Carolyn Cole
Research Scientist, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Position, Company
Overview of the Job
What Inspired You
Typical Working Day
Study & Career Path
Every day is unique in research. My days are a mix of designing proposals for new projects to address complex challenges and push technical frontiers; programming pipelines to collect, ingest, process, and analyze data; and translating outputs for communication to a wide variety of audiences.
Key Skills
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Critical thinking
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Data analysis
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Problem-solving
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Collaboration
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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Information literacy
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Adaptability
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Curiosity
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Initiative
Career Prospect
With my background and experience, I can work in different fields such as public administration, European institutions, consulting, NGOs, or international organisations.
There are many opportunities in areas like sustainability, smart cities, digitalisation and data-driven decision-making. These fields are growing fast and offer the chance to work on real challenges that impact communities and the environment.
My current role also allows me to continue developing in directions such as project management, climate policies, or innovation in urban development.
Challenges
The main challenge of my job is the fact that each project and each problem is unique. My field is constantly and rapidly evolving, and I need to stay current in order to create efficient and useful solutions. The good thing is that this challenge is also what makes my job exciting and rewarding!
Your Advice to Students
My advice is to students is to follow your interests, feed your curiosity, and keep yourself open to unexpected opportunities.
Your Advice to Teachers and Parents
Teachers and parents can support their students and children by encouraging them to explore a variety of paths and engage in topics they’re passionate about.
I am a Research Scientist in VTT’s Quantitative Science and Technology Studies unit and a doctoral candidate at Lappeenranta University of Technology’s School of Business. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics, a Master’s in Social Policy and Quantitative Social Research, and I am soon to defend a Doctorate of Science in Economics and Business Administration. I began my career in economic consulting, spent some time at a startup working on RegTech and FinTech for sustainability, and now work on AI-enabled solutions to challenges in the fields of sustainability and science, technology, and innovation.
I have an interdisciplinary background combining quantitative and data science, social policy, econometrics, and sustainability. I’m interested and curious about many topics! At VTT, I am able to engage in research that takes a solutions-based approach to complex, policy relevant topics with socio-environmental orientation. I get to constantly learn and apply my knowledge in new ways and on topics that I find meaningful and important.
A typical day includes meetings with international partners, coordinating tasks within the project team and following up on ongoing activities. I also work on reports and deliverables and I collaborate with colleagues from different fields such as IT, urban planning and environmental science. Some days involve organising workshops, events, or working directly with stakeholders and citizens. The work is dynamic and no two days are the same.
I work as a Project Coordinator in the field of urban sustainability and smart cities. My role involves managing and supporting European-funded projects that focus on climate neutrality, digitalisation and citizen engagement.
I coordinate activities, monitor progress, and collaborate with international partners. In projects like DS2, I work with data from different sectors such as energy, mobility, and environment, contributing to solutions that help cities reduce CO₂ emissions. My work connects different fields and helps turn complex ideas into practical actions at city level.