The University of Helsinki can celebrate the success of its students in the Global Undergraduate Awards for the second year in a row, as Mikko Seppälä has won the category for mathematics and physics. Seppälä is a theoretical physics student aspiring to a research career.
Recognising top work by bachelor's students, the Global Undergraduate Awards programme is the largest of its kind, spanning over 400 higher education institutions all over the world. Theses are awarded annually in 25 discipline-specific categories, with a global winner and regional winner selected in each.
Praise by his supervisor encouraged Mikko Seppälä to submit his bachelor's thesis to the competition. He was also spurred on by the earlier success of Netta Karjalainen, another Faculty of Science student.
"I'd maybe seen an advert for the competition but not given it much thought. News of the award last year made me think I too could give it a go," says Seppälä.
Research group supported thesis work
Seppälä completed his bachelor's thesis, which combines particle physics with astronomy, under the supervision of Academy Research Fellow Risto Paatelainen in a research group led by Professor Aleksi Vuorinen. Working in the group with more experienced researchers was rewarding.
"My thesis was my summer job last year, which meant I could spend all summer researching and writing the thesis. It was really cool, and working in the research group made it easy to talk about the topic with people who know more about it than me. It helped a lot," states Seppälä.
In his thesis Equation of State of Cold and Dense Quark Matter, Seppälä studied the quantum field theory of the strong interaction under extreme densities.
"We can't directly calculate what happens at extreme densities but can instead use astronomical observations of neutron stars. With them, we can carry out computer simulations to determine the behaviour of strongly interacting matter at high densities," he explains.
Seppälä's thesis is significant, as the strong interaction is one of the four fundamental forces on which all of physics is based. Many questions remain open about the strong interaction, which holds the atomic nucleus together.
Seppälä, now studying for the fourth year, is working on a master's thesis on the same topic in the Master's Programme in Theoretical and Computational Methods.
"In my master's thesis, I'll be developing, among other things, calculation methods in quantum field theories, again focusing on the strong interaction. Pen-and-paper calculations are required to predict the behaviour of the strong interaction at high energies."
Seppälä's master's thesis will also benefit from a new perspective provided by intra-university collaboration: acting as his co-supervisor alongside Risto Paatelainen will be Professor Tuomas Lappi of the University of Jyväskylä.
Aiming for a research career
Despite a weekly schedule occasionally dominated by studying, Seppälä has time for his other interests too, including climbing, reading fiction and music.
"I play drums in a few bands. I feel I've found a good balance between studying and other activities," he says.
After master's studies, Seppälä intends to pursue a doctoral degree and a research career.
"I'm interested in working as a researcher although I know of course that it comes with its own challenges. I'd like to complete my doctorate in Helsinki and then see where it takes me," he states.
Seppälä encourages other students to learn more about the Global Undergraduate Awards. He is proud of being recognised and is looking forward to the three-day celebratory summit in Dublin.
"It was easy to enter the competition as I'd written my bachelor's thesis in English. I submitted my thesis early in the year and had almost forgotten about the whole thing when I found out in the autumn that I had won. So, my first reaction was one of surprise," says Seppälä with a smile.
