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Mojeed Olamide Bello received his BS degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kwara State Polytechnic and his master’s degree in electrical and Computer Engineering from Morgan State University . Currently has a Doctoral student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Morgan State University ; he has been a Teaching Assistants in the School of Engineering of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Research Assistance in the School of Engineering of Electrical and Computer Engineering . Trainee Member ETA-STEM fellow . His research areas include power generation, renewable energy, smart grid, micro-grid, optimization, system design, power electronics, block-chain, grid modernization, and information and cyber-security. He is also active in the hands-on lab and research activities. He is a fellow of the Bill Anderson Fellowship and a member of IEEE.

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Nkiruka Jane Nwachukwu is a doctoral student in the Department of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore. She earned a B.Sc. in Architecture from Caleb University, Lagos Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Architecture from Morgan State University. Her research interests involve providing a sustainable environment for people with a mental health disorder, and traffic safety management.

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• University of Yaoundé I Cameroon: BS Degree in Chemistry, 2009
• University of Yaoundé I Cameroon: MS Degree in Organic Chemistry, 2011
• University of Dschang Cameroon: MS Degree in Environmental Impact Assessment, 2015.
• Responsible Conduct of Research Course Certificate (Social and Behavioral Research) at CITI program, 2019.
• Morgan State University USA: Doctorate student in Environmental Engineering enrolled since Spring 2019

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EDUCATION/TRAINING

University of Turku (Finland) Ph.D. 2007 Bioorganic Chemistry
University of Maryland Baltimore County (USA) Post-doc 10/2007-08/2013 Organic, Analytical Chemistry and Toxicology

POSITIONS

10/2007 – 08/2013 Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, UMBC, MD
08/2013 - 12/2013 Adjunct, Dept. Chemistry, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD
08/2013 - 12/2014 Adjunct, Dept. Chemistry, Baltimore City Community College, MD
12/2014 - 06/2014 Adjunct, Dept. Biochemistry, Coppin State University, Baltimore, MD
08/2014 - 05/2018 Adjunct, Dept. Chemistry, Community College of Baltimore County, MD
01/2014 - Ongoing Lecturer, Dept. Chemistry, Morgan State University, MD

Other Experience and Professional Memberships
Journals Reviewer:
2006 - Nucleosides Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids
2010 - Royal Society of Chemistry
2010 - Current Chemical Biology
2010 - Journal of Encapsulation and Adsorption Sciences

Memberships
2007 - IS3NA (The International Society for Nucleosides Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids)
2009 - 2012 ASTS (African Society for Toxicological Sciences)
2009 - 2011 NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers)
2012 - 2014 ACS (American Chemical Society), Organic Chemistry and Toxicology Divisions
2013 - 2014 Policy council of head Start (YMCA), Towson, MD

Contribution to Science

1 - My previous research has been to understand the chemistry of the key intermediates that mediate the biological effects of mutagenic and carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are a large class of compounds to which there is human exposure through endogenous formation and environmental sources. They are found in groundwater, foods, personal care products, and tobacco products and are encountered in a number of industrial environs, in particular in rubber manufacturing and curing facilities, metal and leather working concerns. They tend to target the oxygen atoms of DNA by means of adducts they form and cause replicative polymerases to mis-insert opposite these lesions leading to mutation.
My work involves modified phosphoramidites synthesis and their characterizations. I have developed new methods for various nucleoside crosslink standards synthesis, their characterizations and derivatizations. I established new route for 13C labeled precursors in cross-link mimic, and their introduction into oligonucleotides for NMR studies. I have supported chemistry process with methods for reaction monitoring regarding purity/yield and analytical studies. We have explored sequence-specific recognition of nitroso derived adducts of minor groove of DNA and determined the effect of various factors on crosslink formation. Through our collaborations, we have studied the mutations spectrum in human fibroblasts which have attracted some research groups.

[1] Koissi N., Fishbein C.J.: (2013) Trapping of a Cross-link formed by a major purine adduct of a metabolite of the carcinogen N-Nitrosomorpholine by Inorganic and biological reductants. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 26, 732

[2] Koissi N., Shah N., Ginevan B., Eck W.D., Roebuck B.D., Fishbein C.J., (2012) A lactone metabolite common to the carcinogens dioxane, diethylene glycol and N-nitrosomorpholine: aqueous chemistry and failure to detect liver cancer induction or promotion in the F344 rat. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 25, 1022

2 - My major contributions have in the area DNA base modifications of oligonucleotide conjugates. The subject is of general importance, since accumulation of DNA base moieties induced by environmental contaminant, food additives or oxidizing atmosphere constitute an increased risk of cancer. I developed several methods useful for syntheses of such structurally modified constituents of DNA and studies of their properties and mechanisms of formation. In particular, his studies has advanced the understanding of the ability for 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and their congeners to form cyclic adducts of nucleobases. Such compounds are produced intracellularly as end products of the catabolism of peroxidated fatty acids of cell membranes. Cell membrane peroxidation, in turn, is a consequence of oxidative stress caused by increased level of ozone and peroxidated organic acids in urbanized regions.
[1] Koissi N., Lönnberg H.: (2007) Synthesis of modified nucleosides for incorporation of formyletheno and carboxyetheno adducts of adenine nucleosides into oligonucleotides. Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids 26, 1203

[2] Ruohola A-M., Koissi N., Andersson S, Lepistö I., Neuvonen K., Mikkola S., Lönnberg H.: (2004) Reaction of 9-substituted guanines with bromomalonaldehyde in aqueous solution predominantly yield glyoxal derived adducts. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2, 1943

[3] Neuvonen K., Koissi N., Lönnberg H.: (2002) Condensation of triformylmethane with adenosine: novel cyclic adducts derived from 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2. 173

[4] Mikkola S., Koissi N., Ketomäki K., Rauvala S., Neuvonen K., Lönnberg H.: (2000) Reactions of adenosine with bromo- and chloromalonaldehydes in aqueous solution: kinetics and mechanism. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 12, 2315

3 - My understanding of bioorganic chemistry has given me the opportunity to teach biochemistry even as chemistry major. Through my research, I have developed multi-step synthesis protocol for halocarbonyls, halodicarbonyls, tricarbonyls, and nitroso compounds. Some of these synthesis have found their route into industry and are used for big scale production.
www.syntechem.com/prod/STP280277/
www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/papers/22458541
datasheets.scbt.com/sc-52666.pdf

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Celeste Chavis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Chavis is a registered professional engineer in the State of Maryland. Her research focuses on transportation operations, safety, and performance metrics for multimodal transportation systems through an equity lens. Dr. Chavis specialized in instructional technology, STEM education, and ABET accreditation.

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Dr. J. ’Kemi Ladeji-Osias is Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Dr. Ladeji-Osias earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and a joint Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University and UMDNJ. Dr. Ladeji-Osias’ involvement in engineering curricular innovations includes adapting portable laboratory instrumentation into experiments from multiple STEM disciplines. She enjoys observing the intellectual and professional growth in students as they prepare for engineering careers.

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