Profile

Okko Alitalo

Pharmacist (M. Sc),
Marketing assistant,
graphic designer

Name:Okko Alitalo

Phone:044 0610920

Email:okko@alitalo.org

Website:alitalo.org

Hey! I’m Okko. I enjoy to learn and study new things, such as neurology, computers, and graphic design. I strive for new challenges and projects. I also have an extensive background in various non-profit organizations, aiding my organizational and teamwork skills.

If you have any questions or work offers, please contact me! I’m always open to new opportunities and projects.

Work Experience

11.2017 - present

University of Eastern Finland

Junior Researcher

Project-based research work related to schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease rodent models. Behavioral & cognitive testing of the animals. Searching for a suitable subject for a PhD thesis.

Key skills learned during the internship:

Rodent cognitive behavioral testing using automated touchscreen in a rodent model of schizophrenia
Behavioral testing of motor impairments in rodent model of Parkinson’s disease
Rat stereotaxic surgery
Formulation & other required laboratory work
Protein activity assays

03.2015 - 09.2015

Charles River Laboratories, Inc

Masters student

For my Masters thesis, titled “Autoradiography in Preclinical Schizophrenia Research”, I worked at Charles River Laboratories in the research group specialized in neuroimaging.
During my time at the company I was tasked for designing, organizing and reporting of the study. My work was part of a poster presented at Neuroscience 2015 seminar 20.10.2015 in Chicago.

Key skills learned during the internship:

Scientific study planning.
Timing and organization of a study.
Data analysis & reporting.
Animal handling.
Functional molecular imaging of central nervous system.
Autoradiography using digital gaseous scintillator-coupled CCD-camera (BetaImager).

Poster: Alitalo O, Rytkönen J, Parkkari T, Nurmi A, Huhtala T: Quantitative Metabolic Changes and G Protein-Coupled Receptor Activation Using Autoradiography.

(Link to additional details on Charles River website.)

05.2014 - present

Farenta 2 Oy

Pharmacist

As an employee of Farenta I have performed customer service and sales in highly competitive and varying work environment spanning over 30 community pharmacies.

Key skills learned during my employment in Farenta:

Objective view of the varying practices of pharmacy management.
Sales skills.
Extensive product knowledge.
Quick adaptation to new environments and situations.

02.2014 - 05.2014

Tampereen XII Koivu Apteekki

Pharmacist

In Koivu Apteekki I completed my second pharmacy internship, and after graduation I continued my work there as a pharmacist. During my time in Koivu Apteekki I received extensive education in customer service, marketing, and cosmetics by the incredibly talented and friendly employees. In addition, I created advertising graphics, updated and created new standard operating protocols, and educated the pharmacy employees in the use of surveillance camera system.

03.2013 - 09.2013

A.I. Virtanen Institute

Bachelors student

During my internship in A. I. Virtanen Institute I worked in the research group of Heikki Tanila, specialized in the neurobiology of memory. I assisted the group with the building of the components required for assessment of brain evoked potentials, mouse stereotactic surgery, and the electrophysiological monitoring of brain. The resulting bachelors thesis was titled “In Vivo Electrophysiology of Mouse Visual System In Preclinical Drug Research.”

I was also tasked perform basic principles of histological sample processing, including cryostat usage, sample labeling, and imaging.

Key skills learned during the internship:
Precision working using microscopy
Histology
Animal handling
Scientific writing

06.2013 - 08.2013

Oulun VI Joutsen Apteekki

Pharmacy internship

Pharmacy internship in Oulu. Work was mainly focused on OTC medication sales and customer service.

08.2010 - 2012

Freelance

Graphic Designer

Graphic design for various companies and organizations, including:

Tee-Design TMI – Webdesign, 2017
Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL ry) – Logo for student sports tutoring, 2012
T.R.Björkbom-trading Oy – Advertising graphics, 2010

Education

08.2014 - 01.2017

Itä-Suomen yliopisto

Pharmacist (M. Sc.)

Department of Pharmacology. Masters thesis titled “Autoradiography in Preclinical Schizophrenia Research”.

09.2014 - 02.2016

Institute of Marketing

Vocational Degree in Marketing Communications

I used the Apteekkari magazine 100-year grant to study a vocational degree in marketing communications. The program focused on the pharmacy-related public relations and advertisement. As the diploma work I planned and implemented new visual brand for the Pharmacy student association Fortis ry. The brand overhaul included new vector iteration of the logo, color planning, and tendering and order of new Fortis-related brand materials. I also standardized both internal and external communication materials of the organization.

09.2011 - 05.2014

University of Eastern Finland

Pharmacist (B. Sc.)

Department of Pharmacology

Organizations

2012 - 2016

Pharmacy student association Fortis ry

Communications manager, Secretary

As the board member responsible for communications, I was responsible for the administration of the internet presence of student association Fortis ry. The administration required the management of Joomla-based website, mailing lists, and social media accounts. I pursued to enhance the quality of the communications by following regular metrics, such as online surveys, for analyzing the quality of the communications.

In 2015 I started as the secretary of the student organization, performing various administrative duties and paperwork. The duties involved advanced use of Microsoft Office suite and often required steady organizational skills. As a secretary I redesigned all the used templates for invoices, application forms, and board meeting minutes. I also developed Excel macros and worksheets to automate vote counting workflow.

2012 - 2013

Pharmacy student organization FO-Kuopio

Membership secretary

In the FO-Kuopio (now known as FLOp ry) my primary duties were administration of the local membership registry and communications with the national union of pharmacists.

2012 - 2016

Pharmacy student association Fortis ry

Dilutus magazine layout and graphic design

For the time I stayed in University of Eastern Finland, I worked in the editorial board of Fortis ry’s magazine Dilutus. In the late 2011 I redesigned the magazine page layout and graphics. I continued my work on the magazine until 2017. During the year 2016 I taught a junior layout editor to use Adobe Creative suite using video and picture based tutorials.

Accomplishments and key skills learned as a layout designer:

Excellent proficiency of Adobe Creative Cloud applications including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom.
Design of promotional materials.
Workflow improvements for editorial team.
Communications with advertisement partners and printing companies.

Additional Volunteering & Committees

During my studies I took part to many additional committees and work groups, such as:

Layout and graphics for the new song book of Fortis ry: “Festivus Pilulae”, 2013
Organization of the student overalls group buy and communications to advertisers on years 2011–2015
Student mentoring, 2012
Interior design of the Fortis ry office, 2012