Science by Women: Stories from Careers in Stem (Women in Engineering and Science)

About the Author

Dr. Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi is a Faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry and the Acting Director of Exchange & Linkage Programmes Unit, both of the University of Port Harcourt Nigeria. Her research focuses on monitoring and understanding the quality of soil, water and air environments and looking to using her patent and associated technologies to remedy impacted environment. Her primary areas of interest include phytoremediation of impacted soils and water, including wetlands, remediation by natural attenuation, air quality monitoring, while her other research interests include toxicological assessments of exposed foods and human population. Her current projects range from production and characterization of enzymes for enhanced treatment of organic pollutants in petroleum refinery effluent to attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbon fractions using rhizobacterial isolates as well as optimization of bioremediation-cocktail for soil clean-ups. She spent several years in industry working on quality control and assurance systems and facilitated HSE compliance. In the past, she has worked with the Food and Beverage as well as the Oil and Gas industries. She completed her PhD in Environmental Biochemistry and Toxicology from the University of Port Harcourt and is affiliated with the Next Einsteins Forum, West African Science Leadership Programme, International Society of Engineering Science and Technology, Academic Society for Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds, American Chemical Society, Rivers state Child Protection Network, International Phytotechnology Society, Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Moleculaar Biology, Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World, Caritas Empowerment Development Initiative, International Society for Environmental Technology and Nigerian Institute of Management. Eucharia is the sixth of nine children who all pursued graduate degrees in various disciplines. Her parents celebrated recorded successes among the children, whenever they came - for example a new pair of shoes, a dress and a hat always went to Eucharia at the end of third terms (when results are declared) when she clinched First position in her primary school days. Again, she was encouraged to teach Maths and Chemistry to her older siblings and classmates in the rural schools during the breaks. That's the kind of deep support that emboldened and propelled her to the top of her field. Inspired early to use her imagination and initiatives to solve problems, she was captivated by any project that involved taking initiatives and helping communities. Today, the use of less harmful technologies to cleaning contaminated environment has become part of her mission to create an-informed and participating community in environmental management. Eucharia has a patent to her credit in phytoremediation. As an Environmental Biochemist, she leads a research team of policymakers and academic collaborators that synthesize evidence to take on dearth of evidence informed policymaking. Among other notable achievements, she is the pioneer President of Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World (OWSD) University of Port Harcourt Branch where she has grown the membership to over one hundred and seventy (170) since 2019. Eucharia has just been elected as the National Vice President of OWSD Nigerian National Chapter. She promotes Evidence Informe Decision Making, EIDM. For example, given her knowledge and expertise in Chemical Safety and Security, she created an enabling environment for researchers, policymakers and industry partners to be trained on Chemical Safety and Security while using local evidences to push policy and researches around production, use, importation, exportation and storage of chemicals, to ensure they are not used as weapons. It is important to state that she has successfully self-funded and rolled out 4 annual editions of such laudable gestures (Seminar Series) since year 2017. A government agency following the 2nd edition invited her to their laboratory to do chemical risk assessment and output was a redesign of the Chemical Store. She promotes green and sustainable chemistry and is a great science communicator who is poised with influencing policies with her science and increasing the space for women and girls in science. Her Patent, findable recognitions, awards and honors, including 2020 Evidence Leader first Runner-up, 2019 Fellow of Next Einstein's Forum, 2016 Affiliate of the African Academy of Science, 2015 Fellow of Commonwea^ 75 reputable journals and has well-rated Book Chapters. She has Post-Doctoral experiences in the USA, UK and Poland and has presented papers and served in various Committees and Panels, locally, regionally and internationally. Her husband, Chucks, is her biggest fan and rallies round to see she lives to her career targets. Leadership magazine in year 2017 described Eucharia as One of Nigeria's shining lights in the Sciences. Her work has been praised by Siverbird Television as they recognised Eucharia as one of '16 Prominent Nigerian Women That Excel In Science and Research'. These recognitions are findable on google. In her spare time, she is an actress and has starred in three movies and six skits. She enjoys swimming, dancing and meeting new people.