ON CAMPUS: Ground roots of science
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In Loyalist College’s Instrumentation Lab, next to peers in white coats and safety glasses, Chiazorkam Ahamefule skillfully analyzes a turquoise-coloured solution in a beaker.
Born in Nigeria, she came to Loyalist to study Biotechnology in 2014 to build on her pharmacy degree from the University of Benin.
“In university you’re taught theory and very little practical,” she said. “I wanted to get back to the ground roots of science, to do the experiments about which I read. I wanted to know how they work beyond the pages of a textbook.”
Ahamefule searched for a college that would give her the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a lab where she could run experiments and understand the rudiments of science.
Her endless curiosity and interest in biosciences began with the stories her mother would tell about the benefits of herbs and how her grandmother would administer them to ease labour during childbirth.
“I discovered there are a lot of herbs in Africa,” she said. “But we don’t know how to extract them or make them safe without side effects. That’s why I decided to study pharmacy. At the end of the day, I discovered I didn’t have that ground knowledge or technical skills to get me to where I wanted to be.”
With a diploma from Loyalist’s Biotechnology program, Ahamefule is qualified to find employment in the life sciences, agriculture, food production, pharmaceuticals, sanitation and health research. Graduates also find opportunities in biotechnology regulation and enforcement, quality control and sales.
“It’s good to have knowledge in every aspect of the field,” she said. “You can pull together everything you have learned and forge ahead. That’s what I intend to do with this college diploma. It’s something for which I’m really grateful. I went out of my comfort zone to get this knowledge and I believe it is going to take me where I really want to go.”
By building upon her university education, Ahamefule is closer to realizing her dream of synthesizing or discovering pharmaceuticals.
“At Loyalist, your skills are applied while you’re in school,” she said. “You’re not just waiting until you get out there into the job market to apply what you’ve learned. My confidence has increased because I know I’ve got what it takes to pursue a successful career.”
To learn more about Loyalist College’s Biotechnology program, visit loyalistcollege.com.