Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of Idaho

Currently, I am working as a Research Associate in Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at Michigan State University. Before I joined Michigan State University, I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cropping Systems Agronomy program at the University of Idaho. I got both my MS and PhD in Biology (Ecology-Track) from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Toledo in December 2015 and May 2020. I have experience in conducting laboratory, controlled environment, and field research; experimental design; data management and analysis; interpretation and summation of data; and manuscript writing. I have expertise on plant physiology, plant nutrition, plant biochemistry, eco-physiology, abiotic stress, statistics, bioenergy, and agronomy. I have the ability to work independently or in a collaborative environment. I keep abreast of new science and technological developments. I have experiences in publishing research papers in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and to date, I have published thirteen peer-reviewed papers. I received the outstanding graduate student research paper award twice in 2017 and 2019, and in addition, I have presented in both regional and international conferences and rewarded several times. I am a passionate and committed scientist with demonstrated experimental and analytical skills in scientific research. I am hard working and open minded to explore the boundaries of scientific fields.

Okechukwu Nwamba is a highly educated and experienced scientist with a strong background in physical chemistry, materials science, electrochemistry, and biochemistry. He holds a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from the University of Idaho, where he specialized in the study of materials and electrochemistry. He also has an MS in Biochemistry with a focus on enzymology and protein chemistry, and a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Nigeria. With over 12 years of research experience, Okechukwu has worked in various prestigious institutions and organizations. He has been a Post-doctoral Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado, where he conducted research on renewable energy materials and technologies. He also served as a Program Manager at Independent Analytics and Consulting, where he oversaw the development and execution of various scientific projects. Okechukwu is a skilled researcher and has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as renewable energy, materials science, and biochemistry. He is also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Chemical Society and the Electrochemical Society. Aside from his research work, Okechukwu is also passionate about mentoring and teaching the next generation of scientists. He has served as a guest lecturer at several universities and has supervised numerous graduate and undergraduate students in their research projects. In his free time, Okechukwu enjoys hiking and reading science fiction novels. He also volunteers at local organizations that promote science education and awareness in underprivileged communities.

Shannon has over 25 years of experience in sustainable community planning, environmental justice, interdisciplinary communication, and collaborative engagement. She has facilitated the collaborative development of transformative projects and created interdisciplinary curricula with diverse partners, stakeholders, and rights holders. Her work has catalyzed significant advancements in rural sustainability, underpinned by a solid foundation in cross-disciplinary communication and with particular attention to elevating the diverse voices of underserved communities. Shannon has a B.S. in Wildlife Management from the University of New Hampshire, an M.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science (with a social science concentration) from the University of Idaho, where she served as a National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education Research and Traineeship (IGERT) Doctoral Fellow. Shannon is also certified as a community planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

I am a researcher and scientist at heart who happily discovered a field  that blends my love of math and science and passion to help others. My academic (MS Human Factors, ME Industrial Engineering and BS Mathematics) and professional background in science, data, and building empathy through research are evident in how I have helped others provide the right services, products and experiences to their users in a variety of industries including Health Care, Agriculture, Space, Social Networking and Music.