Can you tell us about your academic background in STEM?
I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Dschang in Cameroon, where I got a bachelor’s degree in Botany.
After that, I joined the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon to earn a master’s degree, followed by a DEA (Diplôme d’Études Approfondies) in Plant Biotechnology. My thesis was on tissue culture of palm oil tree, the pisifera variety, known for its high oil yield. However, the lack of viable seeds, made the germination process difficult.
Later, I defended my PhD at the University of Yaoundé I, in plant biotechnology on Prunus africana, a medicinal plant, threatened of extinction, to develop rapid propagation techniques through tissue culture, and conservation techniques. This research was conducted partly at Alabama A&M University and the Tropical Research and Education Center at the University of Florida in the U.S., with funding from the UNESCO-L’Oréal program.
During my postdoctoral studies, I focused on characterising Prunus africana for better conservation strategies at Geisenheim Hochschule University in Germany, under the TWAS-DFG fellowship. Along the way, I developed an interest in science policy, which led me to a research stay at the University of Michigan in the U.S. under the UMAPS fellowship.
What motivated you to pursue a career in this field?
From the beginning, science has always been a particular attraction for me. When I look in the past, I see my motivation was clearer when I was in secondary school, had good marks in mathematics, but my affinity for biology was stronger. There was something profoundly captivating about the living world that brought me closer, made me more curious that mathematics alone couldn’t satisfy. I like to acquire scientific knowledge as time goes by, and I have the desire to discover what is new and conduct research to propose solutions that could help local communities. My passion for research taught me that the path to innovation doesn’t always lie in well-equipped laboratories. Instead, I learned that passion, zeal, and determination are the true catalysts for change, especially when working with available resources.
What challenges have you faced as a woman in STEM and how have you overcome them?
- The lack of fundings for my research. I finally had to train myself and learn from mentors
- In a male-dominated field, knowing that the Supervisor has limited number of students to select, I develop ability to perform, and be excellent
- The rich diversity offers by different environments led me to develop adaptability, empathy to transcend geographical, language and cultural boundaries
- Society’s lens : How society perceives female intellectuals. I Luckly had the total support of my parents and family.
What are the most exciting developments or projects in your field at the moment?
By working with threatened medicinal plants, several techniques like genome editing and metabolomic profiling are being used to enhance the production of active compounds, select better traits and improve their adaptation to climate change.
How do you see the future of STEM? : What are your predictions for the areas that will see significant?
The African continent is a land of opportunity. It has a large population, with the majority being youth is an asset that can be valuable in advancing STEM through their curiosity and creativity to directly address local challenges. The future of STEM is promising and highly diverse, relying on technology advancement to support multiple sectors such as agriculture, to combat food insecurity; healthcare, to provide faster, more effective access to medical services; and finance, through the development of local and regional markets. The challenges remain the inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified human resources, unreliable electricity, limited internet connectivity, weak policy and regulatory frameworks, and finally brain drain pushing experts to leave for better opportunities in developed countries to help them to boost their productivity and competitiveness.
What advice would you give to a young woman considering a career in STEM?
- Be passionate about your choice
- Do not feel afraid to try again and again
- Follow good mentors
- Surround yourself with people who intellectually challenge you.
- And finally, don’t underestimate yourself
You want to be highlighted as Dr. Germo, join us by clicking on the button?
To join our WhatsApp community of nearly 200 girls and women scientists, click here.
How to join our association
– Online by clicking here
– By Mobile Money to our Vice President at +237 94896484
If you’d like to make a donation to support our work, we’d be delighted to count you among our valued donors.
#InspiringAfricanWomenScientists #CameroonianWomenInSTEM #WomenInSTEM #STEM #WomenInScience #PlantBiotechnology #AfricanResearch #ScienceForDevelopment #WomenLeadership #PlantConservation #STEMEducation #ScientificInspiration #ScienceAndPolicy #WomenInSTEMFields #GreenInnovation #STEMAfrica
Posted by Dr. Pulchérie Matsodoum Nguemté
Founder of She STEMin Africa
Leave a Reply