Why I Choose to Work at Academic Innovation

Innovations in educational technology profoundly shaped my experience as a university student, making the work at CAI deeply meaningful to me. Collaborating with a talented and supportive team in an agile environment, using modern technologies to create projects that serve the common good, allows me to find both joy in my work and peace of mind. The unique blend of a startup’s dynamism with the resources, mission, and values of a public research university is a rare and inspiring combination.

Current Roles/Previous Experience

Ilkka is an Application Architect at the Center for Academic Innovation, where he contributes to the development of educational tools such as Spire, Tandem, and Data.AI. His focus is on designing systems that are both fit for purpose and well crafted, as well as advocating for developer experience and happiness.

Before joining Academic Innovation, Ilkka brought over a decade of experience in various technical roles within software teams. His journey in technology began early, having joined his first startup before he was even old enough to vote.

Ask Me to Learn About

• Ruby on Rails
• Django
• JavaScript & TypeScript
• Vue
• Ambient Guitar Noodling