Esther Odekunle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther A. Odekunle
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| Education | B.S., Biochemistry Ph.D., Neurobiology |
| Alma mater | Queen Mary University of London |
| Known for | Science communication |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuroscience Molecular biology Pharmacology |
| Institutions | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Thesis | Discovery and Characterisation of Vasopressin/Oxytocin-type Signalling in an Echinoderm and a Xenacoelomorph (2018) |
Esther A. Odekunle is a British scientist. She is a neurobiologist and an antibody engineer. Her work helps make new medicines. She finds ways to improve how antibodies are developed. Antibodies are like tiny shields that fight off diseases.
Esther also works to show that many different kinds of people can be successful in science. She wants more people to see themselves in STEM careers. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Growing Up and School
Esther Odekunle grew up in the United Kingdom. Her parents came from Nigeria. She was the youngest of her siblings.
When she was a kid, her teachers inspired her. Books about animals and the human body also made her love science. She first thought about becoming a doctor.
She went to Queen Mary University of London. There, she earned two degrees. First, she got a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry. Then, she earned a Ph.D. in neurobiology.
For her Ph.D., she studied neuropeptide systems in starfish. She chose starfish because they can do amazing things. For example, they can regrow lost arms! She also liked that starfish don't bite, unlike mice or rats she worked with before.
Her Work as a Scientist
Esther Odekunle wanted to use her science skills to help people. She wanted to create new treatments for diseases. As an antibody engineer, she helps make antibodies into possible medicines. These medicines can fight illnesses like cancers and infections.
Scientists in the pharmaceutical industry cannot always talk about their specific projects. This is because the information is private. So, Esther found other ways to share her passion for science. She started speaking out about important topics. She talks about racism in science and helps make diverse scientists more visible.
She shares her ideas on social media. She also has a YouTube channel. Some of her videos, like one about Henrietta Lacks, are used to teach students.
I’m now using [my] uniqueness to encourage up and coming scientists from diverse backgrounds to follow their passions even if the people who currently represent their fields don’t look like them.
In 2021, Esther Odekunle was recognized for her achievements. She was a finalist for the Rising Star award. This was in the STEM category of the Black British Business Awards.
