BSc. Pre-professional Zoology from Northwest Missouri State University, PhD in Biology specializing in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa and Postdoctoral training first at Rutgers University in New Jersey and then at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the University of Virginia studying microglia in neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders. The research lab I lead studies microglia (the immune cell of the brain) in development and pathology. We use cutting edge approaches to understand the role of these cells in normal development, the mechanisms and significance of their interactions with other brain cells as well as their actions in different pathologies. You can read more about our work here: https://med.virginia.edu/neuroscience/research/research/eyo-lab/people/
High School interest since I was in Nigeria.
Not seeing other trainees of African descent being represented during my training.
My identity in my family background was very solid and gave me the strength and stamina to endure and persevere through my career thus far and hopefully henceforth
More representation: seeing more Africans giving talks and presentations at international and national meetings /conferences would help. Perhaps some programs could be made to give African students the opportunity for short-term research training in laboratories in the West.
Going into STEM in the West is hard but highly rewarding. Seek good colleagues, be wise and be astutely practical about it.
Do you identify as an African in STEM? If so, please send us some basic information to see if we can profile you on the VSA page.
Hello World
I think it’s about time you heard my story.