Spending the summer surrounded by rocks at Posiva!

From Underground Facilities to Forests: Two Different Worlds

Twenty-three-year-old Milja Parkkila is spending her third summer at Posiva, working in field operations. A typical day for Parkkila begins in ONKALO, where she collects water samples and visits groundwater monitoring stations. Her afternoons are spent on tasks that rotate in multi-week cycles.

"By my third summer, the work already feels quite routine," Parkkila says when describing her days.

Although her job title has remained the same throughout the years, this summer has brought new experiences through projects related to drill-hole closure and the installation of plugging equipment.

"I get involved in a wide range of new tasks, and every summer has brought something different," Parkkila says enthusiastically. "My supervisor strongly supports learning new things and keeping the work varied."

Before joining Posiva as a summer trainee, Parkkila had already become familiar with Olkiluoto through outage work at RTK. As a result, even the controlled area was not unfamiliar to her.

A Diverse Working Environment Inspires

Parkkila is in her fourth year of Environmental Science studies at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. Her studies have provided her with a strong theoretical foundation that supports her work at Posiva.

"The job complements my environmental science studies very well and has been highly educational. The tasks are varied, and I have been able to learn different measurement techniques, for example in gas and water sampling carried out in ONKALO," Parkkila explains.

Parkkila has a broad interest in environmental careers in general and has greatly enjoyed working at Posiva.
However, her ultimate career path is not yet set in stone.

"Life will eventually show me which path is the right one," Parkkila laughs.

A Summer Among Drill Cores

Thirty-eight-year-old Tuukka Mäkiranta is spending his first summer at Posiva as a geology trainee, working on repository site suitability assessments and geological modelling.

Prior to joining Posiva, Mäkiranta worked in geology-related positions in an underground gold mine, mineral exploration projects, and as a research assistant at both the University of Helsinki and the University of Turku.

Mäkiranta began his summer in the drill core facility. His main responsibilities include geological reporting of drill core samples and 3D modelling of Olkiluoto's bedrock using drilling data. As part of the modelling work, he reviews the accuracy of previous models while also transferring them into a new software environment.

"I've been very lucky with this assignment," Mäkiranta says. "It allows me to apply my expertise and pursue my interest in geology."

In addition, he has been able to deepen his knowledge by becoming familiar with the bedrock classification system unique to Olkiluoto, which is distinctive due to its exceptional operating environment.

Mäkiranta is currently completing the final stages of his studies in bedrock geology at the University of Turku. He has also studied forestry engineering, although he has not worked in that field professionally.

"I have always been interested in natural sciences and nature," Mäkiranta explains. "When I discovered geology, I immediately realised that it was something I wanted to study."

Although he initially had only a limited understanding of the field, his specific interests became clearer as his studies progressed.

"I am particularly interested in structural geology and metamorphic petrology," Mäkiranta says.

Trainees Are Trusted on the Island

Mäkiranta recalls hearing many positive things about Posiva and Olkiluoto, which motivated him to apply for a summer internship.

During his studies, Posiva had already been familiar to him through geological training samples used in coursework. The internship has lived up to his expectations.

"I had high expectations, although I tried not to get my hopes up too much," Mäkiranta laughs.

From his very first day, Mäkiranta has felt welcomed on the island. He remembers the openness with which trainees were received and how warmly everyone embraced newcomers. In particular, he praises the well-designed and carefully executed onboarding process.

"People here trust the competence and professionalism of trainees. Nobody is constantly looking over your shoulder, but at the same time it is easy to ask anyone for help whenever you need it," Mäkiranta reflects.

Looking ahead, Mäkiranta could see himself building a career at Olkiluoto.

"I would like to do something that has a meaningful impact on society, perhaps related to infrastructure or research," he says. "There are certainly many fascinating opportunities on the research side."

Lunch Breaks Bring People Together

When asked about the best aspects of their summer at Posiva, both Parkkila and Mäkiranta highlight the company's strong sense of community.

"I wouldn't be here for a third summer if the community wasn't this great!" Parkkila says.

"Even though my own work is quite independent from that of many other Posiva employees, the positive atmosphere is something you can really feel," she adds.

The camaraderie among Posiva's trainees extends beyond coffee and lunch breaks. Outside working hours, they spend time together kayaking, playing volleyball and enjoying other activities.

"Working at Posiva suits many different kinds of people; you can truly be yourself here," Mäkiranta concludes.

Text: Jessi-Julia Salonen and Venla Lehto
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti