Student news in brief

Organizers and participants in the IU Bloomington Department of Biology's inaugural summer research program for African students, front row from left, Ishola Peter Gbenga, Gabriel Muhire Gihana, Ahmed Oloruntoba, Soni Lacefield, Greg Demas, Maureen Onyeziri and IU Ph.D. student Nelson Chepkwony. Back row from left are Joey Wooley, IU Ph.D. student Moustafah Saleh and David Daleke.
Organizers and participants in IU’s inaugural summer research program for African students: front row from left, Ishola Peter Gbenga, Gabriel Muhire Gihana, Ahmed Oloruntoba, Soni Lacefield, Greg Demas, Maureen Onyeziri, and Nelson Chepkwony. Back row from left are Joey Wooley, Moustafa Saleh, and David Daleke. Courtesy photo

Visitors from Nigeria and Puerto Rico participate in summer research

IU Biology’s Kumar and Lacefield labs hosted two students from Nigeria for a month this summer as part of IU’s program to provide African students opportunity to conduct research in order to improve their competitiveness for graduate school. Several African IU graduate students proposed the program, including IU Biology’s Maureen Onyeziri and Gabriel Muhire Gihana.

The Demas lab hosted one of the undergrads from Puerto Rico participating in IU’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program in animal behavior. Associate Professor Laura Hurley directs the program. The students were grateful for the opportunity and to learn Hoosiers were concerned about P.R.’s hurricane victims.

“Many extremely talented people do not have access to careers in science, largely because of lack of communication, logistical challenges, and infrastructure limitation,” said Professor Armin Moczek. “When I learned about AFRISNET, it struck me as an excellent opportunity to increase the accessibility of STEM careers for highly talented and motivated African students.”

Visit AFRISNET at afrisnet.org.