Okko Alitalo
Doctoral Candidate (Pharmacy), Graphic Designer
Profile
Okko Alitalo
Doctoral Candidate (Pharmacy), Graphic Designer
I’m Okko, 26 year old doctoral student and marketing assistant currently based in Helsinki. I enjoy learning and studying various subjects, such as neuroscience, computers, and graphic design. I strive for new challenges and projects.
Hit me up with any new scientific or artistic projects, I’m always up for commissions and collaborations!
Resume
Resume
Employment
University of Helsinki, Finland
Ph. D. Candidate
Mar 2018 –
Working at Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics (Dr. Rantamäki) at Regenerative Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, researching the biochemical mechanisms of novel rapid-acting antidepressants. For more details, see our lab website.
Additionally, part of SleepWell consortium of Faculty of Medicine.
Key skills and responsibilities:
• Wet lab protocols
• Functional imaging & Isotope imaging
• Data visualization
• Use of translational mouse models of depression
• Immunohistochemistry
• Animal handling
• Coding; MATLAB, Tableau, Alteryx, R
• Teaching – 3 Bachelors students, 2 Masters students, 5 courses ranging from pharmacy customer service to FELASA-degree course on brain surgery practices and experimental planning
University of Eastern Finland
Junior Researcher
Nov 2017 – Jan 2018
Project-based research work related to schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease rodent models. Behavioral & cognitive testing of the animals.
Key skills and responsibilities:
• Rodent cognitive behavioral testing using automated touchscreen
• Behavioral testing of motor impairments in rodent model of Parkinson’s disease
• Rat stereotaxic surgery
• Formulation & other required laboratory work
• Protein activity assays
Farenta Oy
Pharmacist (B.Sc. & M.Sc.)
May 2014 –
Pharmaceutical sales, customer service and pharmacy management in over 30 retail pharmacies.
Key skills and responsibilities:
• Employee IT training
• SOP development
• Customer service
• Pharmacy management
Charles River, Kuopio, FI
Assistant
Mar 2015 – Sep 2015
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. A part of the study was published as a poster at Neuroscience 2015 seminar.
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)
A.I. Virtanen institute, Kuopio, FI
Bachelor's student
Mar 2013 – Sep 2013
Dr. Heikki Tanila group, specialized in the neurobiology of memory. Building of electrodes for brain evoked potential imaging, mouse stereotactic surgery, and the electrophysiological monitoring.
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
Education
University of Helsinki, Finland
Ph. D. (Pharm.)
Sep 2018 –
Faculty of Pharmacy, Regenerative Pharmacology Unit, Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics
Faculty of Social Sciences, Science communications minor program
University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
Pharmacist (M. Sc.)
Sep 2014 – Jan 2017
Department of pharmacology. Thesis: “Autoradiography in Preclinical Schizophrenia Research.”
Institute of Marketing, Oulu, Finland
Marketing Assistant
Oct 2014 – Mar 2016
Vocational degree in the pharmaceutical marketing
communications. As my dissertation I planned and implemented a brand reform for a pharmaceutical student organization.
University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
Pharmacist (B. Sc.)
Sep 2011 – May 2014
Department of pharmacology. Thesis: “In Vivo Electrophysiology of Mouse Visual Pathway in Preclinical Drug Research.”
Scientific Skills
Design Skills
Language Skills
Publications
• Alitalo O, Saarreharju R, Zarate C, Kohtala S, Rantamäki T: A wake-up call – revealing the oversight of sleep physiology and related translational discrepancies in studies of rapid-acting antidepressants, MedRxive, 30.9.2020, DOI:
• Kohtala S, Alitalo O, M Rosenholm, S Rozov, Rantamäki T: Time is of the essence: Coupling sleep-wake and circadian neurobiology to the antidepressant effects of ketamine, Pharmacology & Therapeutics 107741, 2020
• Alitalo O, Rantamäki T, Huhtala T: Digital autoradiography for efficient functional imaging without anesthesia in experimental animals: Reversing phencyclidine-induced functional alterations using clozapine, Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 100:109887, 2020
• Theilmann W, Alitalo O, Yorke I, Rantamäki T: Dose-dependent effects of isoflurane on TrkB and GSK3beta signaling: Importance of burst suppression pattern. Neurosci Lett 694: 29-33, 2019
Grants & Funding
• Instrumentarium Science Foundation, 2022
• Doctoral Programme in Drug Research, 2020-2021
• The Finnish Pharmacists’ Society travel grant, 2020
• Doctoral School in Health Sciences travel grant, 2019
Posters
• Alitalo O, Saarreharju R, Kohtala S, Rosenholm M, Rozov S, Rantamäki T: Nopeavaikutteiset masennuslääkkeet ja uni. Farmasian Päivät, Helsinki/Virtual, 2.10.2020
• Alitalo O, Saarreharju R, Kohtala S, Rosenholm M, Rozov S, Rantamäki T: Regulation of neurotrophic signaling through bioenergetics. FENS Forum, UK/Virtual, 14.7.2020
• Alitalo O, Kohtala S, Rosenholm M, Rozov S, Rantamäki T: Energy metabolism regulates neuroplasticity signaling. FENS Regional Meeting, Serbia, 12.7.2019
• Alitalo O, Kohtala S, Rosenholm M, Rozov S, Rantamäki T: Ketamiinia ja kuntosalia: energiankulutus masennuslääkevaikutuksen taustalla? Brain Awareness Week, Porthania, Helsingin Yliopisto, 13.3.2019
• Alitalo O, Rytkönen J, Parkkari T, Wolinsky D, Nurmi A, Huhtala T: Quantitative metabolic changes and G protein-coupled receptor activation using autoradiography. Society for Neuroscience meeting, poster 617.01, 2015
Awards
• Best Poster Award, B&M Symposium 2019
• Fortis ry award for merits, 2016
• Apteekkari-magazine award, 2014
Additional courses
European Union
FELASA Accredited Course 029/10: The
Use of Animals in Research, 2013–2015
Farmasian Oppimiskeskus (FOK)
Current trends in GMP, 2017
Internal auditing, 2016
Use of opioids in pain treatment, 2016
Treatment of diabetes, 2015
Animal treatment in pharmacy, 2015
Sexual health, 2014
Contraception, 2014
Duodecim Oppiportti
Pharmacotherapy, 2016
Patient safety, 2016
Portfolio
Portfolio
Testimonials
Testimonials
Tämän päivän kulttuurin sanotaan usein olevan pinnallista ja sisällötöntä, mutta sitä ei totisesti ole Okko Alitalon Okkoltism & Dark Arts -näyttelyn teokset.
Okko is clearly one of the most talented young scientists I know and I am privileged to supervise him.
Based on his knowledge, motivation, learning skills, and flexibility I can highly recommend Okko as an employee.