Mikko Lehtimäki

Doctoral researcher (MSc) Mikko Lehtimäki is a human factors specialist at Finnish Lifeboat Institution. He will defend his doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa in June 2026. His research examines the mastery of human factors in demanding, safety-critical environments, with a particular focus on enhancing performance and safety in high-speed maritime cockpit operations. Lehtimäki has extensive experience in maritime search and rescue, with expertise in crew resource management, workflow optimisation, standard operating procedures, and systemic safety development. His work emphasises a proactive, performance-oriented approach, integrating human-centred principles into technical and operational systems to improve both organisational and crew performance. He has contributed to the Finnish Lifeboat Institution by developing crew training, designing simulation environments, and establishing operational practices informed by human factors. Through the integration of academic research and operational experience, he translates theory into practical safety improvements in complex, high-risk settings.