Professor of nanoscience Ijeoma Uchegbu, who is renowned for her groundbreaking research in the delivery of drugs via nanoparticles, has taken up her position as the seventh president of Wolfson College, one of the University of Cambridge’s 31 colleges.
The professor was announced as the institution’s next president in December 2023, leaving her former job at the University College London (UCL).
This is a substantial milestone, as she is the first Black woman to take on this role.
Professional Background
Uchegbu’s journey to this position is inspiring, as she was raised in both Nigeria and the UK.
She graduated from the University of Benin in 1981 with a degree in pharmacy and then went on to the University of Lagos to complete her master’s program.
The professor could not complete her PhD in Nigeria due to infrastructural problems. She pursued postgraduate studies at the University of London after coming back to the UK, where she graduated with a PhD in 1997.
Her dissertation was overseen by Alexander (Sandy) Florence, the dean of the pharmacy school. She was employed as a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde from 2002 to 2004.
The enkephalin pain medicine candidate (EnveltaÔTM), created to address the opioid crisis, is one of the innovative treatments that have been developed as a result of her research on the mechanisms of drug transport.
She has also paved the way for more effective cancer treatments and improved drug delivery for neurological diseases.
Championing Diversity and Inclusion
In an interview on the school’s official page, she highlighted the numerous challenges she faced as a black woman as her field lacked diversity.
“In the beginning, when I used to go to conferences, there wouldn’t be a black face there at all. I mean, man or woman, especially conferences in the UK”, she stated.
According to Concept Resourcing, only 8% of stem workers have a minority ethnic background.
Due to this, she made sure to start initiatives to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups in the field. During her time at UCL, She chaired the Race Equality Steering Group, aimed at supporting Black and Minority Ethnic students and staff.
These reflect her belief that diversity enhances the academic environment by bringing various perspectives into it.
