Other than that, studies at the University of Helsinki were a dream come true for doctoral alumni Hanna Västinsalo. After completing a doctoral thesis in molecular genetics, she eventually became a film director and screenwriter. How did Västinsalo grow into a scholarly and artistic multitalent?
Years ago, Hanna Västinsalo decided to stay at her workplace for the night. At the time, she was a doctoral researcher in molecular genetics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. The workplace was located at the Biomedicum research and teaching hub in Meilahti.
However, Västinsalo did not spend the night at the research centre to work on her doctoral thesis. Instead, she shot a short horror film with her sister. It tells about a researcher gone mad who chops up a colleague into a control sample needed for their research.
"I showed the film to all of my colleagues. They naturally wanted to make a sequel. Next, we stayed at the centre for a night with a larger group. Everyone got to choose the way in which they would die in the corridors of Biomedicum," Västinsalo chuckles.
One was stabbed in the head, another fell from a height.
From a doctorate to art
Today, Västinsalo is a professional in both scholarship and the arts: while holding a doctorate in molecular genetics, she currently works as a film director and screenwriter. Västinsalo's first feature film, Palimpsesti, premiered in spring 2024.
Among the film's leads are Riitta Havukainen, Krista Kosonen and Antti Virmavirta. The film is about two older adults who take part in a scientific gene therapy trial. Unexpectedly, they begin to be physically rejuvenated - which does not by any means result in happiness and joy alone.
Even those unfamiliar with Västinsalo can see that the story is influenced by her doctoral studies. Her love of cinema stretches back to childhood, but only academic studies in a completely different field made her a filmmaker.
"In our research group, we investigated and developed gene therapy for Usher syndrome, or combined deafness and blindness."
At first, the doctoral thesis provided a theme for the horror short, but eventually led to an idea for a feature. After obtaining her doctoral degree, Västinsalo successfully applied to study at the American Film Institute, a world-renowned film school.
Parental support as the foundation
Films have influenced Västinsalo's academic career in turn. In her childhood, Jurassic Park made a huge impression. She will always remember the fictional DNA animation in the original film, which explained how dinosaurs are grown from DNA samples.
It inspired her to consider what science could actually do. Västinsalo successfully applied to study genetics as her major subject.
"I regrettably did not get a chance to create dinosaurs!"
Strongly drawn to the idea of helping people, she applied for doctoral education.
"The possibility of science actually producing effective gene therapies - that's what originally motivated me."
One question remains. How did Västinsalo grow into a scholarly and artistic multitalent, a veritable Renaissance woman?
Västinsalo begins by noting that it is awful to talk about yourself. After a moment's thought, she points out that her parents' encouragement and support made her believe that you can at least try anything.
"I'm from a purely working-class family. My mother worked at a discount shop, my father was a plumber and welder. Even though when I finished primary school they said they were no longer able to help me in my math studies, they have always been on my side. My father even built sets late into the night with the set designer when I was shooting my first film."
At the moment, Palimpsesti is being developed into a television series in the United States. Its release schedule was not known at the time of the writing of this article.
