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Who are you and what is your role at Aalto? 

I am a doctoral researcher in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. I study employee well-being and happiness in the context of future work trends. 

In my research, I aim to understand what factors support psychological well-being and how these elements can be integrated into workplaces. 

In my doctoral dissertation, I examine how remote work affects our human needs. Research shows that employee well-being is influenced by their experience of autonomy, a sense of relatedness among colleagues, and opportunities to develop one's skills and enhance one’s sense of competence. 

For instance, remote work may reduce social interaction, but the feeling of autonomy can increase. So it’s not straightforward for employers to determine the optimal balance between in-office and remote work.

You teach an Aalto University Summer School course called Happiness Science from Finland. What is the science of happiness? 

The science of happiness brings insights from economics, philosophy, psychology, and behavioural science to understand what makes life truly good – not just fleeting pleasure but lasting well-being. 

We discuss classical theories like Aristotle’s eudaimonia and modern theories of motivation and well-being such as Self-Determination Theory and Subjective Well-Being. We also look at why Finland and the Nordic countries consistently rank so high in happiness and what social and cultural factors help people flourish here.

Is the course science or therapy? 

The course is not therapy, as we do not address personal problems of participants. It is about understanding what supports human flourishing. We use research findings and real-world data. Students learn why certain actions – like connecting with others or pursuing meaningful goals – enhance happiness. 

However, many students have reported that studying the science of happiness was personally transformative, and the course changed how they look at their own happiness. 

How does industrial engineering and management relate to happiness? 

Improving employee well-being has been shown to correlate strongly with employee productivity, organizational profitability, and reduced staff turnover. 

The responsibility for better well-being doesn’t rest solely on employees, and poor leadership cannot be remedied with gratitude journals. Leaders need to ensure that employees can experience autonomy, relatedness, and competence. 

Before becoming a researcher, I worked for 20 years in the technology sector in both India and Finland. I’ve seen what happens when people are managed like machines: they burn out and disengage from work, which leads to worse results for the organisation.

I came to Finland in 2013 to complete my master’s degree at Aalto. Our family was initially planning to return to India, but conducting research at Aalto felt rewarding. The children’s daycare and school, along with our everyday life, were so smooth and secure that we decided to stay. We found happiness here.

An international academic summer at Aalto

• Aalto University Summer School offers future-led courses across various fields from the university.
• The teaching emphasises a societal perspective and collaboration with industry.
• The summer school also organises social activities.
• The registration deadline for the Happiness Science from Finland course is 31 May, 2026.

This article has been published in the Aalto University Magazine issue 37, February 2026.