PhD candidate in Political Science at University of Lapland (since 2025), specializing in resilience and restorative justice. My research explores how restorative justice can add to resilience research in context of conflict and development policy to address structural inequalities, power dynamics, and sustainable conflict resolution.

Jutta Martens is writing her PhD research with to Tampere University, Tampere Peace Research Institute Tapri with a working title "Conflicting Norms in Peace Processes – Faith-based Leaders’ Perspectives and Roles in Achieving Lasting Peace". The PhD will be article-based. Ms. Martens has received funding for her study from Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Tampere City Tiedeapuraha and from Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission FELM. Currently Ms. Martens is working as Programme Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa at Finn Church Aid. The idea is to conduct the PhD research also in collaboration with FCA.

Research work centers around water diplomacy and transboundary water governance, with a particular focus on understanding and strengthening technical-political tracks from a conflict sensitive and positive peace point of view. This includes looking at risk, decision-making and implementation, trust and trustbuilding and institutional resilience as well as multistakeholder and multitrack engagement.