Academic Staff & Mentors
At Virtanen International College, we subscribe to the “Scholar-Teacher” model. Our faculty are not merely instructors; they are active practitioners in their fields—former engineers, published authors, and active researchers. With a student-to-staff ratio of 8:1, our educators provide a level of personalised academic mentorship that rivals university tuition.
[CS-ADV] Computer Science & AI
Dr. Elias Korhonen | Head of Faculty MSc (Aalto University), PhD (University of Helsinki)
Before returning to academia, Dr. Korhonen spent a decade in the telecommunications sector, contributing to early 5G infrastructure protocols. His teaching philosophy centres on “ethical coding”—ensuring students understand the societal impact of the algorithms they write. He runs the school’s Robotics Club and is currently restoring a 1980s arcade cabinet in the student common room.
- Specialism: Network Security, Python, Machine Learning Ethics.
- Selected Publication: “Latency Reduction in Edge Computing Architectures.” Nordic Journal of Computing. Ref:
10.1056/NJC.2021.0048X(2021).
Ms. Sarah Jenkins BSc Hons (University of Manchester), PGCE (University of Cambridge)
Ms. Jenkins joins us from the UK, bringing a rigorous approach to syntax and logic. A specialist in data structures, she is particularly passionate about closing the gender gap in STEM. Her classroom is known for its “syntax-free Fridays,” where students must solve logic problems using only pen and paper to understand the underlying mathematics of code.
- Specialism: Java, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures.
- Selected Publication: “Gamification in Secondary CS Education: A Case Study.” EduTech Weekly. Ref:
ISSN-2201-993-A(2023).
[ART-DES] Visual Arts & Nordic Design
Prof. Julian Rossi MA Architecture (Politecnico di Milano), BA Fine Arts
Half-Italian, half-Finnish, Julian bridges the gap between Mediterranean expressionism and Nordic functionalism. He teaches the Architectural Design modules and encourages students to build physical models rather than relying solely on CAD. He is a harsh critic of “form over function” and is often found in the ceramics studio late at night.
- Specialism: 3D Design, Spatial Awareness, Sustainable Materials.
- Selected Exhibition/Work: “Concrete & Light: A Retrospective.” Exhibited at Helsinki Design Week. Cat. Ref:
ART-HEL-24-009(2022).
Ms. Marika Laine MA Textile Design (Aalto University)
Marika is a practicing textile artist whose work focuses on recycled bio-materials. At Virtanen, she leads the IB Visual Arts programme. She insists on a “zero-waste” studio policy, requiring students to create their own pigments and canvases from recycled school materials. She is currently researching the use of fungal mycelium in fashion.
- Specialism: Textiles, Colour Theory, Portfolio Curation.
- Selected Publication: “The Tactility of Waste: Upcycling in High Fashion.” Scandinavian Design Review. Ref:
ISBN-978-4-990-2(2020).
[SCI-PHY] Physical Sciences & Engineering
Dr. Hans Weber PhD Theoretical Physics (Heidelberg University)
Dr. Weber is a figure of immense respect within the college. A former research fellow at CERN, he transitioned to secondary education to “catch physicists before they learn bad habits.” His lessons are rigorous, mathematically demanding, and famous for his “Quantum Fridays,” where he attempts to explain superpositions using everyday classroom objects. He does not tolerate mobile phones in the lab.
- Specialism: Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Astrophysics.
- Selected Publication: “Anomalies in Particle Acceleration at Low Temperatures.” EuroPhysics Letters. Ref:
DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/131/41002(2018).
Mrs. Li Wei MSc Analytical Chemistry (University of Turku), BEng (Tsinghua University)
Mrs. Wei brings an engineering mindset to the chemistry lab. Her focus is on industrial application—how chemical principles are scaled up for manufacturing. She spearheads the “Baltic Watch” project, where students collect and analyse water samples from the Aura River to monitor microplastic levels.
- Specialism: Organic Chemistry, Spectroscopy, Environmental Science.
- Selected Publication: “Microplastic Retention in Riverbed Sediments: A Turku Case Study.” Baltic Marine Proceedings. Ref:
BMP-2024-X44(2024).
[ECO-BUS] Economics & Global Commerce
Mr. James Sterling MSc Finance (LSE), BA Economics (Warwick)
Before teaching, James worked as a risk analyst in the City of London. He left the corporate world to find “more meaningful stress.” He teaches Economics with a focus on behavioural finance, often running live stock market simulations where students trade with virtual currency. He is known for his dry British humour and his collection of historical banknotes.
- Specialism: Macroeconomics, Game Theory, Corporate Finance.
- Selected Publication: “The Rationality Fallacy: Behavioural Triggers in Bear Markets.” EconPerspectives. Ref:
JEP-Vol44-Iss2-211(2019).
Ms. Minna-Kaisa Järvinen MSc Economics (Hanken School of Economics)
Minna-Kaisa specialises in the Circular Economy and Nordic business models. She challenges students to rethink capitalism through the lens of sustainability. Her classroom setup is unconventional, often arranged in a boardroom format to simulate executive decision-making processes. She is an avid winter swimmer, even in -20°C weather.
- Specialism: Circular Economy, Business Strategy, Marketing.
- Selected Publication: “Profitability in the Post-Growth Era.” Nordic Business Journal. Ref:
DOI:10.1002/nbj.5592(2023).
[MAT-FUR] Further Mathematics & Logic
Dr. Andrei Volkov PhD Mathematics (St. Petersburg State University)
Dr. Volkov is a purist. He believes calculators are “tools for the weak” and encourages mental arithmetic. Specialising in Number Theory and Combinatorics, he prepares students for the most gruelling university entrance papers (STEP/MAT). He is a FIDE-rated Chess Master and runs the school’s Chess Club with an iron fist.
- Specialism: Complex Analysis, Number Theory, Differential Equations.
- Selected Publication: “On the Zeros of the Riemann Zeta Function: A New Approach.” (Co-author). MathArchive. Ref:
arXiv:2201.09981(2022).
Miss Eleanor Vance MA Mathematics (Cantab)
Miss Vance brings a fresh, dynamic energy to the department. A graduate of Cambridge, she specialises in Topology and Logic. She is particularly skilled at translating abstract concepts into visual formats for students who struggle with pure notation. She organises the annual “Pi Day” marathon.
- Specialism: Topology, Set Theory, Mathematical Logic.
- Selected Publication: “Knot Theory and its Applications in DNA Research.” Undergraduate Math Review. Ref:
UMR-2018-002(2018).
[BIO-MED] Life Sciences & Pre-Medical
Dr. Samuel Okeke MBBS (University of Lagos), MSc Public Health (Karolinska Institutet)
Dr. Okeke is a qualified medical doctor who transitioned into education to focus on public health awareness. His classes on Epidemiology are legendary, often using zombie apocalypse simulations to teach disease transmission vectors. He provides invaluable guidance to students preparing for the BMAT/UCAT medical entrance exams.
- Specialism: Human Physiology, Epidemiology, Immunology.
- Selected Publication: “Vector Control Strategies in Sub-Saharan Urban Centres.” Global Health Metrics. Ref:
WHO-GHM-2017-44(2017).
Ms. Tuula Salo DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), University of Helsinki
As a former veterinarian, Ms. Salo has an unmatched knowledge of comparative anatomy. She teaches the Biology High Level track with a focus on dissection and physiology. Her pragmatic, hands-on approach is highly valued by students aiming for Veterinary or Biological degrees. She often brings skeletal specimens from her personal collection for demonstration.
- Specialism: Comparative Anatomy, Genetics, Zoology.
- Selected Publication: “Cranial Morphology in Nordic Ungulates.” VetSci Scandinavia. Ref:
VSS-DOI-9921(2021).