Microbiologist

We are pleased to introduce to you our “rOLe model” Adenike Adenaya: PhD student and microbiologist at the Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) at Oldenburg University.

First published on instagram (@equality_uol) on 22 February 2022.

An Interview with Adenike Adenaya, a microbiologist and phD student. Here she is shown on a Senckenberg Cruise last year during which the sea surface micro-layer samples were taken from the Jade Bay in Wilhelmshaven. Tags nikkytville. On the picture you can see Adenike Adenaya, a Black person with dark hair. She is smiling and wearing a life jacket and rubber boots. She is standing in front of the sea on a sunny day. Behind her is an orange dinghy.
Adenike Adenaya describes her work and field of research: "I‘m working on the impact of antibiotics on the bacteria community composition and function in the sea surface micro layers. I’m in two research groups, my primary group is 'processes and sensors of marine interfaces' and I'm also a part of the 'microbiology' group.“
Question: „What made you want to got to science?“ Answer: "When I was young, my father died of tuberculosis. Back then in Nigeria, and even now, science isn’t really a major thing. So people thought he was poisoned. And although I was very small, I noticed that he was coughing and vomiting blood. I didn’t know what happened to him and I thought he died of poisoning. I set up to be a science student, because I also wanted to be a doctor to be able to help people. To be able to see, ok, was this person actually poisoned or was it something he had that killed him.“
Question: „What is the achievement you are most proud of?“ Answer: „I’m proud of my Master’s certificate and I’m so proud that I’m on a scholarship now. I actually got my scholarship on the day that I defended my master thesis!” A picture of a petri dish. Adenike Adenaya describes the picture like this: “The antibiotic susceptibility on bacterial isolates obtained from the Jade bay. This isolate was subjected to 16 different antibiotics and the clear parts you see are the zones of inhibition of the bacteria to the antibiotics. The areas where there are no zones of inhibition indicate that the bacteria was resistant to those antibiotics.”
An Overview regarding Adenike Adenayas education: University education Nigeria: 2006-2008 Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State Nigeria: 2009-2014 B.Sc., Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State Germany: 2018-2021 M.Sc., Microbiology, University of Oldenburg Germany: since 2021, Doctorate, Microbiology / Processes and Sensing of Marine Interfaces, University of Oldenburg. Additional training Nigeria: 2007-2008, Laboratory Technician, Nigeria Institute of Medical research 2008-2009, Laboratory Technician, Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation 2015, Basic Sciences Teacher, National Youth Service Corps Nigeria. 2015-2018, Customer Support Officer, United Bank of Africa
Two questions. First Question: „Did you meet any barriers during your career as a scientific researcher?“ Answer: "After my bachelor thesis I had to wait three years before I could start my master courses, that was a huge barrier. In Nigeria, we don’t really have a good educational structure, the unemployment rate there is quite high. So after my bachelor's, I knew I wanted to further my studies, but I didn’t have the money then. So I had to work. Unfortunately, I didn’t find a job in my discipline, so I had to work in a financial company. And I did that for three years before I could actually continue with my studies." Second Question: „What is your agenda for the coming months?“ Answer: "Now I want to finish writing the review on what I’m working on right now. I also have so many things to do in the lab, I need to sequence, I need to extract the genomes of some bacteria that I have, I also need to do some antibiotic tests on them."
A picture Adenike Adenaya describes as " bacterial isolates cultivated from the sea surface microlayers and the underlying water environment in the Baltic Sea. The original bacterial isolates were cultivated by Janina Rahlff and sent to me for the investigations of their susceptibilities to different antibiotics."
Question: „Did you have any inspiring model that influenced your career?“ Answer: "I think I had a role model when I went to university and that was my supervisor, who’s name is Adenike Ogunshe – we have the same name – and she really loves science, most especially microbiology. So I really looked up to her and I trusted her in everything she said. Although she made me walk extra miles to be able to accomplish what I wanted. I think she is partly my role model. But besides that, I’m also my own role model!“
Last question: „Your advice to those who want to get into science?“ Answer: „I think you should be aware that it’s not that easy, you have to dedicate a lot of work and time towards it. You need to have this view to actually be in science and you just need to follow your passion. If it’s your passion, just go for it!“On the picture you can see Adenike Adenaya standing in an official seeming building. She is wearing a skirt, a blue top, a grey cardigan and a mask. On the right, the text says „Thank you Adenike Adenaya!“

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