Somtochukwu S. Okafor earned her BSc in Biomedical Engineering from University of Ghana in 2019, where she graduated as the best biomedical engineering student in her class. Following graduation, she took up a research assistant position with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana.
Somtochukwu is currently a Biomedical Engineering PhD student at Washington University in St Louis. Her key research interests are in tissue engineering, biomaterials, and neuro-engineering. She hopes to develop cutting-edge technology/materials through her research that will improve the state of maternal and child healthcare, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Her hobbies are socializing, dancing, and cooking.
Scholar Voices Feature
From Nature to Innovation: McDonnell Scholar Somtochukwu Okafor Pioneers Bioelectronics with Nature-Inspired Design
Somtochukwu Okafor in collaborations with Alexandra Rutz, assistant professor of biomedical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering, developed a technique to 3D print bioelectronic scaffolds that could help new tissue grow that could be used for drug development, environmental toxicity and other uses.
In addition to making gadgets and game pieces, 3D printing is being used in health care to print prosthetics, dental implants and surgical models. Now, a team at Washington University in St. Louis, is using 3D printing to create bioelectronic scaffolds that would allow researchers to create new tissue with a host of potential applications.
Okafor, a fifth-year doctoral student in biomedical engineering, said while their team isn’t the only one using this process, their work is unique. “Bioelectronics as a field isn’t new — think cochlear implants, pacemakers and smartwatches — but we are trying to interface with biology to make the technology more like systems that would occur in nature,” Okafor said. “We have borrowed approaches in 3D printing and tissue engineering and combined it with bioelectronics. All these processes have individual advantages that they bring to the table, and we are combining them into one.”
Connecting Scholars to Transformative Opportunities: Insights from B4U Mentorship at Bayer Crop Sciences
The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is dedicated to facilitating opportunities for Scholars to engage with global industry leaders to enhance their professional development and growth. Among these opportunities is the Bayer University Mentoring Program (B4U), an innovative initiative launched by Bayer Crop Science in 2018. The program pairs graduate students and postdoc mentees with experienced Bayer scientists for a year-long, one-on-one mentoring experience that focuses on honing soft skills and professional development.
In February 2024, the McDonnell Academy, along with more than 20 McDonnell Scholars, had the opportunity to network with experts across multiple sectors during the Bayer Crop Science St. Louis corporate showcase. Bayer, a long-time supporter and sponsor of the McDonnell Academy, provided Scholars with firsthand knowledge of its unique B4U Program and its impact on healthcare and agriculture. Among these Scholars, Somtochukwu Okafor, a biomedical engineering Phd student, Ghiska Ramahdita, a mechanical engineering PhD student, and Judith Sokei, a cancer biology PhD student, were selected to participate in the program. Nearly a year later, each shared their experiences and insights from the program. Their reflections reveal how the B4U program fosters professional growth, career transition support, and meaningful connections.