PhD Student Week: Maarja Pajusalu, Junior Research Fellow of Health Informatics

On 13 May, the Estonian Doctoral School – a joint initiative of all Estonian universities – celebrates European Doctoral Day. During a social media campaign from 11 to 17 May, doctoral researchers from across Estonia share their experiences, reflecting on the value of doctoral studies and the broader impact of research. Maarja Pajusalu, Junior Research Fellow of Health Informatics shares her thoughts.

Please describe briefly your field of research.

My research focuses on how to make complex and large-scale health data more usable and understandable. Health data can come from many different sources and often has a complex structure, which makes it difficult to interpret and use effectively.

I study how to build an efficient workflow for such data that supports cleaning, organizing, and analyzing it in a way that produces a clear and reliable overall picture. The goal is to turn raw data into insights that are both understandable and practically useful for different audiences.

Different stakeholders – such as health data researchers, medical scientists, and policymakers – often need the same data, but at different levels of detail and from different perspectives. Therefore, I also focus on how to present analytical results in a way that better supports decision-making in healthcare and public health.

What motivated you to pursue doctoral studies?

When deciding to pursue a PhD, the most important factor for me was the desire to contribute to a field that is truly meaningful and has a broader societal impact.

I am particularly interested in how complex health data can be transformed into clear and understandable insights and how these can be effectively communicated to different stakeholders, including researchers, medical professionals, and policymakers. Good communication is essential to me, as only clearly presented results can truly support better decision-making.

In addition, I greatly value the opportunity to work alongside smart and motivated people in an academic environment where ideas are shared, developed further, and where people engage with meaningful and challenging problems.

What has been the most exciting or unexpected experience during your doctoral studies?

One of the most exciting and at the same time unexpectedly developmental experiences during my PhD has been the Training Camp: The Art of Giving a Popular Science Talk, aimed at doctoral students in the natural sciences and organized by Kalle Olli together with Gleb Maltsev. I participated for the first time in 2024, where I achieved second place, and I also returned in 2025.

This experience has been very important to me, as I value my daily research work and the learning process of becoming a researcher. At the same time, it is clear that one of the key tasks of a PhD candidate, as an early-stage researcher, is to develop into an independent scientist, where the support of supervisors and the wider academic community plays an essential role.

Alongside this, it is equally important to be able to present one’s work clearly, simply, and engagingly – both to subject-matter experts and to a broader audience with diverse backgrounds. This is what helps explain what we do at the university and why it matters.

In the same spirit, another very exciting challenge has been the “Three-Minute Thesis” competition, both at the university level and organized by the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

What advice would you give to someone who is currently considering pursuing a PhD in computer science?

I would strongly recommend thoroughly exploring the projects and research topics of different research groups before applying for a PhD. It is very important to understand what a group is actually working on and whether those topics feel interesting and motivating to you personally.

It is also worth looking at the past research of potential supervisors and group members, both within the university and more broadly. This gives a good overview of their scientific direction, collaborations, and working style, and helps you assess whether the environment aligns with your own expectations and goals.

If possible, I would definitely recommend meeting people in person, talking to them, and asking questions. Direct contact is the best way to understand the working atmosphere and how PhD students are supported in their development. Ultimately, it is important to find an environment that best supports your interests, goals, and personal growth.

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The campaign highlights the opportunities offered by doctoral studies in Estonia and showcases diverse career paths in academia and beyond.

European Doctoral Day homepage: https://www.eurodocday.org/

Estonian Doctoral School homepage: https://www.doktorikool.ee/en/

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