscience (MATRENA) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Mathematics and Statistics (Domast) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Microbiology and Biotechnology Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Oral Sciences (FINDOS) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences (PAPU) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Philosophy, Arts and Society Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Plant Sciences (DPPS) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes (PYAM) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Population Health (DOCPOP) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society and Culture Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources (AGFOREE) Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Theology and Religious Studies Flag this item
• Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology (LUOVA) Flag this item

Specialist training programmes

• Multidisciplinary studies for class teachers (teaching in Finnish) Flag this item
• Multidisciplinary studies for class teachers (teaching in Swedish) Flag this item
• Non-degree studies for special education teachers (ELO) Flag this item
• Non-degree studies for special education teachers (LEO) Flag this item
• Non-degree studies for special education teachers (VEO) Flag this item
• Non-degree studies in subject teacher education Flag this item
• Spe­cific Train­ing in Gen­eral Med­ical Prac­tice Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Clinical Mental Health Psychology Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Neuropsychology Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Health and Food Control (old) Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Equine Medicine (old) Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Food Production Hygiene Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Animal Diseases (new) Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Production Animal Medicine (old) Flag this item
• Specialisation Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Medicine (old) Flag this item
• Specialisation Studies in Community and Hospital Pharmacy (for B.Sc.Pharm.) Flag this item
• Specialisation Studies in Community and Hospital Pharmacy (for M.Sc.Pharm.) Flag this item
• Specialisation Studies in Industrial Pharmacy (for B.Sc.Pharm.) Flag this item
• Specialisation Studies in Industrial Pharmacy (for M.Sc.Pharm.) Flag this item
• Specialist Training in Dentistry Flag this item
• Specialist Training in Hospital Chemistry Flag this item
• Specialist Training in Hospital Microbiology Flag this item
• Specialist Training in Medicine, 5-year training Flag this item
• Specialist Training in Medicine, 6-year training Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Health and Food Control Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Equine Medicine (new) Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, general veterinary medicine Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Animal Diseases (new) Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Production Animal Medicine (new) Flag this item
• Specialist's Programme in Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Medicine (new) Flag this item
• Trainer Training Programme in Integrative Psychotherapy Flag this item
• Training Programme for Psychotherapists Flag this item

Instructions

Services for doctoral education, student advice, international exchange services and education cooperation, students’ it services, updating your personal information and contact details, study psychologist services for students, career services.

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Counselor , phd , lpc (she, her), practice at a glance.

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Marquette.edu  //  News Center  //  2024 News Releases  // 

Marquette Graduate School launches Applied Psychology Data Analytics program

May 15, 2024

Applications for the program are now open and available online .

The purpose of the Applied Psychology Data Analytics program will be to combine analytical skills with a deep understanding of human behavior to drive meaningful change in the world.

“We are excited about our new graduate program offering in Applied Psychology Data Analytics,” said Dr. Scott D’Urso, acting vice provost for graduate and professional studies and dean of the Graduate School. “This unique master’s degree program will leverage the use of big data and advanced statistical techniques to give graduates a professional edge in applying their psychology degree to jobs in a wide variety of fields, including health care, business, education social media.”

This program will teach students to conduct, evaluate and communicate high-quality research using datasets to help organizations better understand challenges they confront, address important issues and promote positive social change. Students will engage in interdisciplinary coursework between the Psychology and Computer Science departments and will earn a data science certificate upon completion of the program. This program will provide hands-on experience allowing students to work with community organizations to apply psychological principles to real-world problems by using data. Community placements will take place in a student’s last year in the program.

Marquette undergraduate students can enter Applied Psychology Data Analytics Accelerated Degree Program during their junior year and earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as few as five years.

About Marquette University

Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.

About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or [email protected] . 

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Much more than a world first image of radioactive cesium atoms

Thirteen years after the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), a breakthrough in analysis has permitted a world first: direct imaging of radioactive cesium (Cs) atoms in environmental samples.

The groundbreaking analysis, completed by a team of researchers in Japan, Finland, America, and France, analyzing materials emitted from the damaged FDNPP reactors, reveals important insights into the lingering environmental and radioactive waste management challenges faced in Japan. The study, titled ""Invisible" radioactive cesium atoms revealed: Pollucite inclusion in cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant" has just been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

The Fukushima Daiichi Meltdowns: A Continuing Engineering and Environmental Puzzle

In 2011, after the Great Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami, 3 nuclear reactors at the FDNPP underwent meltdowns due to a loss of back-up power and cooling. Since then, extensive research efforts have focused on understanding the properties of fuel debris (the mixture of melted nuclear fuels and structural materials), found within the damaged reactors. That debris must be carefully removed and disposed of.

However, many uncertainties remain concerning the physical and chemical state of the fuel debris and this greatly complicates retrieval efforts.

Attempts to Understand the Chemistry of Radioactive Cesium Results in a World First

A significant amount of radioactive Cs was released from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi reactors in particulate form. The particles, termed Cs-rich microparticles (CsMPs), are poorly soluble, small (< 5 µm) and have a glass-like composition.

Prof. Satoshi Utsunomiya from Kyushu University, Japan, led the current study. He explained that the CsMPs "formed in the bottom of the damaged reactors during the meltdowns, when molten nuclear fuel impacted concrete."

After formation, many CsMPs were lost from the reactor containment into the surrounding environment.

Detailed characterization of CsMPs has revealed important clues about the mechanisms and extent of the meltdowns. However, despite abundant Cs in the microparticles, direct atomic scale imaging of radioactive Cs in the particles has proven impossible.

Prof. Gareth Law , a study collaborator from the University of Helsinki, explained that "this means we lack full information on the chemical form of Cs in the particles and fuel debris."

Utsunomiya continued, "whilst Cs in the particles is present at reasonably high concentrations, it is often still too low for successful atomic scale imaging using advanced electron microscopy techniques. When Cs is found at a high enough concentration, we have found that the electron beam damages the sample, rendering resulting data useless." However, in the team's previous work using a state-of-the-art high-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscope (HR-HAADF-STEM), they found inclusions of a mineral called pollucite (a zeolite) within CsMPs. Law explained that "in past analysis we showed that the iron-rich pollucite inclusions in the CsMPs contained >20 wt.% Cs. In nature, pollucite is generally aluminum-rich.

The pollucite in the CsMPs was clearly different to that in nature indicating it formed in the reactors." Utsunomiya continued, "because we knew that most of the Cs in CsMPs is fission derived, we thought that analysis of the pollucite could yield the first ever direct images of radioactive Cs atoms."

Zeolites can become amorphous when subjected to electron beam irradiation, but that damage is related to the composition of the zeolite, and the team found that some pollucite inclusions were stable in the electron beam.

Learning this and informed by modelling, the team set about pain-staking analysis that saw Utsunomiya, graduate student Kanako Miyazaki, and the team finally image radioactive Cs atoms.

Utsunomiya explained:

"It was incredibly exciting to see the beautiful pattern of Cs atoms in the pollucite structure, where about half of the atoms in the image correspond to radioactive Cs."

He continued: "this is first time humans have directly imaged radioactive Cs atoms in an environmental sample. Finding concentrations of radioactive Cs high enough in environmental samples that would permit direct imaging is unusual and presents safety issues. Whilst it was exciting to make a scientific world first image, at the same time it's sad that this was only possible due to a nuclear accident."

More than an Imaging Breakthrough

Utsunomiya emphasized that the study's findings are broader than mere imaging of radioactive Cs atoms: "Our work sheds light on pollucite formation and the likely heterogeneity of Cs distribution within the FDNPP reactors and the environment."

Law further underscored relevance: "we unequivocally demonstrate a new Cs occurrence associated with the materials emitted from the FDNPP reactors. Finding Cs containing pollucite in CsMPs likely means it also remains in the damaged reactors; as such, its properties can now be considered in reactor decommissioning and waste management strategies."

Collaborator Emeritus Prof. Bernd Grambow from Subatech, IMT Atlantique Nantes University, added that: "we should now also begin to consider the environmental behavior or Cs-pollucite and its possible impacts. It likely behaves differently to other forms of Cs fallout documented thus far. Also,the effect on human health might have to be considered. The chemical reactivity of pollucite in the environment and in body fluids is certainly different than that of other forms of deposited radioactive Cs." Finally reflecting on the study's significance, Prof. R od Ewing from Stanford University underscored the pressing need for continued research to inform debris removal strategies and environmental remediation: "yet again, we see that the pain-staking analytical efforts of international scientists really can unlock the mysteries of nuclear accidents, aiding long-term recovery efforts."

The study, titled "Invisible radioactive cesium atoms revealed: Pollucite inclusion in cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant," is published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. The work was supported by bilateral funding from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Research Council of Finland.

• Weapons Technology
• Nuclear Energy
• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Energy and the Environment
• Environmental Science
• Hazardous Waste
• Nuclear power plant
• Chernobyl disaster
• Effects of nuclear explosions
• Radioactive waste
• Nuclear fission
• Nuclear reaction

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Helsinki . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Kanako Miyazaki, Masato Takehara, Kenta Minomo, Kenji Horie, Mami Takehara, Shinya Yamasaki, Takumi Saito, Toshihiko Ohnuki, Masahide Takano, Hiroyuki Shiotsu, Hajime Iwata, Gianni F. Vettese, Mirkka P. Sarparanta, Gareth T.W. Law, Bernd Grambow, Rodney C. Ewing, Satoshi Utsunomiya. “Invisible” radioactive cesium atoms revealed: Pollucite inclusion in cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant . Journal of Hazardous Materials , 2024; 470: 134104 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134104

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• Novel global study using investigators as participants finds shared acoustic relationships among the world’s languages and music

Novel global study using investigators as participants finds shared acoustic relationships among the world’s languages and music

By Bert Gambini

Release Date: May 15, 2024

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A University at Buffalo psychologist is part of a global research team that has identified specific acoustic relationships that distinguish speech, song and instrumental music across cultures.

The study published in the journal Science Advances , which involved experts in ethnomusicology, music psychology, linguistics and evolutionary biology, compared instrumental melodies along with songs, lyrics and speech in 55 languages. The findings provide an international perspective supporting ideas about how the world’s music and languages evolved into their current states.

“There are many ways to look at the acoustic features of singing versus speaking, but we found the same three significant features across all the cultures we examined that distinguish song from speech,” said Peter Pfordresher, PhD , a professor of psychology in the UB College of Arts and Sciences, and one of the 75 contributors to a unique project that involved the researchers assuming the dual roles of investigator and participant.

The three features are:

• Singing tends to be slower than speaking across all the cultures studied.
• People tend to produce more stable pitches when singing as opposed to speaking.
• Overall, singing pitch is higher than spoken pitch.

The exact evolutionary pressures responsible for shaping human behaviors are difficult to identify, but the new paper provides insights regarding the shared, cross-cultural similarities and differences in language and music − both of which are found in highly diverse forms across every human culture.

Pfordresher says the leading theory, advanced by the paper’s senior author, Patrick Savage, PhD, senior research fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, is that music evolved to promote social bonding .

“When people make music, and this is the case around the world, they tend to do so collectively. They synchronize and harmonize with each other,” says Pfordresher. “The features we found that distinguish music from speech fit well with that theory.”

Think about tempo as a mechanism to encourage music’s social aspects. Being in sync becomes more difficult as tempo increases. When the tempo slows, the rhythm becomes predictable and easier to follow. Music becomes a more social enterprise.

It’s the same with pitch stability, according to Pfordresher.

“It’s much easier to match a stable pitch with someone else, to be in sync with the collective, than is the case when a pitch is wavering,” he says.

Similarly, it’s possible that the higher pitches found in singing happen as a byproduct of songs being produced at a slower rate.

“Slower production rates require a greater volume of air in the lungs,” explains Pfordresher. “Greater air pressure in the vocal system increases pitch.”

Conversational speech, in contrast, is not synchronized. Conversations generally alternate between people.

“I would speculate that conversational speech is faster than song because people want to hold on to the stage. They don’t want to provide false cues that they’ve finished, in essence handing the conversation off to another speaker,” says Pfordresher. “Pausing in a conversation or speaking slowly often indicates that it’s another person’s turn to speak.”

The study’s novel structure, with its investigators as participants, is part of the increasingly global nature of music cognition research. Savage and Yuto Ozaki, PhD, the lead author from Keio University in Japan, recruited researchers from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, who spoke languages that included Yoruba, Mandarin, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Balinese, Cherokee, Kannada, Spanish, Aynu, English and dozens more .

“First, we used this structure to counteract the unfortunate tradition of extractive research in cross-cultural musical studies in which researchers from the developed world collect, or extract, data from a culture in the developing world, and use the data to promote their own success,” says Pfordresher.

The second reason has more to do with the validity of the data.

“Our analyses require annotation of syllable and note onsets in songs and speech from around the world,” says Pfordresher. “No single investigator knows all of these languages. By having each investigator participate and thus check their own annotations, we add additional validity to our study.”

Each investigator-participant chose a song of national significance from their culture. Pfordresher selected “America the Beautiful.” Savage chose “Scarborough Fair.” Ozaki sang the Japanese folk song “Ōmori Jinku.”

Participants sang the song first; performed an instrumental version next on an instrument of their choice; and then recited the lyrics. They also provided an explanation for their choice as a free-form speech condition of the study. All four conditions were recorded and then segmented.

To avoid the possibility of bias creeping into the data, Pfordresher explained that not all investigators were involved in generating the study’s initial set of hypotheses. All of the authors looked at the data, but did so to make sure there were no differences between the initial group and those others.

“We do hope to follow up this study with other research that has authors from around the world sample data from within their cultures,” says Pfordresher.

Media Contact Information

Bert Gambini News Content Manager Humanities, Economics, Social Sciences, Social Work, Libraries Tel: 716-645-5334 [email protected]

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