From outer space to the depths of the mine – Julia Puputti paves the way for girls in technology

On her journey, Julia has broken gender stereotypes, encouraged women to enter the male-dominated field of technology, and shown that an interest in astronomy doesn’t have to remain purely theoretical – one’s work can be found just as well in the depths of mines as in distant galaxies.

A journey from the world back to Finland – and ultimately underground

Julia’s path abroad began at the age of three, when her family moved overseas from Oulu. During her school years, she spent short periods in Finland but settled permanently in Sievi only on the threshold of high school.

“Each return to Finland was a kind of homecoming, but also a culture shock,” Julia recalls. In Sievi, she found the opportunity to grow professionally, first studying in a small upstairs chamber of her family home and later working in the underground world of the Pyhäsalmi mine.

At the mine, Julia began as an electrician but quickly advanced to responsible positions in automation. She took every opportunity to try out different roles – from electrician to automation engineer and eventually automation manager at the concentrator plant. Alongside this, she worked in research at the University of Oulu’s multidisciplinary Callio Lab center, where her career progressed from research assistant to project engineer and into international collaborations.

Through these contacts, she also found her current position at the Boulby Underground Laboratory in Loftus.

A role model for women in a male-dominated world

Julia especially wants to inspire young women to have the courage to enter male-dominated fields. She has seen and experienced firsthand how the technology industry offers countless opportunities regardless of gender. She also seeks to break the genius myth often associated with astronomy and space physics – according to Julia, anyone can learn the field if they are genuinely interested and willing to commit to it.

“It’s worth asking all the questions – even the ‘stupid’ ones – multiple times and making mistakes. Unfortunately, that’s the best way to learn. Don’t worry about whether you know everything that others at the workplace do. You definitely won’t – you’re a beginner. Also, don’t stress about whether you can physically lift heavy objects like men. In safe workplaces, lifting equipment is used,” Julia advises.

She also encourages constructive attitudes toward workplace challenges and skepticism from others. According to Julia, some may see a young woman as a threat, especially if she advances or gets interesting tasks. This can lead to gossip, backtalk, and questioning of one’s abilities.

“It’s not worth arguing with such people or worrying too much about what they make others think. Let your work speak for itself – those who truly matter can distinguish a skilled worker from an unskilled one without such ‘helpful messengers.’ Decide in advance where your boundaries lie – what to let in one ear and out the other, and when it’s time to take an issue to your supervisor. Also, write down your successes and the positive feedback you’ve received. In moments of weakness or discouragement, go back and read those notes,” Julia says.

When a dream job becomes dream everyday life

As a schoolgirl, Julia didn’t have a dream profession. Family circumstances and where they lived limited her study options, but with the support of teachers she discovered her strengths in mathematics, physics, and natural sciences.

For her, pursuing university studies should have been obvious, but her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis kept Julia in Sievi – she didn’t want to move far away at that time. This led her to explore vocational options at Nivala College, where she chose to become an electrician, launching her career from there.

University studies came later, once the family situation improved. By then, she was already working as an electrician in the Pyhäsalmi mine and completed her studies alongside her job.

Key encouragers for Julia were Sievi High School physics teacher Lea Linna and mathematics teacher Pekka Huusari. When Julia struggled with a math course, Huusari cheered her on and instilled confidence that she was capable.

Julia believes young people shouldn’t worry about choosing a career for life immediately after compulsory school or high school. Even if a choice doesn’t turn out to be the right one, the time spent is never wasted.

“Instead, think about the kind of everyday life you want for yourself. Are flexible working hours important to you, or do you enjoy routines and going to an office? Do noisy situations and big groups drain you, or give you energy? Do you enjoy being outdoors and working with your hands? Do you prefer working alone or in a small team?” Julia says.

For her, joining a multidisciplinary research group at the University of Oulu as a trainee provided a unique vantage point to many different tasks – opportunities she later explored and specialized in.

Close family ties shaping choices

Julia is very close with her mother and her sister Heidi. Her mother’s illness and cancer treatments, her maternal grandfather’s illness and hospice care in Sweden, and the inherited gene mutation that predisposes her sister to cancer all deepened the bond between mother and daughters.

Julia's sister is now a doctoral researcher in an international crisis management project at the University of Oulu. Their mother, as her strength allows, continues to work as a hairdresser and cares for her own mother in Sweden.

“For the past two years, I’ve finally been able to breathe, and now I dared to go abroad. Familiar colleagues from earlier collaborations were waiting, so starting the new job was smooth. And my mother and sister can come visit anytime,” Julia says. She also plans to stay connected to her former workplace in Pyhäsalmi by offering automation consulting through her own company.

Straight into responsibility in a supportive environment

At the Boulby Laboratory, Julia jumped straight into the work.

“I pretty much had to hit the ground running. I was immediately given responsibility for Boulby’s flagship project, acting as project manager on our side when a UK-USA research collaboration built a 30,000-liter neutrino experiment platform in our lab. That project has now ended, and I’ve been entrusted with all our quantum mechanics projects. We’re conducting a completely new kind of quantum experiment with lasers underground – something unique even on a global scale,” Julia explains.

She is also delighted with her new home and community. “The landscapes here are stunning, and the best part is I get to see the sea every day. The Brits have been surprisingly friendly – at least compared to us Finns – and when they hear my accent, the first thing they want to know is where I’m from. It’s also been fascinating to witness the strong mining culture in this area.”

Julia has truly lived out the belief that nothing is impossible when passion and determination meet.

Text and photos: Minna Kilpeläinen