Passion for Biology Fuels Dream to Become a Doctor

Osato Ogbeifun

It was during her early years growing up in Nigeria that Osato Ogbeifun discovered a genuine joy in helping people. Her willingness to aid ill or injured classmates may have been the first sign that she’d one day become a doctor – that and her passion for biology.

A junior at the IUPUI School of Science, Ogbeifun is well on her way. The biology major moved with her parents and siblings from Nigeria to the United States when she was 16. After graduating from high school in Michigan, she moved with her family to Indianapolis where she enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College. She soon transferred to IUPUI as part of Bridges to the Baccalaureate program, a collaboration between IUPUI and Ivy Tech designed to help minority students seamlessly transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in biomedical or life sciences.

“Biology is something I’ve always liked,” says Ogbeifun, who is also a student in the Diversity Scholars Research Program at IUPUI. “It’s rewarding to discover something you didn’t know about – to learn the unexpected.”

Although enamored with the patient care side of medicine, Ogbeifun gained valuable research experience working alongside respiratory disease investigator Dr. Irina Petrache, associate professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Petrache recommended Ogbeifun for selection to attend the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), which was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in November 2010. As presenter of one of Dr. Petrache’s research projects, Ogbeifun won the 2010 ABRCMS presentation award.

“The experience really opened my eyes to the possibilities of research,” Ogbeifun says. “The conference was also a great place to learn about graduate programs across the country and to make connections with people who can help with future career opportunities.”

For Ogbeifun, being a transfer student hasn’t hindered her ability to become involved with campus life at IUPUI. She serves as president of the African Student Association and publicist for Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She’s also involved with the health outreach committee for the Premed Club and is a 21^st Century Scholars Mentor, in addition to participating in a variety of community service projects. As a peer leader for Chemistry C105, Ogbeifun fulfills a need, she says, to give something back.

“Some of the challenges I had with chemistry, I don’t want other students to have,” Ogbeifun explains. “I had people helping me, and now I want to be there for someone else.”

Ogbeifun was named one of IUPUI’s Top 100 Females in 2011. Thirty-one students from the School of Science were among IUPUI’s “Top 100” for 2011 who were honored for their academic success, extracurricular activities, and civic engagement. The awards are sponsored annually by the IUPUI Alumni Council and the Student Organization for Alumni Relations (SOAR).