Profile

I am from Owerri, Nigeria. I had my Secondary School education and Undergraduate degree in Nigeria. I then moved to Birmingham, United Kingdom, for my Ph.D. Upon completion of my studies, I moved to Belfast for my post-doctoral research.

My undergraduate degree was in Microbiology. My Ph.D. was in the field of RNA biology; I used fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, as a model organism.

In my postdoctoral research, I am continuing in the RNA field, but I have transitioned to working with human endothelial cells, the cells lining our blood vessels.

I have been passionate about a science career since I was a kid. I initially wanted to study Aeronautical Engineering, but I developed a knack for Geography during my secondary school days and planned to study geology at the university. In the final years of my studies, I realized I preferred Biology and Chemistry to Geography and then decided to go for Microbiology at the university.

In the penultimate year of my studies at the university, I developed a keen interest in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology and decided to study either Molecular Biology or Biotechnology at the Ph.D. level. I got a scholarship for the earlier, and here I am today.

I enjoy writing poetry and fiction and watching sci-fi movies on Netflix in my spare time.

Messenger (m)RNA molecules are the middlemen between genes and proteins. They are transcribed from DNA and then used as translation templates to synthesise functional proteins. Most mRNAs are not equally distributed throughout the cell.
Depending on distinct regulatory factors, these molecules tend to accumulate within particular regions of the cell, generating subcellular patterns of distribution. This phenomenon is part of a general mechanism called RNA localisation, which is conserved across organisms from bacteria to mammals. Previous studies have shown that correct localisation of mRNA is fundamental for cellular homeostasis and normal response to stimuli, including blood vessel formation in endothelial cells. My research aims to uncover novel mechanisms that link subcellular mRNA localization to blood vessel formation and homeostasis. The results from our studies will demonstrate the importance of mRNA localisation in tissue biology, and the gained knowledge will be beneficial in precision medicine for treating vascular-related pathologies and other cellular disorders.

I wake up at about 5 am. I try to read some papers, say my prayers,  and then plan my day. Afterward, I have my bath and then prepare to leave for work. I leave the house at about 8.30 to catch the 8:41 am train to get to work at 9 am. I conduct many experiments at work and have lunch at about 12.30. I then return to my experiments and other planned work for the day. I leave work at 8 pm to get home at 8:30 pm.