Toochukwu E. Ogbulie

Professor Toochukwu Ekwutosi Ogbulie is a Professor of Biotechnology and currently, the Director of Centre for Research, Innovation and Development (CRID) at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). She holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biotechnology, M.Sc., and B.Sc. in Microbiology. She is a registered Environmental Specialist (RES, A306) under National Registry of Environmental Professionals, NREP USA, and a fellow, US-AfricaSTEM, US National Academy of Science (NAS). She has a profound interest and extensive expertise in Environmental Biotechnology (Bioremediation and Renewable Energy), Microbial Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. She has carried out several empirical and operational research in Biotechnology using a strong quantitative research skills obtained through prestigious fellowships and courses at International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB-CEI), Trieste Italy; NREP , USA; Chineese Academy of Science CAS-TWAS Beijing, China; Sanger S e q u e n c i n g I n s t i t u t e Hinxton Cambridge UK; Durban , South Africa; Steinbeis Institute of Management and Technology (SIMT) Filderhauptstraße by Internationales Biogas und Bioenergie Kompetenzzentrum [IBBK], Stuttgart Germany; Course on Energy Transition: Innovation Towards a Low Carbon Future, INSTITUT FRANCAIS DU PETROLE (IFP) Rueil- Malmaison, Paris, France, etc. She has used these skills to make a huge impact on Research and Development by yearly training of students and staff of universities and youth forums.

Prof. Mrs. Ogbulie is a collaborator on multiple research projects and recipient of international fellowship ad travel grants. She leads a Bioremediation research team investigating eco-friendly strategies for cleaning polluted soils and water. Her team has identified bacterial isolates with identical sequence of genes of negligible differences coding for biosurfactant production and hydrocarbon degradation using standard molecular biology/ OMICS- driven Techniques which earned the meritorious NRF-TETFund grant to her team. The team is on the verge of developing a construct to create a novel organism with composite degradative genes to be employed in monoculture and multi-culture operational systems during bioremediation.

Thinking outside the box while considering the food security of her country, Prof. Mrs. Ogbulie has, through the help of wonderful mentors of Innov8 and iFAIR, developed a prototype automated dispensing device- AquaRES- for maintenance of concrete and plastic fishpond water quality for improved fish farming, reducing the fish mortality rate hence, increased harvest.

Prof. Mrs. Ogbulie is currently the Director, Center for Research, Innovation and Development and the TETFund Desk Officer, Research and Innovation, FUTO. She was a former Deputy Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) and former Deputy Dean of Post graduate school, FUTO; a member of the University Senate; member of Management Team of African Centre of Excellence - Future Energies and Electrochemical Systems (ACE-FUELS) FUTO, Co-Chairman of Committee for establishment of Centre for Biotechnology and Molecular Biology (CBMB) which attracted TETFund /NUC approval. She has also served 3 terms, as the Head of Department of Biotechnology (2016 - 2019) in the University. She has ultimately contributed to research and Development in the University especially in the field of Biotechnology and the Environment and has supervised many post-graduate students. She is a member of some national and international organizations as Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), Biotechnological Society of Nigeria (BSN), Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW/ TWOWS), Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM) UK, American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Federation of European Microbiologist (FEMS); Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) USA and former Vice President GWIS International Chapter; and Member World Academy of Doctors (WAAD) USA. Prof. Mrs. Ogbulie has attended and made presentations at several scientific national and international conferences and has, to her credit, authored and co-authored One Hundred and Twenty (120) scientific publications/ works made up of articles in peer reviewed journals and book chapters. She is married with five (5) lovely children.