Michael P. Okas

**** ********* **** ******* **. *9410

adxtda@r.postjobfree.com 608-***-**** www.linkedin.com/in/michael-okas

Education

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, SC May 2023

Master of Arts: Biology (Graduate with Distinction) GPA: 4.0

Loras College, Dubuque, IA May 2016

Bachelor of Science: Neuroscience GPA: 3.48

Minor: Music

Publications

PENDING PUBLICATION: Okas MP, Kastner A, Gioia D, Woodward J. A brief exposure to toluene vapor alters the intrinsic excitability of D2 Medium spiny neurons in the rat ventral striatum. Front. Neurosci.

Braunscheidel KM, Okas MP, Hoffman M, Mullholland PJ, Floresco SB, John J. Woodward JJ. The abused inhalant toluene impairs medical prefrontal cortex activity and risk/reward decision making during a probabilistic discounting task. 2019 J. Neuroscience 39:9207-9220. 2019. PMCID: PMC6855687.

Braunscheidel KM, Wayman WN, Okas MP, Woodward JJ. Self-Administration of Toluene Vapor in Rats. Front. Neurosci. 2020 Aug 18;14:880. Doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00880. 2019. PMCID: PMC7461949.

Work Experience

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina – Adjunct Professor June 2023-Present

Teach and grade structured general biology laboratory to non-major cadets

Propose hypotheses to encourage critical thinking and promote open lines of communication

Medical University of South Carolina – Research Specialist I, Charleston, SC July 2017 – Present

Carry out behavioral aspects of rodent studies centered around alcohol dependence, including operant box training and self-administration training, as well as statistical aspects such as electrophysiology tissue recording, and fiber photometry recording

Analyze experimental data using Excel and Prism software to statistically reject or accept research hypotheses

Follow proper IACUC protocols for maintaining rodent colonies in order to regulate health and quantity of rodents

Complete all laboratory ordering through internal and external ordering sites

University of Illinois at Chicago – Animal Caretaker/ DLAR technician, Chicago, IL June 2016 – July 2017

Responsible for animal husbandry of ~1600 of mice within several colonies, including transferring animals between cages, checking animal health, notifying veterinarians of health issues, housing animals, preparing clean cages, administering antibiotics, sterilizing animal equipment, and euthanizing animals

Leadership Experience

Life Beyond Sports @ Stall High School – Head Football Coach, Charleston, SC January 2023 – Present

Coach technique, teamwork, and leadership to ~50 at-risk children ages 6-10 in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle

Emphasize the importance of family and mutual respect to children who may not have had that modeled for them

Develop concentration, strong work ethic, and perseverance to meet personal and team goals

Queen Street Playhouse – Active Director, Charleston, SC March 2017 – Present

Communicate with ~40 people per production to establish rehearsal schedule that allowed everyone to be present for rehearsals

Collaborate with department heads for lighting, set design, costume/hair, sound, and administration to produce shows for the local community

Facilitate one-on-one meetings with each actor to help them through the creative process of each show and ensure a high-quality production

Lakeshore Fitness – Head Camp Counselor, Chicago, IL May – August 2018 and 2019

Coordinated daily schedule of activities and managed transitions to ensure timely arrival of the entire group

Developed opportunities for interaction between campers and staff by implementing group games focused on problem-solving and communication

Relevant Coursework

BIOL 518: Ornithology

BIOL 610: Bioterrorism

BIOL 621: Aquatic Toxicology

BIOL 526: Freshwater Biology

BIOL 610: Human Diseases

BIOL 610: Wildlife Management

BIOL 610: Physiology of Medicine

EDUC 547: Research STEM Application

PSYC 500: Human Growth/Development

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