Eugenia Duodu
Alma materUniversity of Toronto Mississauga
Known forCo-founding Visions of Science and Network for Learning
Scientific career
ThesisThe Development of Receptors and Chemosensors for the Recognition of Proximally Phosphorylated Motifs (2015)
Doctoral advisorPatrick Gunning

Dr. Eugenia Duodu Addy is a Canadian chemist and the CEO of Visions of Science Network for Learning (VoSNL).

Early life and education

Duodu grew up in a Toronto Community Housing (TCH) development in Etobicoke.[1][2][3] She credits her teachers and past TCH mentors for fostering her passion in science, but also notes that as she further progressed through science training, she was one of the few remaining black women or from community housing.[1][4][5] As a child, Duodu remembers creating her own science fairs at home, inspired by Bill Nye on television, and credits her mom for encouraging her aptitude in science and math, despite facing racism from teachers.[6]

In high school she was encouraged by a teacher to attend a summer mentorship program with the University of Toronto geared towards encouraging Black and Indigenous students to pursue university degrees in STEM. The mentorship program included job shadowing scientists in labs and doctors in hospitals where she and other students were taught to read X-Rays and study MRIs.[7]

Undergraduate Work

In 2010, Duodu completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga.[8] Duodu then pursued a PhD in medicinal chemistry at the same campus, under the supervision of Patrick Gunning, where her thesis focused on developing phosphoprotein recognition agents for disease detection and treatment.[4][9][10]

Graduate Work

During her PhD, Duodu volunteered with VoSNL - a non-profit organization which provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused educational programs, through weekly local science clubs, for youth from low-income and marginalized communities.[2][11][12] Duodu coordinated weekend science clubs for Grade 4-8 children living in TCH developments, and was a member of the VoSNL board of directors.[2][3] Duodu also co-founded the Creating Global Citizens project, through which she worked with TCH youth communities to furnish an Ghanaian library, as well as other initiatives in Uganda, Tanzania, Jamaica and Trinidad.[4][13][14]

Career

Duodu is currently the CEO of VoSNL.[11] She currently takes part in several activities to improve science literacy, where her goal is to make a long-lasting impact in disadvantaged communities through STEM engagement and thus allow youth to unlock their potential.[1][5][8][15][16][17][18][19] When she began volunteering with VoSNL in 2015, the organization was working with six communities and had an operations budget of $20,000. As of 2020, the operating budget was $1.2 million and the organization serves approximately 1,500 students from 29 communities.[6] The organization has six full-time staff, twenty-four part-time staff, and over ninety volunteers. VoSNL receives funding support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.[7]

In 2018, at a TEDxYouth@Toronto event, Duodu shared her science journey in a talk titled "The 'Unlikely' Scientist."[5][20][21]

Awards and recognition

  • In 2021, Duodu won the Life Sciences Ontario Community Service award[22] [23]
  • She received the 2020 RBC Women of Influence Social Change Award[24]
  • Additionally, Duodu won the Afroglobal Television Excellence Awards’ 2020 Science and Technology Award[23][25]
  • Duodu received the 2014-15 Queen Elizabeth II/Pfizer Canada Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology[26]
  • In 2012, Duodu was awarded the Harry Jerome CIBC Academics Award by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA).[4][27][3][28]
  • In 2013, Duodu received an Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award, which is a $25,000 fellowship to recognize a graduate student who demonstrates academic and extra-curricular leadership.[8][13]
  • Duodu was also recognized as one of the 50 faces of the University of Toronto Mississauga - an initiative to celebrate individuals who have influenced or been influenced by the university.[8]

Selected academic publications

  • Duodu E., Noble J., Yusuf Y., Garay C. and Bean, C. "Understanding the delivery of a Canadian-based after-school STEM program: a case study." International Journal of STEM Education. 2017 Dec, 4:20.
  • Duodu E, Kraskouskaya D, Gómez-Biagi RF, Gunning PT. "A tool for the selective sequestration of ATP and PPi to aid in-solution phosphopeptide detection assays." Analyst. 2016 Feb 7;141(3):820-2.
  • Duodu E, Kraskouskaya D, Campbell J, Graca-Lima G, Gunning PT. "Selective detection of tyrosine-containing proximally phosphorylated motifs using an antenna-free Tb³⁺ luminescent sensor." Chemical Communications (Camb). 2015 Apr 18;51(30):6675-7.
  • Kraskouskaya D, Duodu E, Arpin CC, Gunning PT. "Progress towards the development of SH2 domain inhibitors." Chemical Society Review. 2013 Apr 21;42(8):3337-70.
  • Drewry JA, Duodu E, Mazouchi A, Spagnuolo P, Burger S, Gradinaru CC, Ayers P, Schimmer AD, Gunning PT. "Phosphopeptide selective coordination complexes as promising SRC homology 2 domain mimetics." Inorganic Chemistry. 2012 Aug 6;51(15):8284-91.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "HERstory in Black: Eugenia Duodu | CBC News". CBC. Archived from the original on 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  2. 1 2 3 "How a 24-year-old is putting science in action". Archived from the original on 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "Popular Scientist | By Graham F. Scott | Spring 2018 | University of Toronto Magazine". magazine.utoronto.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-07-07. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "PhD student receives Harry Jerome CIBC Academics Award". University of Toronto News. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  5. 1 2 3 "Chemistry alum Eugenia Duodu talks about unlocking potential in STEM". www.chem.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  6. 1 2 "Growing up in community housing, I had to fight for my education. Now, as a chemist, I bring STEM learning to low-income kids". Toronto Life. 2020-08-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  7. 1 2 Teotonio, Isabel (October 25, 2018). "Growing up, she dared not dream she could be a scientist. Now she's helping hundreds of kids believe it's possible". The Toronto Star.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Eugenia Duodu | 50th Anniversary". www.utm.utoronto.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  9. ↑ "Gunning Group | Eugenia Duodu". Gunning Group. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  10. ↑ "#UofTBTS16: U of T alumni share their wisdom with the class of 2020". University of Toronto News. Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  11. 1 2 "Visions of Science Network for Learning". Visions of Science. Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  12. ↑ "In Conversation With: Eugenia Duodu – Your Philanthropy Matters. | Toronto Foundation". torontofoundation.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  13. 1 2 "Story". www.sgs.utoronto.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  14. ↑ "Eugenia Duodu - Fellowship in inclusion and Philanthropy". Fellowship in inclusion and Philanthropy. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  15. ↑ "Everyday Hero: Eugenia Duodu | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  16. ↑ "STEM Panel: Inspiring Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics | Lean in Canada". Lean in Canada. 2017-09-14. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  17. ↑ "Women for Women 2016: Investing in women in STEM". Crowe Soberman. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  18. ↑ "Inspiring Future Women In Science | Perimeter Institute". www.perimeterinstitute.ca (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  19. ↑ "Canadian Association of Science Centres | L'association canadienne des centres de sciences - Ontario Science Centre puts the spotlight on fictional and real-life female role models in STEM on July 8". www.canadiansciencecentres.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  20. ↑ TEDx Talks (2018-02-08), The "Unlikely" Scientist | Eugenia Duodu | TEDxYouth@Toronto, retrieved 2018-08-25
  21. ↑ "Eugenia Duodu". TEDxYouth@Toronto. Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  22. ↑ "Life Science Ontario Announces Recipients of the 2021 LSO Awards". Life Sciences Ontario Site. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  23. 1 2 "From volunteer to CEO: alumna Eugenia Addy shares her passion for STEM with kids". University of Toronto Alumni. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  24. ↑ Najibzadeh, Arezoo. "Announcing the 2020 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Finalists! – Women of Influence". Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  25. ↑ "TOMORROW :: THE 2020 EXCELLENCE AWARDS BY AFROGLOBAL TELEVISION". Transformation Institute. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  26. ↑ "Eugenia Duodu | 50th Anniversary". www.utm.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  27. ↑ "Harry Jerome Awards mark 30 years of excellence in African-Canadian community | The Star". thestar.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  28. ↑ "UTM student wins prestigious award". Mississauga.com. 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
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