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Home for changemakers

We are all scientists here

At MedEngine we aim high. We are committed to accelerate the future of care by crafting elegant solutions in data science, market access and digital engagement.

To succeed in our mission, we have created a home for smart, creative, and business oriented medical professionals; a group of scientists with the motivation and skills necessary to deliver the cutting-edge solutions, top-tier execution, and outstanding service quality MedEngine is known for.

Each of us is excellent in our craft, but linked together we become much more. Together, we build groundbreaking solutions for the industry’s leading companies, which makes our work both exciting and rewarding. We consider ourselves the luckiest bunch of scientists ever!

Get to know each one of us, and when you’re ready for it, give us a call or swing by. We’re waiting for you.

Our People

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tero Ylisaukko-oja, PhD

CEO, Founder

Tero Ylisaukko-oja built a successful career first as a scientist and then through various medical and marketing positions within the pharmaceutical industry. In 2010 Tero realized a long-held dream of combining entrepreneurial drive with insider knowledge by forming the first Finnish personalized medicine company, Genecodebook Oy. In 2011 he founded medical science agency Idea Engine, upon which MedEngine was built. Known for his creative thinking and passion for complex projects, Tero seeks out clients who are willing to innovate and challenge both him and themselves.
Outside of MedEngine Tero enjoys everything Italian, be it food, wine, soccer, the Mediterranean sea, or small cars with character. His family includes his wife Niina, two sons, and dachshunds Gunnar and Bruno.

tero@medengine.fi
+358 40 9012 975

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Disa Långström, MSc

People & Culture Lead

With her everlasting positivity, un-Finnish talkativeness and her sailing hobby, Disa fits your typical Fenno-Swede stereotype perfectly. Disa holds an MSc in pharmacology and has worked in pharmacies, academia and pharmaceutical industry. At MedEngine she has been able to combine her passion for science and human resources. As People & Culture Lead she can pursue her dream of building the best workplace and see people grow.

Disa loves summer, laughter, and sparkling wine. In her spare time, she relaxes by climbing on a wall or doing sun salutations—preferably on the sunny quay of her family’s summer cottage.

disa.langstrom@medengine.fi
+358 40 7034 981

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tiia Luukkonen, PhD

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Tiia has an extensive background in genetics with years of experience in academic research, as well as commercial experience in genetic diagnostics. Her core competencies are medical and molecular genetics as well as content creation and marketing.
As a dedicated crossfitter, Tiia will most likely be found at the gym outside of working hours. She loves spending time at her summer cottage enjoying the outdoor sports opportunities and peace while surrounded by nature.

tiia.luukkonen@medengine.fi
+358 50 3686 138

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Emmi Joensuu, PhD

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Emmi holds a PhD in Medical and Clinical Genetics, and has several years of postdoctoral research experience in translational cancer biology and individualized drug therapy.
In her work, Emmi is eager to contribute to the intersecting fields of scientific data analysis, communication and digital marketing. She is determined to upgrade her skills, and is currently studying programming, software development and digital service design.

Outside of the office, Emmi enjoys different sports and is passionate about aerial acrobatics. At home, she relaxes with her children by building robots, playing PlayStation or by parkouring around nearby neighborhoods.

emmi.joensuu@medengine.fi
+358 40 0240 858

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Maaria Palmroth, PhD

Scientific Project Manager, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Maaria's interest in life sciences led her to acquire an MSc in biotechnology from the Tampere University, where she is currently finalizing her PhD in molecular immunology. Maaria is inspired by learning and transforming ideas into action. At MedEngine, she enjoys the possibility to utilize her scientific know-how in a whole new way.

maaria.palmroth@medengine.fi

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Mirkka Koivusalo, PhD

Scientific Consultant, Medical Data Science

Mirkka Koivusalo, is a biochemist with over 18 years of experience in scientific research and communication. After receiving her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Mirkka completed two post-doctoral research periods in Helsinki and in Toronto, Canada. She also has a significant experience in the Finnish Biobank ecosystem. Outside of research, Mirkka has gained experience as an entrepreneur — she ran a company offering dog training services in Toronto.
As an analytical problem-solver, Mirkka enjoys developing systematic approaches which benefit the customer and, at the end of the day, promote human health. In her free time she can mostly be found in the woods hiking with her two energetic Australian Shepherds or riding a horse.

mirkka.koivusalo@medengine.fi
+358 44 5225 146

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Ulrika Hänninen, MD, PhD

Medical Advisor

Ulrika is a team player. She feels like the type of person who can always see the positive side of things. Resourceful and patient, she says she just enjoys listening to and helping others.

Ulrika has studied Medicine at the University of Helsinki. After graduating as an MD, she received her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Department of Medical Genetics. She has worked in various research projects studying small bowel and colorectal cancer genetics, the topic of her dissertation.

ulrika.hanninen@medengine.fi
+358447768100

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Klaus Elfving, MSS

Digital Content Lead, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Klaus is a versatile communications professional. He has a master’s degree in Social Sciences majoring in Communications. He’s also studied history, musicology, and the arts and worked in various positions in the media industry: as a broadcast journalist, photographer, freelance writer, and videographer.

klaus.elfving@medengine.fi
+358 44 493 6708

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sami Gabbouj, MSc

Scientific Project Manager, Market Access

Sami is finishing a PhD in neurosciences, studying the underlying molecular mechanisms between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. He has ongoing business studies in innovation management and has worked with Health Technology Assessment and marketing authorizations at the Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea.

sami.gabbouj@medengine.fi
+ 358 44 717 0658

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tuomas Kovalainen

Junior Data Scientist

Bio coming soon!
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Juulia Jylhävä

Scientific Consultant, Medical Data Science

Bio coming soon!
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Katariina Kiviaho, PhD

Scientific Project Manager, Market Access

Katariina has obtained her MSc in 2017 of University of Jyväskylä, minoring in pharmacology and chemistry. She continued her PhD studies familiarizing herself with the intricate realms of antimicrobial resistance and microbial interactions that propagates the resistance. After completing the PhD in 2021 at the University of Jyväskylä, she continued her research career as a doctoral researcher focusing on protein-level formation of muscle dystrophias.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Joni Turunen

External Medical Advisor

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Harlan Barker, MSc

Data Scientist, Medical Data Science

Harlan has always been fascinated by the natural world and spent his childhood exploring the forests near his home. After receiving a BSc in Biology at Indiana University, Harlan progressed from biology to bioinformatics at the University of Tampere. Data science became a passion once he saw its ability to derive impressive insights from large biological datasets. During his current doctoral studies, Harlan has collaborated on a number of manuscripts. For him, the appeal in scientific writing and editing is making research understandable and thus improving its utility.

At MedEngine, Harlan enjoys bringing new and exciting technologies to market. Outside of work, he devotes his free time to reading, biking, studying blockchain technologies, and learning Finnish with his son.

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Niina Saarinen

COO

As a young graduate, Niina made the tough decision to leave her promising studies in genetics to pursue a career in business. This proved to be the right decision, however, as Niina now has more than ten years of executive experience in the pharmaceutical, health tech, and healthcare industries. Niina has more than 100 pharmaceutical marketing campaigns under her belt, and as a CEO has lead companies ranging from an innovative health-tech start-up to a health- and social-care company with more than two thousand employees.

When not working on the development of MedEngine’s business in Finland and abroad, Niina enjoys relaxing travels in warmer climates like southern Italy, and spending time with her husband Tero and dogs Gunnar and Bruno.

niina@medengine.fi
+358 40 3500 065

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Kristian Bolin, Prof. Health Econ.

Senior Advisor, Health Economics

Kristian has a PhD in economics from Lund University and holds a chair in health economics at Gothenburg University. Kristian has more than 25 years of experience in applied health economics and has, during that time, collaborated with both public-sector organisations and the pharmaceutical industry.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Juha Mehtälä, PhD

Lead Data Scientist, Medical Data Science

Juha holds a PhD in statistics and has extensive experience in observational register studies. Prior to MedEngine, Juha worked for several years as a Senior Statistician and Team Lead in a contract research organization and was responsible for challenging international real-world evidence (RWE) projects. Earlier in his career, he has worked on mathematical and statistical modeling of infectious diseases. He has also taught statistics at the University of Helsinki.

Juha’s free time is divided between a mixture of various sports: he enjoys fishing and outdoor climbing in the summer, and indoor climbing and hitting the gym throughout the year. Juha likes spending time on his motorbike, but when he wants to slow down and relax, he explores the latest news in astronomy and cosmology.

juha.mehtala@medengine
+358407735059

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sanna Hellberg, PhD

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

A deep interest in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases has driven Sanna Hellberg in her scientific career. After finishing her PhD in PET imaging of atherosclerotic plaque inflammation at the University of Turku, Sanna spent three years as a postdoc at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. From the beginning of her career she has been motivated by the possibility to be a part of finding solutions to health problems, and eventually enabling better cures.

sanna.hellberg@medengine.fi
+358407152385

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sarah Smith, MSc

Scientific Project Manager, Medical Data Science

Sarah draws inspiration from deriving insights for better healthcare, understanding the mechanisms of different diseases, and determining how to fight them most effectively.

Sarah has worked in various research groups, contributing to research on multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. Additionally, she has significant experience in the Finnish Biobanking ecosystem, coordinating the national biobank studies at FINBB.

sarah.smith@medengine.fi
+358 44 0222 435

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Riikka Viitanen, PhD

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement / Market Access

Riikka describes herself as a determined, loyal, and social person. She is well known for her optimism, and her friends have noted that if her good mood disappears, things have really taken a turn for the worse!

Riikka studied Biomedicine at the University of Turku and did her Master thesis at the Turku PET Centre before continuing to PhD studies. She completed her PhD in the field of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, with her research focused on PET imaging of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and melanoma.

riikka.viitanen@medengine.fi
+358503633247

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Mónica Ferreira, PhD

Medical Writer, Medical Data Science

Mónica has a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Coimbra, in her native Portugal. After her master’s studies Mónica became very interested in pharmaceutical technology and in the process of developing a medical product. After graduating she had a short experience as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy, but always knew she wanted to continue her studies and become a scientist of some sort.
During her PhD studies Mónica then realized that she really liked writing. The more experience she had in writing, reviewing and editing different research and development documents, both in academia and then in the pharma industry, the more interested she became to develop those skills and pursue a career in it. ”Scientific and medical writing provide endless learning and creative opportunities!”, she sums her enthusiasm.

monica.ferreira@medengine.fi
+358 44 491 4742

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Ulrikke Voss, PhD

Scientific Project Manager, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Ulrikke has an extensive background in academic research and communication. She has a master’s degree in biochemistry and neurobiology from the University of Copenhagen and a PhD in Medical Science from Lund University with a focus on experimental diabetes and neurogastroenterology. Before joining MedEngine, Ulrikke was a Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Oslo. Ulrikke works in the Scientific Content & Digital Engagement team in MedEngine Copenhagen.

ulrikke.voss@medengine.dk
+45 51 33 1174

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tiira Johansson

Scientific Project Manager

Bio coming soon!
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Riina-Minna Väänänen, Phd

Scientific Project Manager, Medical Data Science

Riina is a calm and responsible personality, but one that’s also social and enjoys the company of others. She’s always found it important to work in a field that affects people’s lives profoundly, and how medicine fits that description.

Riina studied molecular biotechnology and diagnostics at the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Turku, Finland, earning both her MSc and PhD there in a prostate cancer research group led by Prof. Kim Pettersson. Her PhD research focused on nucleic acid diagnostics of prostate cancer; the group developed quantitative PCR assays for novel RNA biomarker candidates. After her PhD, Riina worked as a medical writer and a project manager at Aurexel Life Sciences with preclinical oncology and drug development as her specialty.

riina-minna.vaananen@medengine.fi
+358 50 372 4324

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Mareena Hyypiä, M.Sc., M.A.

Scientific Project Manager, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Mareena has an eagerness to learn and her background is diverse. She has B.A. and M.A. in education and worked for five years as a researcher with educational technology and teacher training at the University of Eastern Finland. She holds a B.Sc. in biology, minoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Eastern Finland and then an M.Sc. in translational medicine at the University of Helsinki. She's specialized in translational neuroscience and personalized medicine.

+358 40 5897 583
mareena.hyypia@medengine.fi

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Maria Guzman Castillo, PhD

Scientific Consultant / Data Scientist, Medical Data Science

Maria is fun, kind and empathic. She has graduated in Industrial Engineering from Mexico and went on to pursue a Master's and PhD in Operational Research in the UK. Her interest in healthcare began during the master's, and her PhD delved into machine learning models to predict patient length of stay. Maria has worked at the University of Liverpool and University of Helsinki before joining MedEngine.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Ben Alasuvanto

Graphic Designer

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Saku Torvinen, PhD

Market Access Director

Saku Torvinen has extensive experience in demanding market access positions, both internationally and within Finland. He joined MedEngine from Takeda, where he was the Head of Patient Value and Access & Public Policy, a unit known for groundbreaking data-driven access projects. Prior to that, he was European Director of Pricing and Market Access at Teva Europe, where he was responsible for innovative respiratory products at the European level.

saku.torvinen@medengine.fi
+358 40 5511 119

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Heidi Loponen, PhD

Senior Scientific Consultant, Medical Data Science

Heidi Loponen has extensive background in biomedical research. She holds a PhD in genetics from the University of Helsinki and has experience in a wide range of hands-on laboratory techniques as well as in research project planning and execution. Heidi also has experience as a teacher - both of biology students and swimmers, at different levels.

Heidi is excited about applying the scientific skills she has gathered during her research career in a completely new context. This, combined with her endless passion to challenge herself, makes Heidi a great match for MedEngine’s research team. If not at work, Heidi spends time with her friends and family, or enjoys physical activities like swimming, gym, or downhill skiing in the winter.

heidi.loponen@medengine.fi
+358 44 0190 699

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Aino Vesikansa, PhD

Senior Scientific Consultant, Medical Data Science

A passion for understanding the mystery of the human brain led Aino to become an expert in neuroscience. After receiving her PhD from the University of Helsinki, Aino has worked as a post-doctoral scientist and as a coordinator at the Scandinavian Physiological Society. Aino is also known for her popular scientific blog postings.
Aino enjoys pushing herself outside the comfort zone, let it be challenging herself at work, seeking out new perspectives, or training endurance sports. For balance, she loves to design and bake imaginative cakes, which are highly appreciated by her colleagues.

aino.vesikansa@medengine.fi
‭+358 50 307 9128‬

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Simone Møller Hede, MSc

Senior Consultant, Medical Data Science

Simone has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Aalborg and years of experience in managing various projects within the field of pharmacoepidemiology and RWE; especially with post authorization safety studies/phase IV studies, Market Access and follow-up studies to clinical studies within the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden). This has given her the ability to lead cross functional teams, from inception to publication, within the allocated budget, on time, and with a high level of quality.

In addition, Simone works as a Board member for a patient association for cancer patients with late effects (Senfølgerforeningen) and is representing the patients as a committee member of the Danish Medicine Council’s Scientific Committee for Cross-sectional Cancer Pharmaceuticals. As a committee member, Simone uses her knowledge and experience to assist with medical, pharmaceutical and patient-oriented assessments of new drugs and indications, as well as therapy areas, in the area of cross-sectional cancer.

simone.hede@medengine.dk

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sonja Saraei, MSc

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

From the beginning of her biomedicine studies at University of Turku, Sonja Saraei has been excited by exploration of different medical specialty fields. Even though Sonja always knew that she wanted to work in the field of medicine, she has also had a strong passion for more creative projects and scientific communication. In addition to her Master's degree in biomedical imaging, Sonja’s long-lasting art hobby has evolved into jobs in online marketing material production, web design, and scientific content creation.

sonja.saraei@medengine.fi
+358 44 739 4827

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tero Sandberg

Senior Advisor, Market Access

At MedEngine Tero sure completes us with his experience: He has combined experience of 36 years (and counting!) in the pharma industry, in seven different companies overall, in roles like Country Manager, Market Access Lead, Marketing Director and Sales Manager, to mention a few. Among other things, Tero has specialized in hospital procurement of pharmaceuticals for the past fifteen years.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Noora Lindgrén, PhD

Scientific Project Manager, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Noora is a kind and helpful person who spreads positivity around, has a good sense of humor, and is pleasantly easy to approach and talk to. She describes herself as a problem solver who works in a precise and thorough manner.

Noora studied Biomedicine with a major in drug development at the University of Turku. She also did exchange studies in neuroscience and pharmacology at the University of Surrey, UK. After her MSc studies, she carried out PhD research in the Turku PET centre. Her PhD thesis aimed at improving the detection of early cognitive impairment and dementia risk using a telephone interview and developing PET imaging of Alzheimer’s disease.

noora.lindgren@medengine.fi

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sami Nikoskelainen

Senior Advisor

Several MedEngine teams gained senior level expertise, as industry veteran Sami Nikoskelainen joined the company. Sami has had an extensive career both in research and later in pharmaceutical industry. With a deep interest in immunology he still enjoys keeping up with the latest immunological research and digest its findings.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Laura Mäntylä, MSc

Scientific Consultant, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Laura is an outgoing person who brings a positive attitude wherever she goes. She’s interested in science, communications, and graphic design, having art as a passion from a young age.

Laura’s curiosity about science eventually led her to study Biomedicine, where she earned a BSc, and gained her MSc in Drug Discovery and Development with a minor in Business. During her studies she has gained work experience from involvement in various projects: she’s conducted research on extracellular vesicles and prostate cancer, for instance.

laura.mantyla@medengine.fi

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Tina Bech Olesen

Scientific Consultant, Medical Data Science

Bio coming soon!
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Sofie Damgaard, MScPH

Scientific Project Manager

Sofie has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in public health from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. “I had the great opportunity to study a part of my master’s degree at The University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia where I gained valuable insights into epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, and vaccine development.” Sofie completed her degree developing a prediction model for identifying patients with severe mental illness and no contact to general practice by utilizing Danish national health registry data and statistical analysis in Denmark.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Anna Huhtinen, PhD

Scientific Project Manager, Scientific Content & Digital Engagement

Anna is a friendly and outgoing person. Anna's academic journey at the Technical University of Helsinki (now Aalto University), where she majored in Microbiology and Bioprocess Technology, culminated in a master's thesis on adrenergic receptors and cell culture. “I was lucky enough to get the chance to carry out this project in a small Turku-based drug development company. This sort of switched my career into a new direction. After graduating, I worked as a pharmacological research scientist and then for a short period as an application specialist. Then I got accepted into the Drug Development Graduate School and started my PhD thesis project at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Turku”, Anna summarizes. This experience pivoted her career towards drug development, starting with a role in a Turku-based company and eventually leading to a PhD project at the University of Turku on the alpha2B-adrenoceptor.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Jari Jokelainen, MSc

Senior Data Scientist, Medical Data Science

Jari ended up in the biomedical industry almost by accident: he studied statistics during summer courses, and the following summer he found himself working as statistician at the department of psychiatry. Since then he has worked in the field of biostatistics, and currently works at Oulu University health Science Institute, for the University Hospital, for his own company that offers statistic science services, and as statistician for MedEngine.

In the evenings you can spot him in Oulu at the Cultural Centre VALVE, escorting his daughters to and from their ballet class. His hobbies are very “northern-Finnish” — hunting in the fall, downhill skiing in the winter and disc golf in the summer.

Our Office Dogs

people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Gunnar

Chief Office Dog

Gunnar was born as a miniature wire-haired dachshund but soon grew to become the larger-than-life character loved by his family, friends, and colleagues alike. Gunnar is an independent thinker with big heart and personality. He is known for his warm welcomes and extravagant birthday parties. Gunnar’s education includes the Future’s Hopes training program, and tracking courses for wounded game and chanterelles.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Bruno

Chief Office Supervisor

Eleven-year-old Bruno is a miniature dachshund with golden hair and heart shaped nose. Thanks to his angelic appearance and playful character, Bruno is still mistaken as a puppy. Bruno’s hobbies include light catching, stick fetching, and long walks on the beach with his Uncle-Gunnar and human family.
people,career,open positions,team,about, MedEngine

Telma

Office Dog Trainee

Telma is the newest addition to our office dog family. By now, she's conquered every heart encountered. We dare you to visit the office when she's around and have a cannot-function-anymore-type-of cuteness overload! Syntax error, 404!

Open Positions

RWE Scientist / Epidemiologist
Read more about the position

Feel like you belong here?

Do you have ideas and skills, and are you looking for exceptional, like-minded people to innovate with? Then why not consider joining?
We are always looking for exceptional talents and great teammates. Our team members have strong scientific expertise, creativity, social skills, and a strong drive for personal development. If you are up to the challenge and have a winning mentality, drop us a note.

Please send us an open application and we will get back to you.

Open Application