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---
```{=html}
<nav class="en-nav">
<a href="/en/index.html">Home</a>
<a href="/en/about.html" class="active">About</a>
<a href="/en/work.html">Work</a>
<a href="/fractional/fractional.html">Fractional HoD</a>
<a href="/" class="nav-fi">🇫🇮 Suomeksi</a>
</nav>
<div class="page-wrap">
<span class="page-label">About</span>
<h1 class="page-title">Kristian Vepsäläinen</h1>
<div class="two-col">
<aside>
<div class="tag-list">
<span class="tag">Bayesian methods</span>
<span class="tag">Open data</span>
<span class="tag">R / Python</span>
<span class="tag">Forecasting</span>
<span class="tag">Health data</span>
<span class="tag">Legal analytics</span>
<span class="tag">Simulation</span>
<span class="tag">Fractional HoD</span>
</div>
<div class="contact-block">
<a href="mailto:kristian.vepsalainen@proton.me">kristian.vepsalainen@proton.me</a>
<a href="https://kristianvepsalainen.com" target="_blank">kristianvepsalainen.com</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristian-vepsäläinen" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>
</div>
</aside>
<main class="bio-main">
<h2>In one paragraph</h2>
<p>
I am an independent data scientist based in Siilinjärvi, Finland. My work sits at the
intersection of <strong>mathematical statistics, open public data, and domain expertise</strong>
in healthcare, law, and labour economics. I hold an FM in mathematics (University of Eastern Finland)
and a Master of Engineering in cybersecurity (JAMK University of Applied Sciences).
Before going independent, I worked as a statistician at the Finnish Institute for Health
and Welfare (THL), as a data scientist at OP Group, and as a statistical expert at Sosiaalitaito Oy.
I have co-authored peer-reviewed research with Tampere University Eye Centre and Umeå University.
</p>
<div class="philosophy-quote">
<p>Maailma on jakauma — the world is a distribution. A single number is never the answer;
it is always the beginning of a question about what produced it.</p>
</div>
<h2>What I actually do</h2>
<p>
Most analysts produce charts. I build <strong>probabilistic models</strong> —
Bayesian changepoint analyses, posterior predictive distributions, Monte Carlo simulations —
that make uncertainty explicit and actionable. My competitive edge is combining
statistical machinery with datasets that domain experts (lawyers, policy analysts, physicians)
control but cannot analyse without data science skills.
</p>
<h2>Career timeline</h2>
<ul class="timeline">
<li>
<span class="year">2024 – present</span>
Independent consultant — data science, fractional Head of Data.
Clients include Tampere University Eye Centre and Umeå University (2 publications).
</li>
<li>
<span class="year">2019 – 2024</span>
Data Scientist, OP Group (compliance). Regulatory data modelling, AML analytics.
</li>
<li>
<span class="year">2016 – 2019</span>
Statistician / Statistical Researcher, THL. National health and welfare statistics, ~5 peer-reviewed publications.
</li>
<li>
<span class="year">2014 – 2016</span>
Statistical Expert, Sosiaalitaito Oy. Municipal social welfare statistics, Western and Central Uusimaa.
</li>
<li>
<span class="year">2009 – 2014</span>
FM, Mathematics — University of Eastern Finland. Minors: computer science, statistics, economics.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Education</h2>
<ul class="timeline">
<li>
<span class="year">2020 – 2023</span>
MEng, Cybersecurity (YAMK) — JAMK University of Applied Sciences
</li>
<li>
<span class="year">2009 – 2014</span>
FM, Mathematical Sciences — University of Eastern Finland<br>
Major: Mathematics · Minors: CS, Statistics, Economics
</li>
</ul>
</main>
</div>
</div>
```