By the time he crossed 10 time zones for his own stint as a visiting scholar at ICSI, Jussi Kangasharju had already helped numerous Finnish students make their own journeys to California. From 2008-2014, Kangasharju managed the fellowship program that sent Finnish scholars — up to three at a time — to conduct research with ICSI’s computer scientists.
“Seeing the success stories coming out of this exchange, I saw that you get access to top-class researchers, and they are willing to give you time,” said Kangasharju. “To the question of why do a visit, there are multiple reasons. But why visit ICSI specifically—it’s the commitment of the people on the ICSI side that I see as the most valuable [draw.]”
That fellowship program has since ended, but now Kangasharju is working to start a new program to support Finnish scholars at ICSI with a different funding agency.
“There are aspects in the way people run research groups in the U.S. that I think we can learn a lot from here,” said Kangasharju. “For the younger fellows especially, the experience of being integrated in a different environment is extremely beneficial.”
The rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic has made it easier than ever to collaborate with colleagues across the globe. But, Kangasharju stresses that in-person interaction and spending time immersed in the culture of an organization remain crucially important.
“In research, there is a time to be alone and work quietly, but in my opinion, all the important stuff happens when you talk to others,” said Kangasharju. “Talking to new people, making connections, brainstorming — you can’t do that on Zoom. Working remotely, you don’t have a chance encounter at the coffee machine. The spontaneous contacts often are the ones where you get a lot of the good ideas.”
In 2013, Kangasharju visited ICSI himself for a five-month sabbatical. Being so far removed from the everyday demands of running a research group gave him the time he needed to focus his ideas, connect with new people, and consider problems in new ways. From a practical perspective, he also appreciated how ICSI staff helped him find an apartment and navigate other logistics of a temporary relocation to California.
“ICSI is still small enough that you can get individual help, unlike a larger university department that perhaps cannot afford to give this level of service to everybody. Everyone at ICSI was very nice, and everything worked,” Kangasharju said.
He noted that having experienced people on the ground and on his side made his time at ICSI both productive and enjoyable—something he hopes a reinvigorated Finnish fellowship program can bring to many Finnish students and scientists in the coming years.
This story was published in January 2026 as part of a retrospective series highlighting ICSI’s accomplishments and impacts over the years. To learn about our ongoing work, explore our Core Research Themes.