FUTA Don, Dr. Esther Nwanna Awarded Prestigious AAUW International Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Esther Nwanna, a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), has been awarded the prestigious AAUW International Postdoctoral Fellowship worth $50,000.

Jul 31, 2024 - 15:52

FUTA Don, Dr. Esther Nwanna Awarded Prestigious AAUW International Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Esther Emem Nwanna, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), has been awarded the prestigious American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship, worth $50,000, will support her groundbreaking research on combating antimicrobial resistance in bovine mastitis at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching & Research Center, University of California, Davis.

This significant grant recognizes Dr. Nwanna's contributions to biochemistry, particularly her work on the pharmacological and therapeutic potentials of plant-derived products against metabolic disorders in humans and animals. The AAUW, in its 143 years of funding, has awarded over $115 million to 13,000 recipients from more than 145 countries. For the 2024–25 academic year, it has allocated over $6 million in fellowships and grants to around 260 scholars, promoting education and equity for women and girls.

Dr. Nwanna's innovative research leverages various diagnostic tools and models to explore the use of bioactive compounds from African medicinal plants as alternative solutions to conventional treatments. Her work aligns with global efforts to reduce antibiotic use in livestock, thereby combating antimicrobial resistance and supporting One Health initiatives. She has published her interdisciplinary research in renowned journals and presented her findings at international conferences, establishing herself as a global researcher with a Hirsch index of 23.

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In 2023, Dr. Nwanna was invited as a research scholar to the College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center at the University of California, Davis. There, she investigates the effectiveness of Nigerian medicinal plants on mastitis pathogens affecting dairy cattle. Her research focuses on developing natural-based antimicrobials from these plants, which could have significant applications in dairy farming worldwide.

The Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, congratulated Dr. Nwanna on her achievement, noting that her time at UC Davis would enhance her technical capacity and greatly benefit FUTA. Professor Oladiji wished Dr. Nwanna a successful stint at the University of California.