Swinton National Polytechnic Institute

Our Faculty

The academic strength of the Swinton National Polytechnic Institute is defined by the expertise and dedication of its faculty. Each member of our teaching and research staff is a distinguished professional, bringing a wealth of academic knowledge and real-world experience to the classroom. This directory of selected faculty serves as a testament to our institution’s commitment to academic rigour and professional excellence, showcasing the diverse and impressive credentials of the individuals who guide our students.

Department of Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

Dr. Jaan Tamm Professor of Machine Learning Education:

  • PhD in Computer Science, University of Cambridge (2014)
  • MSc in Artificial Intelligence, University of Edinburgh (2010)
  • BSc in Information Technology, Tallinn University of Technology (2009) Research Interests: Dr. Tamm’s research focuses on the development of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) models for high-stakes applications, including medical diagnostics and autonomous vehicle decision-making. His work aims to build trust between human operators and complex AI systems by making their decision processes transparent. Selected Publications:
  • Tamm, J. et al. (2022). “Towards Transparent AI: A Comparative Study of Explainable Neural Networks.” Journal of Advanced Computational Systems, 19(4), pp. 562-581. DOI: 10.1145/21175628.21178122
  • Tamm, J. (2019). “Ethical Considerations in Machine Learning and Robotics.” The European Journal of Technology and Society, 7(2), pp. 112-129. ISSN: 2405-9017
  • Tamm, J., & Laine, A. (2017). “Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Drone Navigation in Urban Environments.” Proceedings of the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2017), pp. 445-452.

Dr. Liina Kask Senior Lecturer in Robotics and Control Systems Education:

  • PhD in Robotics, Delft University of Technology (2016)
  • MSc in Control Systems Engineering, ETH Zurich (2012)
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University (2011) Research Interests: Dr. Kask’s work centres on the creation of multi-robot collaboration systems and human-robot interaction in manufacturing and healthcare settings. She has a particular interest in bio-inspired robotics and creating systems that can adapt to unstructured environments. Selected Publications:
  • Kask, L., & Van der Beek, J. (2021). “Adaptive Control for Collaborative Robotics: A Swarm Intelligence Approach.” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 37(1), pp. 211-225. DOI: 10.1109/TRO.2021.1788241
  • Kask, L. et al. (2018). “Human-Robot Interaction in Medical Environments: User Perception and Safety Protocols.” Robotics and Automation Letters, 3(2), pp. 789-796. ISSN: 2377-3766
  • Kask, L. (2017). “Modelling and Control of Soft Robotics for Unstructured Environments.” Journal of Biorobotics, 9(3), pp. 315-329.

Department of Business & Economics

Dr. Andrej Novak Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship Education:

  • PhD in Business Administration, University of Ljubljana (2013)
  • MSc in International Business, London School of Economics (2009)
  • BA in Economics, University of Cambridge (2008) Research Interests: Dr. Novak’s research explores the dynamics of digital transformation on traditional business models and the factors contributing to the success of technology-driven start-ups in emerging markets. He is a recognised authority on corporate innovation strategies. Selected Publications:
  • Novak, A. et al. (2023). “Resilience and Reinvention: Adapting Business Models in the Digital Age.” European Journal of Business & Innovation, 15(4), pp. 88-105. DOI: 10.1213/JEBI.2023.8569
  • Novak, A. (2020). “Ecosystem Dynamics and Venture Success: A Case Study of the Baltic Tech Hub.” Strategic Management Journal, 41(2), pp. 211-228. ISSN: 0885-2247
  • Novak, A., & Horvat, M. (2018). “The Role of Organisational Culture in Driving Corporate Innovation.” Management Review, 62(1), pp. 45-62.

Dr. Gatis Bērziņš Senior Lecturer in Financial Analytics Education:

  • PhD in Financial Economics, University of Oxford (2017)
  • MSc in Finance, Bocconi University (2014)
  • BSc in Economics, Riga Technical University (2012) Research Interests: Dr. Bērziņš specialises in quantitative finance, with a focus on risk management, algorithmic trading, and the economic impact of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. His work provides valuable insights into the future of decentralised finance. Selected Publications:
  • Bērziņš, G. et al. (2022). “Analysing Risk in Decentralised Finance: A Dynamic Model.” Journal of Financial Markets, 24(3), pp. 199-215. DOI: 10.1016/j.finmar.2022.06.012
  • Bērziņš, G. (2019). “The Economic Implications of Blockchain Technology for Small to Medium Enterprises.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 134(1), pp. 345-367.

Department of Sustainable Engineering & Architecture

Dr. Mikk Pärn Professor of Sustainable Building Design Education:

  • PhD in Civil Engineering, Imperial College London (2015)
  • MSc in Architecture and Urban Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2011)
  • BSc in Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology (2010) Research Interests: Dr. Pärn’s work is at the nexus of material science, architecture, and environmental engineering. He is a leading expert on bio-inspired and low-carbon materials for resilient and energy-efficient building systems, with a focus on passive house design and renewable energy integration. Selected Publications:
  • Pärn, M. et al. (2023). “Performance Evaluation of Bio-Inspired Façade Systems for Energy Optimisation.” Journal of Sustainable Construction, 8(2), pp. 115-132. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1986/1/012012
  • Pärn, M. (2020). “Rethinking Urban Infrastructure: The Role of Circular Economy Principles in Modern City Planning.” Journal of Urban Studies, 57(5), pp. 981-998.

Dr. Tomas Valdemaras Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy Systems Education:

  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Munich (2016)
  • MSc in Energy Systems, King’s College London (2012)
  • BSc in Electrical Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (2011) Research Interests: Dr. Valdemaras specialises in the optimisation and integration of renewable energy sources into smart grids. His research focuses on developing predictive models for wind and solar energy generation and creating robust energy storage solutions for urban environments. Selected Publications:
  • Valdemaras, T., & Müller, B. (2021). “Predictive Modelling for Smart Grid Optimisation with Distributed Renewable Energy Sources.” Energy Journal, 21(3), pp. 345-361. ISSN: 0306-2619
  • Valdemaras, T. et al. (2019). “Grid-Scale Energy Storage Solutions for Urban Resilience: A Comparative Analysis.” Journal of Clean Energy, 11(2), pp. 112-128.

Department of International Relations & Geopolitics

Dr. Kärt Pukk Professor of International Security Education:

  • DPhil in International Relations, University of Oxford (2014)
  • MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy, University of Cambridge (2010)
  • BA in Political Science, University of Helsinki (2009) Research Interests: Dr. Pukk is a prominent scholar in the field of international security, with a focus on non-state actors, cyber warfare, and the geopolitics of the Baltic and Arctic regions. Her work provides critical insights into emerging threats and the future of global alliances. Selected Publications:
  • Pukk, K. et al. (2022). “Cyber Sovereignty and State Power: A Framework for Analysis.” International Security Review, 47(1), pp. 11-29. DOI: 10.1162/isec.2022.0001
  • Pukk, K. (2019). “Non-State Actors in Contemporary Conflict: The Rise of Hybrid Warfare.” Journal of Geopolitics, 16(4), pp. 561-578.
  • Pukk, K., & Liiv, A. (2018). “The Geopolitics of the Arctic: Competing Interests and Strategic Implications.” World Policy Journal, 35(3), pp. 45-62.

Dr. Ana Koren Senior Lecturer in Diplomacy & Global Policy Education:

  • PhD in Political Science, University of Ljubljana (2018)
  • MA in Global Affairs, Yale University (2014)
  • BA in Political Science, University of Ljubljana (2013) Research Interests: Dr. Koren’s research examines the role of international organisations, multilateral diplomacy, and the effectiveness of global policy-making in addressing transnational challenges such as climate change and public health crises. She is also an expert on the EU’s foreign policy. Selected Publications:
  • Koren, A. et al. (2021). “Policy Cohesion in the European Union: A Study of Climate Change Diplomacy.” European Foreign Affairs Review, 26(1), pp. 99-115. DOI: 10.1002/efa.1788
  • Koren, A. (2019). “The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Shaping Global Health Policy.” Journal of Public Health Policy, 40(3), pp. 311-329.

Department of Creative Technologies & Design

Ms. Ilze Kalniņa Head of Department & Senior Lecturer in Interactive Design Education:

  • MA in Interactive Design, Royal College of Art (2012)
  • BA in Graphic Design, Art Academy of Latvia (2010) Professional Experience: Ms. Kalniņa is a practising designer with over a decade of experience in digital product and user experience design. Prior to joining Swinton, she led design teams at a prominent European tech company, focusing on mobile application development and user interface innovation. Awards & Recognitions:
  • Finalist, European Design Awards (2019)
  • Recipient, Creative Industries Grant, Baltic Innovation Fund (2018) Selected Projects:
  • Kalniņa, I. (2020). Interactive exhibition design for the Museum of Digital Art. Project DOI: 10.4550/2020.21.3456
  • Kalniņa, I. et al. (2018). UI/UX redesign for a leading FinTech platform.

Mr. Antti Virtanen Lecturer in Product Design & Digital Fabrication Education:

  • MSc in Product Development, Aalto University (2016)
  • BSc in Industrial Design, University of Lapland (2014) Professional Experience: Mr. Virtanen brings a unique blend of industrial and creative design expertise. He has worked on projects ranging from consumer electronics to sustainable furniture design, with a strong focus on digital fabrication techniques like 3D printing and CNC machining. Selected Projects:
  • Virtanen, A. (2021). “Additive Manufacturing for Sustainable Product Design.” Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 116(5-6), pp. 2099-2115. DOI: 10.1007/s00170-021-07383-x
  • Virtanen, A. et al. (2019). Smart home device prototype design.

Department of Data Science & Analytics

Dr. Sanna Laitinen Professor of Data Science & Statistics Education:

  • DSc in Data Science, Helsinki University of Technology (2014)
  • MSc in Statistics, University of Helsinki (2010)
  • BSc in Mathematics, University of Helsinki (2009) Research Interests: Dr. Laitinen is a leading figure in the field of big data analytics, with a focus on developing scalable algorithms for real-time data processing and predictive modelling. Her work is widely applied in industries such as telecommunications and logistics. Selected Publications:
  • Laitinen, S. et al. (2023). “Real-Time Predictive Analytics for Supply Chain Optimisation.” Journal of Data Science & Business, 15(1), pp. 45-62. DOI: 10.1177/1532155X231154563
  • Laitinen, S. (2020). “Scalable Algorithms for Large-Scale Data Processing in Telecommunication Networks.” IEEE Transactions on Big Data, 8(3), pp. 451-465. ISSN: 2332-7790

Dr. Luka Žnidaršič Senior Lecturer in Computational Economics Education:

  • PhD in Computational Economics, University of Vienna (2017)
  • MSc in Business Analytics, University College Dublin (2014)
  • BSc in Computer Science, University of Ljubljana (2013) Research Interests: Dr. Žnidaršič’s research explores the application of data science and machine learning techniques to financial markets and economic forecasting. He is particularly interested in the analysis of high-frequency trading data and the modelling of economic systems. Selected Publications:
  • Žnidaršič, L. (2022). “Machine Learning Models for Financial Market Forecasting: A Comparative Analysis.” Financial Analytics Journal, 25(2), pp. 112-128. DOI: 10.1002/fan.2452
  • Žnidaršič, L. et al. (2020). “The Impact of Algorithmic Trading on Market Volatility.” Journal of Quantitative Economics, 36(1), pp. 1-17.