Chika Ugwuodo, Ph.D.

Education

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  University of New Hampshire

  2020 - 2024

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Earth and Environmental Sciences | Environmental Microbiology 4.0/4.0

  Activities and Societies: Senator, Graduate Student Senate 2020-2021 - Developed protocols for and performed lipid extraction from over 40 microbial culture samples cultivated in anaerobic bioreactors, and analyzed membrane-derived fatty acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).- Maintained the GC-MS unit and troubleshot problems. - Wrote programs in R & MATLAB to analyze and integrate various kinds of datasets including multi-omics (lipidomics, proteomics & metabolomics) and mass spectrometry data. - Facilitated meetings with… Show more - Developed protocols for and performed lipid extraction from over 40 microbial culture samples cultivated in anaerobic bioreactors, and analyzed membrane-derived fatty acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).- Maintained the GC-MS unit and troubleshot problems. - Wrote programs in R & MATLAB to analyze and integrate various kinds of datasets including multi-omics (lipidomics, proteomics & metabolomics) and mass spectrometry data. - Facilitated meetings with external academic researchers and US Department of Energy (DOE) National Lab scientists on sample analyses using atomic force microscopy (AFM), hyperspectral imaging, dynamic light scattering, LC-MS/MS and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.- Currently developing a machine learning-based model to predict the plasma membrane features of microorganisms that persist in engineered subsurface systems from geochemistry/engineered parameters using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Show less

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  University of Nigeria, Nsukka

  2016 - 2018

  Master's degree Industrial Microbiology Distinction (4.66/5.00)

  - Designed and executed studies investigating the immobilization of enzymes using edible probiotic bacterial spores as the support matrix, for therapeutic applications.- Developed methods for enzyme activity assays, adsorption immobilization, inactivation kinetics and thermodynamics analysis.- Set up, operated and maintained a gel filtration chromatography column for enzyme fractionation.- Participated in the experimentation and coauthored a published research project investigating… Show more - Designed and executed studies investigating the immobilization of enzymes using edible probiotic bacterial spores as the support matrix, for therapeutic applications.- Developed methods for enzyme activity assays, adsorption immobilization, inactivation kinetics and thermodynamics analysis.- Set up, operated and maintained a gel filtration chromatography column for enzyme fractionation.- Participated in the experimentation and coauthored a published research project investigating seawater desalination pretreatment using microalgae. Show less

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  University of Nigeria, Nsukka

  2009 - 2013

  Bachelor's degree Biochemistry/Microbiology Second Class Upper Division (CGPA 4.41/5.00)

  Activities and Societies: Member, Faculty of Biological Science Students Association (FOBSSA) Electoral Committee 2013