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Maribel E. K. Okiye, PhD
Consultant, STEM
Phone:
(208) 254-2457
Email:
Specialties:
Dissertation Coaching, Graduate Life Support, Public Speaking, Scientific Poster Design, Graduate School and Fellowship Applications, Internship Guidance, Professional Etiquette, and Leadership Development.
A Bit About Me
Greetings!
I am Dr. Maribel Okiye, a dedicated mentor and guide on your academic and professional journey. Allow me to share a bit about my transformative journey, shaped by experiences that fuel my commitment to assisting students like yourself.
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Originally hailing from the US Virgin Islands, I took my first steps into the world of higher education at the Catholic University of America, graduating in 2018 with a degree in Biological Chemistry. Despite the richness of my undergraduate experience, I found myself at a crossroads, eager to discover my next steps.
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I entered the NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), a turning point that not only exposed me to the possibilities of graduate studies but also ignited the confidence to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Michigan. Post-REU, I took the initiative to organize REU Interest meetings, connecting students with program coordinators nationwide. This endeavor allowed me to understand the intricacies of successful REU applications and assist 10 undergraduates in securing offers from their chosen programs.
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Driven by a passion for advancing my field, I embarked on a Ph.D. journey at the University of Michigan. This immersive experience equipped me with hands-on expertise in applying for fellowships and grants. To date, I've been honored with over 30 fellowships and honors, including prestigious ones like the NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship, NIH's Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Grant, and the National GEM Consortium's Full Science Fellowship.
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Now, as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University Medical School, I am committed to sharing the insights and knowledge I've accumulated. Having mentored students on writing competitive applications, I'm excited to extend this expertise further. Whether you're navigating undergraduate aspirations or contemplating advanced studies, I'm here to provide guidance and support tailored to your unique journey.
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Let's embark on the path to success together!
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Maribel Okiye, PhD
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Maribel EK Okiye, PhD
Work Experience
Program Coordinator
Rackham Deans's Office
August 2022 - Present
Summer Research Intern
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
May 2022 - August 2022
Graduate Research Fellow
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
August 2018 - Present
As the Program Coordinator at the University of Michigan Research University Alliance Office within Rackham Graduate School, I lead efforts to engage graduate students in Research University Alliance (RUA) programming. Responsibilities include managing communication through the RE and Postdoc Portal, coordinating schedules with RUA partners for incoming and outgoing participants, and organizing RUA RE Orientation Sessions. I also contribute to outreach and advertising efforts, attend regular RUA meetings, and assist in preparations for the annual NSF Site Visit and Reporting.
At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, I led projects establishing pipelines for large-scale biological data analysis, focusing on DNA and RNA sequencing. Applying statistical methods, I drew robust conclusions from complex datasets and presented findings in various research and community settings, including sponsor meetings and conferences. My expertise in anaerobic and aerobic bacteriology enabled the development of biological activity assays to test metabolic functions and by-products of oxygen-sensitive bacteria from the human intestinal tract. I also contributed to the field by developing computational methods to evaluate metabolic process imparities in clinical and in-vitro experimentation. Additionally, I utilized current tools to correlate differential gene expression in RNA-seq data from human clinical studies to specific cardiovascular diseases.
As a Graduate Student Research Fellow at the University of Michigan since January 2019, I focus on studying microbial interactions in the oral cavity, specifically exploring natural products as regulators. Utilizing metagenomics and metabolomics, I investigate disease states' impact on oral microbial dynamics. My expertise includes metabolomic analysis, large-scale anaerobic oral bacteria culturing, secondary metabolite isolation, and the development of biological assays. I excel in grant and manuscript writing, securing funding for project progression. Collaborative and proficient in instrument development, I contribute to advancing our research methodologies. My work aims to enhance our understanding of oral microbial dynamics through a multidisciplinary approach.