Whydo we become ill? Is a disease-free life possible for humans? These questionsburdened my young inquisitive mind. A deep-seated desire to help ailingindividuals find respite combined with an intense love for scientificexperimentation and teaching ignited in me the spark to study science. I founda convergence in Chemistry as it straddles areas in various fields such asbiology, medicine, toxicology and biochemistry. My knowledgeable lecturershelped nurture my potentials and I can vividly recall the anticipation andeuphoria that enveloped me during my undergraduate seminar presentation on”Nicotine and its applications.” Ihold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry (Second Class, Upper division)from Imo State University, Owerri in Nigeria.
I began my career teachingsecondary school Chemistry. I then went ahead to for four years as a qualitycontrol chemist, and a PET bottle analyst both with Seven-Up bottling companyPLC (a franchisee of Seven-Up and Pepsi-Co). During this time, I and my teamwere charged with various tasks ranging from participating in the design andimplementation of quality assurance policies to shelf life determination andsensory evaluation.
Thelaboratory where I worked oversaw water quality, flavour formulation, sugarmeasurement, and soft drink parameter analysis. We also conducted variousroutine tests for bacteria count, yeast and mold in the raw materials andfinished products. I have an added experience as a supervisor in the bankingsector. Although, bordering two extremes, these job roles have collectively equippedme with a knack for problem-solving, proficiency in working with complextechnology and a unique ability to team play and pay attention to details –skills I expect will be transferrable to my academic career.
My current research interests include: 1. The development of naturalpreservatives for use in carbonated soft drinks and other food products.2. Bioanalysis and synthesis of naturalproducts.3. Functional foods and nutraceuticals.
I have chosen to pursue my graduate studies inChemistry at the University of British Colombia. Canada is home to a host ofgood schools. However, UBC ranks high in several respects, including but notlimited to its reputation, renown and cutting-edge facilities. Furthermore, theunique cultural diversity, “low cost health care”, great “transit scheme” and “fewersnowy days”1 all make it a favourable place for an internationalstudent. I would love to work with Professors Derrin, Glen Sammis or KatherineRyan since their work spans the vast scope of natural product Chemistry anddrug discovery.
I am confident that the results of my experiments and researchwill be used to promote a healthier food and drug industry.Conclusively, I am assured the foundation that aninternational Masters in Chemistry offers will help groom me for more dauntingchallenges that lie ahead and provide the much-needed impetus to set me on thepath to both academic and professional success.1 https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-and-worst-things-about-UBC