Dr Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo

Anna-Stiina is an Experimental Cognitive Psychologist specialising in problem solving from a distributed cognition perspective, with a particular focus on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Human-AI Interaction (HAII). Her interdisciplinary approach bridges cognitive psychology and technology, contributing valuable insights into how humans interact with AI and digital systems. She currently holds the position of Research Fellow on the AiTASHA Project at the University of Southampton.

The AiTASHA project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), aims to improve the speed and confidence of intelligence analysts’ assessments by building new AI tools that can work alongside human analysts. The Turing Institute works on the project with four universities - Warwick, Southampton, Dundee, and Cardiff - along with UK government defence and national security partners. 

Academic Background and Career
Anna-Stiina earned her PhD from the University of Surrey. Before transitioning into academia, she spent several years as a Financial Analyst in investment banking and various industries. This professional experience provided her with insights into human behaviour in high-pressure, technology-driven environments, which now informs her academic research.

Research Interests
Anna-Stiina's research investigates cognitive performance and cognitive load, particularly in contexts involving advanced technology and AI, and its effects on performance. She also explores the impact of technology usage on well-being. She is a Fellow of the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, aligning with her interests in human-centred technological interactions.

Teaching and Supervision
Anna-Stiina is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and holds a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of Surrey. Additionally, she supervises PhD students specialising in human-AI interaction.