I have a background in folklore studies and human-animal studies. I received my PhD in Folklore Studies at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus, in 2012. In my doctoral dissertation, I investigated the construction of human-cow relationships in the material gathered by a public writing competition. I have specialized in my research in human-cattle relationships and the history of Finnish dairy husbandry. I have also been involved in the research project “Culture of Unsustainability”, funded by the Academy of Finland, at the University of Turku (2019-2023). In my current research project at the University of Eastern Finland, I examine the changes in the meanings and practices related to milk and dairy farming in Finland from the 1950s to the present day. My other publications may be found here: uefconnect.uef.fi/en/taija.kaarlenkaski/#publications