Albany State University Associate Professor of biology, Olabisi Ojo, received a Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship to advance curriculum development in molecular diagnostics and research in pathogen genomics.
 
The fellowship program facilitates engagement between scholars born in Africa who are now based in the United States or Canada and scholars in Africa on mutually beneficial academic activities.
 
“Participation in the CADFP will help spot ASU on the international stage, especially as it concerns infectious diseases and pathogen genomic research in Africa. It will enhance the possibility of institutional cooperation for student exchange - for host and home institutions - as part of the ongoing initiative of Albany State University to internationalize their students by encouraging study abroad programs,” Ojo said.

In May 2016, Ojo traveled to Ile-Ife, Nigeria to collaborate with Obafemi Awolowo University and Professor Anthony Onipede, chair of the Medical Microbiology and Parasitology department at OAU’s College of Health Sciences. The pair will develop the project titled, “Curriculum Co-development, Collaborative Research and Graduate Student Mentoring in Molecular Diagnostics and Pathogen Genomics.”
 
“It is hoped that an African Center for Pathogen Genomic Research can be established in the home institution as an offshoot of collaborations and cooperation in the long run. International collaboration in the basic science of infectious diseases serves the purpose of filling data gaps, relevant for global health policies,” Ojo said. “The discipline of pathogen genomics and molecular diagnostics in infectious diseases will be strongly impacted as participation in this program will help train personnel and enhance knowhow in these fields.”
 
The proposed project will focus on curriculum co-development in molecular diagnostics, research in pathogen genomics, student mentoring in molecular pathogen detection and a workshop on pathogen surveillance using molecular tools. The project is designed to strengthen existing curriculum for course integration, as well as, the incorporation of molecular and genomic research to student training.
 
“With the fast paced development in genomic sciences, and particularly in microbial genomics, it becomes pertinent that student instruction be geared towards current trends. My involvement in this program will enhance our present curriculum, as I will, going forward, be infusing aspects of genomics into the course modules,” Ojo said.

Ojo is one of 59 African Diaspora scholars awarded fellowships to travel to Africa in May 2016. Ojo is also the Campus Champion for the National Science Foundation-funded XSEDE initiative at Albany State University.
 
“We congratulate Dr. Ojo for being chosen for this distinguished fellowship. This accomplishment speaks to the high caliber of the faculty in the College of Sciences and Health Professions.,” said Joyce Johnson, dean of the ASU College of Sciences and Health Professions. “This activity is particularly critical for teaching in the STEM disciplines to prepare our next generation and to move the discipline forward. I look forward to the fruits of this endeavor as Dr. Ojo shares the skills and knowledge he gains with his colleagues and the STEM education at ASU is enhanced.”

The OAU’s project is one of 57 projects that will pair African Diaspora scholars with higher education institutions in Africa to collaborate on curriculum co-development, research, graduate teaching, training and mentoring activities.  
 
The CADFP is managed by the Institute of International Education in collaboration with United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. The program is funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.