Milja Nylund, LUT University

What have you studied and what influenced this choice back in the day? 

I’ve studied electrical engineering. My major is in power systems and power markets, and I’ve also taken modules in control engineering. I never really had a clear dream job, so at sixth form it initially felt challenging to decide what to study. I also wasn’t particularly strong at maths and took the shorter maths syllabus, but I was very interested in physics.

My interest in engineering developed gradually. Even quite young, I remember thinking I’d like a job that could be done flexibly from different locations—my dad often worked from home, which made an impression. At sixth form I also became interested in the energy transition, entrepreneurship, and generally how things work and how they could be improved. The final nudge toward the field came when LUT University’s outreach team for final‑year students visited my school. During their presentation, many of the ideas I’d been mulling over clicked into place, and I realised that in engineering I could bring these interests together and make a difference to society through them.

How did you end up in your current position? 

I’d worked in different companies and got a feel for what working life is like there. But I was curious to see what university work involves and what research looks like in practice. I also wanted to learn more about clean energy and electricity markets, so I applied for a summer job in the electricity markets laboratory. After the summer I was able to continue alongside my studies, and the following summer I carried on as a Master’s thesis student.

What is the best thing about your job? 

Definitely the freedom and the ability to influence the kinds of topics I work on. I get to dive into subjects that interest me and feel meaningful. The flexibility is a big plus too: I can work at the university, from home, or even from our cottage. Flexible hours also make everyday life easier to organise.

What have been the highlights and key lessons of your career? 

Highlights include the chance to work in my field every summer and to see how what I’d learned in my studies shows up in practice. A particularly significant experience has been writing my Master’s thesis on a topic right at the heart of the energy transition. The most important lesson has been that you don’t need to know exactly where you want to be in five years, or what your career path will look like. Your direction often emerges gradually through experience. I’ve also learned to ask for help and advice without hesitation—many of the best opportunities and insights have come from conversations with others.
 

What are your plans and goals in the future?

Some of the future is still open, but my goal is to do meaningful work that helps develop solutions important to society. I’m especially interested in the energy sector, electricity markets and sustainability solutions. I hope to play a part in building a cleaner, more efficient and more resilient energy system.