HI postdoctoral researcher Tiina Törmänen: “My focus is on how we can develop AI to be more emotionally intelligent in learning environments”
Originally from Kempele and now long based in Oulu, HI postdoctoral researcher Tiina Törmänen first trained as an optometrist before deciding to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. Teacher training at the University of Oulu proved to be a turning point, discovering a strong interest in research and leading her to join the Learning and Educational Technology Research Lab. This path inspired her PhD on emotions and emotion regulation in collaborative learning, defended in 2023. She now continues this work as a postdoctoral researcher, exploring the complex interplay between learning processes, emotions, and motivation.
Törmänen joined the Hybrid Intelligence programme in August 2025, motivated by the opportunity to apply her expertise in human learning processes, especially emotions, motivation, and their regulation to emerging questions around human–AI interaction. Working across disciplinary boundaries is now a central part of her daily research.
“Working in HI has given me the opportunity to collaborate in a truly multidisciplinary team,” Törmänen says. “Currently, I’m working with computer science researchers to develop AI‑based methods for analyzing emotions and emotion regulation in collaborative learning.”
“Hybrid Intelligence is partnership - rather than a hierarchy between humans and machines”
Methodologically, her work centers on multimodal approaches that combine human interpretation with AI‑driven analysis. The aim is to better capture complex socio‑emotional processes as they unfold in small groups and to support the design of learning environments that are sensitive to both emotional and motivational dynamics.
“Through the HI program, I work towards creating methodological tools that can systematically analyze these aspects utilizing the strength of human interpretation and AI, as well as on increasing understanding of the design of emotionally and motivationally intelligent learning environments.”
For Törmänen, Hybrid Intelligence is best understood as a partnership rather than a hierarchy between humans and machines.
“Hybrid Intelligence means that humans and AI work together as partners,” she explains. “Each brings different strengths—humans contribute creativity, while AI provides speed and data processing.”
Many of the most pressing research questions, she notes, relate to whether AI can help make sense of emotional and motivational aspects of learning and social interaction, not only by analysing large datasets but also by supporting theory development in the learning sciences. These questions are particularly relevant in educational contexts, where collaboration and socio‑emotional skills play a key role in solving complex problems.
Emotions and motivation are difficult study systematically – while hybrid intelligence offers promising way forward, ethical questions must be addressed
At the same time, the field faces significant challenges. Emotions and motivation are difficult to study systematically, and the lack of standardised methods for collecting and analysing rich multimodal data remains a barrier. Hybrid Intelligence approaches offer promising ways forward, but they also raise ethical questions that must be addressed carefully.
“Currently, my focus is on how we can develop AI to be more emotionally intelligent, particularly in collaborative learning contexts while ensuring that such systems are designed and used in ethically responsible ways.“
Looking ahead, Törmänen sees the HI programme as an important platform for developing ethically grounded, scalable methods that can be used across disciplines. In the longer term, she hopes her research will contribute to technologies that support learners in understanding and regulating their own emotions and motivation, while also helping educators build more socio‑emotionally supportive learning environments.
Outside academia, enjoying music – listening, playing and singing - and everyday life in northern Finland provide balance. Time spent with family and friends, seasonal changes in nature. During the summertime, she also likes to go watch Finnish baseball games in her hometown of Kempele, just a short drive from Oulu.
“It’s something I always recommend to newcomers as well—what better way to experience Finnish culture than through our national sport, pesäpallo!”
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