“Do what genuinely excites and speaks to you. Otherwise, you’re looking at a dull 40 years in the professional world,” says Sami Hyrynsalmi, the newly appointed dean of the LUT School of Engineering Sciences.
This is Hyrynsalmi’s advice to those still on the fence about what to study, despite national newspapers frequently writing about academic unemployment and the student intake in many fields exceeding job market needs.
Hyrynsalmi is aware that competition for jobs has intensified. When he was working on his doctoral dissertation in software engineering, about ten studies were published in the field each year. Now, the number has multiplied.
“Still, I say it’s worth listening to yourself when choosing your studies and career path. Even if you end up regretting your choice 20 years from now, at least you won’t regret it for 40 years straight.”
Hyrynsalmi, who has a doctorate in technology, is a first-generation academic and the only one in his circle of childhood friends to have entered academia.
He is also a certified youth boxing coach, so he could just as easily have become a physical education teacher or sports massage therapist.
According to the Finnish Boxing Federation’s youth boxing handbook, boxing traditions support the idea of personal growth through practice, and coaches have the chance to guide their students toward a better life.
This sums up the leadership philosophy Hyrynsalmi wants to follow as dean. He doesn’t see the role of dean as a reward for a long and successful research career.
“I see myself as a coach who wants to enable things. At the university, we study topics so large that no one can tackle them alone. Talent alone won’t get you far if you don’t know how to work in a team and collaborate. That’s why I’m a strong believer in multidisciplinary teams.”
Hyrynsalmi has been dean for three months and says he hasn’t learned to stress out about anything yet.
“Not a single boring day so far.”
Before becoming dean, Hyrynsalmi was head of LUT’s Department of Software Engineering. He says the department has performed well by many metrics in recent years, and he’s excited to share these successful practices in his new role.
The LUT School of Engineering Sciences has ambitious growth targets, and Hyrynsalmi wants to enable balanced growth.
“My goal is that, by the end of my term in late 2026, the school will be as stable, strong, and problem-free as possible. Maybe I’m being a bit naive,” he says with a grin.
The making of Rocket Sami
A well-liked leader, laid-back colleague, and warm-hearted reformer, approachable, helpful – and even Rocket Sami. These are just some of the ways Hyrynsalmi has been described at LUT.
Professor Maria Paasivaara from LUT’s software engineering department describes her colleague as someone who genuinely cares and who improves things.
“Collaboration with the business world is also important to Sami. He wants to make it clear that our research needs to benefit companies as well,” Paasivaara says.
Hyrynsalmi’s good reputation extends beyond LUT. Professor Tommi Mikkonen, his long-time friend and colleague from the University of Jyväskylä, shares the story behind the nickname Rocket Sami.
“I think I came up with it during a sauna evening. We knew someone who had advanced in his career as quickly as Sami, and he was called Rocket Virtanen. So, Sami became Rocket Sami,” Mikkonen explains.
Mikkonen was the opponent in the public examination of Hyrynsalmi’s doctoral dissertation 11 years ago, and the two have been exchanging ideas ever since. According to Mikkonen, Hyrynsalmi listens to everyone, considers different perspectives, and finds the most suitable compromise.
“When problems occur, Sami doesn’t dwell on them. He tackles challenges head-on and wants to find solutions. He’ll even set aside his own work to help others.”
Hyrynsalmi was appointed dean before turning 40, which is quite rare in academic circles.
“Yes, the nickname Rocket Sami is well deserved,” Mikkonen says.
Marko Seppänen, dean of the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University, adds that deans today need common sense and a strong ethical foundation for making decisions.
“Sami’s approach is consistent and coherent. He’s fun to work with. Even under pressure, the atmosphere remains relaxed and there’s always room for jokes. His work is solution-oriented. And yes, Sami is quick to act. Things get done,” Seppänen describes.
“LUT focuses sharply on industry”
Hyrynsalmi became interested in gaming computers as a pre-teen and taught himself to code. He could take a computer apart and put it back together. Gaming and coding were ways to pass the time, and playing together meant gathering at a friend’s house and taking turns.
Hyrynsalmi has always been interested in making Finnish IT companies even stronger. When LUT’s Department of Software Engineering expanded to Lahti, Hyrynsalmi was the first hire. His wife Sonja Hyrynsalmi followed soon after; she works as a post-doctoral researcher at the department.
The couple shares a passion for Finland’s software industry, but at home, they talk about more than just work. They’re busy renovating a cottage in Turku, Sami Hyrynsalmi’s hometown. But an even bigger change is on the horizon: the Hyrynsalmi family is expecting their second child. The dean, who describes himself as a family man, plans to take parental leave when the time is right.
An academic career often requires moving for work, and the former Turku couple has settled in Hyvinkää, from where they commute to LUT’s Lahti campus. Sami Hyrynsalmi says he has enjoyed working at LUT.
“As a university, LUT is agile, fast – and has flair,” he grins.
“LUT is well positioned to keep up with changes in the field because we’re sharply focused on industry needs.”
Some have questioned the value of higher education in an AI-driven world, where machines can write novels and dig up knowledge on almost any topic in seconds. Hyrynsalmi doesn’t believe universities and their centuries-old traditions will disappear.
“People don’t change as quickly as technology. Universities in their current form will remain, but we’ll also see combinations of universities and universities of applied sciences. I believe the higher education landscape in Finland will change significantly in the coming years.”
“Professions won’t disappear – they’ll change form”
According to Hyrynsalmi, LUT’s core philosophy is to advance things in an agile way. He wishes employers would show the same flexibility by hiring based on skills rather than specific degrees.
“In some fields, like electrical engineering, specific qualifications are essential for safety reasons. But in others, you could take a different approach.”
Hyrynsalmi doesn’t believe professions will disappear – they’ll just change form.
“For example, dentists may in the future focus more on preventive care and cosmetic work if a vaccine for cavities is finally developed,” Hyrynsalmi illustrates, referring to ongoing vaccine research.
He believes professional competence could also be updated with micro-credentials, which are a much lighter alternative to master’s or doctoral studies.
Hyrynsalmi circles back to the idea that, in both research and choosing what to study, it pays to follow your passion. Overthinking what you “should” do can backfire.
“Trends come and go in education and the professional world. History has a way of repeating itself. For example, in the 19th century, the binary system was considered madness, and now it’s the foundation of computing. Similarly, today’s hot research topic – generative AI – is just one tool among many.”
“It’s worth keeping in mind that AI doesn’t create anything new – people are still needed.”
Sami Hyrynsalmi
- Dean, School of Engineering Sciences, LUT University (2025–2026)
- Professor (2023–)
- Associate Professor, LUT (2019–2023)
- Doctor of Science (Technology), University of Turku (2014)
- Has worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Turku and as an associate professor at Tampere University’s Pori unit
- Born in Turku, lives in Hyvinkää
- Family: wife, one child and a second on the way
- Something others don’t know about me: “I’m a bronze medallist in military boxing from 2005.”
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