Omowunmi Sadik
Often, we are impressed by the works of women inspiring environmental changes and leading to discoveries in their fields. More women are rising to create impact, defy the status quo and redefine the norm in their various endeavours. Today, we celebrate Omowunmi Sadik, an inventor who has broken new grounds in scientific research, thus inspiring more young women to pursue careers in science.
Omowunmi Sadik is a distinguished Professor and Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences at the New Jersey Institutes of Technology (NJIT). She is also Director of NJIT BioSensors Materials for Advanced Research & Technology (The BioSMART Center).
Omowunmi Sadik is the Inventor of microelectrode biosensors for the detection of drugs and explosives. She holds five U.S. patents in biosensors and sustainable nanotechnology and has published about 200 peer-reviewed works with 400 invited lectures and conference contributions. She focuses on understanding interfaces, particularly the electrochemical interface and how to use this knowledge to pursue innovative bio (analytical) sensing technologies to improve human health and the environment.
A Co-Founder and President of the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (www.susnano.org) for the responsible use of nanotechnology worldwide, Omowunmi is currently building support for science and promoting the understanding of its broader relevance to society.
Omowunmi received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Lagos (1985), a master’s degree in chemistry (1987) and a PhD from Wollongong University in Australia.
The researcher’s career includes working as a Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Center for Research in Advanced Sensing Technologies & Environmental Sustainability at SUNY-Binghamton. She has also held appointments at Harvard University, Cornell University, and the Naval Research Laboratory.
Omowunmi is a member of the American Chemical Society and was previously a panel member for the National Institution of Health on Instrumentation and Systems Development. She collaborates with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and UNESCO in Romania, Turkey, and Japan.
Omowunmi is a proud recipient of the following fellowships:
- National Research Council (NRC) COBASE fellowship in the year 2000
- Distinguished Radcliffe Fellowship from Harvard University – 2003-2004
- National Science Foundation Discovery Corps Senior Fellowship – 2005-2006
- The Royal Society of Chemistry Fellowship (U.K.) – 2010
- The American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering fellowship (USA) – 2012
- Jefferson Science fellowship In 2017
- Brian O’Connell Distinguished fellowship
For her contributions to science, she received the following awards:
- Chancellor’s Award for Research in Science and Medicine, SUNY – 2001
- Chancellor’s Award for Premier Inventors, SUNY – 2002
- Nigerian National Order of Merit Award(NNOM) – 2016
- Australian Merit Award
- State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Research & Creative Activities
We are proud of Omowunmi Sadik and her contributions to science around the world.