What is your role at MRCG?

Currently, I'm pursuing my Ph.D. in the Malaria Population Biology group at MRCG. Our focus lies in integrating cell biology, population genomics, and epidemiology under the Disease Control and Elimination theme. I'm supervised by Prof. Alfred Amambua-Ngwa, co-supervised by Prof. Colin Sutherland, and Dr. Rob Moon.

Tell us a bit about your current project.

My Ph.D. research delves into characterizing the phenotype of Gambian P. falciparum isolates. I'm investigating the correlation between genes associated with hemoglobin metabolism pathways, genetic variations, and expressions concerning the parasites’ drug resistance profile. By employing a combination of parasite phenotyping, genomics, transcriptomics, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, I aim to provide insights into antimalarial drug resistance, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

As a child, I aspired to become a medical doctor, specifically a surgeon. However, my trajectory shifted after being introduced to medical research post-high school. Witnessing the impact of research in disease control and elimination redirected my career path towards research instead of medicine.

What three words describe you?

Ambitious, altruistic, and nonchalant.

What is the best book you have read recently?

Recently, I enjoyed reading the fictional ebook 'The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband.' It's a captivating romance novel about two strangers with secrets that unravel after their wedding.

Which words or phrases do you overuse?

I tend to overuse words like "apparently," "actually," "exactly," "eventually," "basically," and phrases like "I know, right?!"