Alumnus Jarkko Larkio: 'Getting out of my comfort zone and learning a lot of new things in different areas of chemistry.'

Why did you want to study a degree in Master of Science in Chemical Engineering?

I got a Bachelor’s degree in analytical chemistry from Metropolia University of Applied Science. After working in labs for about two years, I felt I wanted to deepen my knowledge and understanding in chemistry. After researching the possible options for me, Aalto’s School of Chemical Engineering seemed like the right fit for me. I decided to apply for the Chemistry major, as it offers a diverse collection of courses to specialize in from organic to inorganic chemistry. My specialization ended up being inorganic and analytical chemistry

What was the best thing about your studies?

The best thing about my studies was getting out of my comfort zone and learning a lot of new stuff in different areas of chemistry, some of which I had very minimal previous knowledge. 

What course did you find most interesting and what was it about?

There were actually two very interesting courses that come to mind: Solid State Chemistry and Materials for Renewable Energy. Both courses diverged from the usual lecture-exam type of teaching, which I found was a breath of fresh air. In Solid State Chemistry, we were introduced to different types of materials, their nanostructures and how the nanostructures are analyzed. The course didn’t have an exam, but we were tasked with creating two wiki pages, which I found fun. In Materials for Renewable Energy we were introduced to different challenges that we’re faced with when creating materials for renewable energy sources. I found this course very interesting because development of renewable energy sources is becoming more and more crucial.

Do you already have a job after your studies? How did you get it?

Yes. I started working in my current company after my first year of master’s studies. I applied for a summer job and got hired. After the summer was over, I was able to continue working part-time at the same company. I was also able to do my master’s thesis for the same company, as they had an interesting research topic.

Have you been working during your studies in the field that you are studying? (for e.g. summer job)

Yes, after my first year of masters I was able to get a summer job. After the summer I was also able to work part-time at the same company

What do you want to do after you have graduated? Do you have a dream job?

I want to do research and development in a chemistry related field, possibly something related to material development. My dream job would be doing research and development on a product or a solution that has a noticeable impact on the people around or the whole society.