Chiamaka (AKA Chi-Chi) received her B.S. in Biochemistry and French Minor from the Georgia Institute of Technology and her M.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology through the Pathways Program at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) advised by Matthew Chapman. Afterward, she took a gap year to do a research project as a Fulbright and Belgian American Educational Foundation scholar at the de Duve Institute in Belgium where she studied mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. She joined the Jones lab in Winter 2019 and her thesis project is focused on investigating whether single chain variable fragment antibodies that modulate hERG behavior can exert cardioprotective effects in diseases caused by prolonged action potential duration.
Outside of the lab you can find Chi-Chi teaching afrobeats dance classes as a Rec Sports Instructor on campus, playing soccer, and performing spoken word. She also enjoys braiding/twisting hair and is an avid Naruto fan. She is currently the President of the African Graduate Students Association, a Rackham Professional Development Leader, and a Fulbright Alumni Ambassador. Her favorite hobbies are finding international conferences, preparing for a research career in Paris, and trolling.
Fun Facts: She was the 5th fastest hurdler in the state of New Jersey in 2008. She hates window seats. She watched France win the world cup in Paris in Summer 2018.