Institution: Clemson University
Graduate Program: Ph.D., Bioengineering
Education: B.S., Bioengineering with a concentration in biomaterials and a minor in chemistry, Clemson University
Mentors: Dr. Thomas Nathaniel, Dr. Richard Goodwin and Dr. Nishika Edwards, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine Greenville; Dr. Bruce Gao and Dr. Eric McLamore, Clemson University
Lidadi Agbomi is beginning her doctoral program in bioengineering at Clemson University in August, but already has a CV filled with published research and presentations. Her participation in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R25 research education program has provided her with opportunities to do extensive research as well as hone her skills in data analysis.
“She is diligent, self-disciplined, and self-motivated,” said Dr. Nishika Edwards, educational research program coordinator at the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine, Greenville, in the department of biomedical sciences.
Agbomi has worked closely with mentors there to investigate and research self-organizing neural units to model ischemic stroke and other neuropathology. Agbomi has also worked on analyzing data of the disruption of the extracellular morphogenesis of cardiac tissues in two avian models of cyanotic heart defects.
“As a researcher, she’s meticulous in her approach and very studious as well,” said Edwards.
Agbomi, who completed her bachelor’s degree at Clemson, first credits Jesus, her Lord and Savior, without whom she said she would not have been able to accomplish what she has done the past two years. She also acknowledges the supportive network of people, including her parents, who have been there for her during her undergraduate studies.
Throughout her life, Agbomi has dealt with asthma and eczema, which brought her into close contact with many doctors and sparked her fascination with science. She entered her undergraduate education planning on becoming a physician, most likely an immunologist, to address issues of asthma and other autoimmune diseases.
