CURRICULUM VITAE
Academic qualifications and professional experience
EDUCATION
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PhD, Molecular Cell Biology, 2022
University of Osnabrueck, Germany
Dissertation- Impact of pathogenic SMS2 variants on lipid landscapes and membrane properties along the secretory pathway.
Advisor- Prof. J. Holthuis; Coaches- Prof. J. Piehler and Dr F. Froehlich
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MSc, Biochemistry, 2017
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Thesis- Modulation of mitochondrial transition pore and amelioration of uterine leiomyoma by bioactive agents of Dissotis rotundifolia.
Advisor- Prof O. Olorunsogo
Best graduating student
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BSc, Biochemistry, 2013
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
Awarded most outstanding graduating student
Represented university in two intervarsity biochemistry competitions- one time winner, one time runner-up
ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
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McKinsey Connected Leaders Academy
Management training with McKinsey - Strategy Management, Adaptability and Resilience, and Problem Solving
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Professional Scrum Product Owner II
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Professional Scrum Master I
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Mini MBA
WORK EXPERIENCE
PRODUCT MANAGER, CELL CULTURE PRODUCTS
STEMCELL Technologies, Vancouver, Canada. Jul. 2022 till date
Accomplishments:
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Leading the development of a 3 year Commercialization strategy to drive market growth in 2 notable market areas for the company
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Executes market analysis for life science products, driving increase in market penetration and sales in targeted areas. Informed strategic decisions through data-driven insights and competitive analysis.
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Collaborating closely with Sales and Support teams on high-impact accounts. Leverages customer insights to drive the development of tailored products that precisely meet customer needs.
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Supporting Product Lifecycle Management by engaging cross-functional teams to improve time to market, optimize product launches, and enhance product quality throughout its lifecycle.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Molecular Cell Biology division, University of Osnabrueck, Germany. Feb. 2018 - Apr. 2022
Accomplishments:
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Directed experiments and analysis on 2 collaborative projects involving a team of 15 clinicians and scientists in Germany, Denmark, France, USA, and Canada; project unraveled the molecular basis of a hereditary bone disease.
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Provided scientific mentoring and training to Master and Bachelor students including development of research plans, day-to-day mentoring, and scientific support; students won prizes for best theses and presentations.
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Co-organized 2 international summer schools in “Biomembranes and Microcellular Compartments”; designed and supervised hands-on practical sessions in Molecular Cell Biology.
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Established methods to apply photo-actuated sphingosine probes to study sphingolipid metabolism in mammalian cells.
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Quantified 800+ lipid species from mass spectrometry lipidomics of purified organellar membranes; performed data analysis, interpretation and visualization using Excel and GraphPad Prism.
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Developed expertise in hiPSC culture/differentiation and other mammalian cell culture; managed cell culture lab including aseptic maintenance of cell lines and cell banking.
QUALITY CONTROL ANALYST
Apple and Pears, Ogun, Nigeria. Nov. 2014 - Mar. 2015
Accomplishments:
Coordinated team of 5 analysts and 3 technicians to optimize standard workflows according to quality control regulations; resulted in 30% increase in amount of data generated and analyzed within 3 months.
Routinely performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of raw materials, process intermediates and finished products using UV/VIS spectroscopy, pH analysis, water and wet chemistry analysis etc.
Represented quality control team at management meetings to present data and action plans.
Served as liaison between customers and production team to maintain market acceptability of finished products.
ASSISTANT LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST
State College of Education, Uyo, Nigeria. Nov. 2013 - Nov. 2014
Accomplishments:
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Taught and facilitated introductory chemistry classes to 200+ students in chemistry, biology, and physical health departments over 2 semesters.
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Worked together with senior laboratory technologists to design practical manuals and supervise students during practical courses.
LABORATORY ANALYST- INTERN
​Animal care Services Konsult, Ogun, Nigeria Jun.- Sep. 2013
​Accomplishments:
Performed PCR analysis for disease diagnosis; serological analysis including haemagglutination average and inhibition; aflatoxin, ochratoxin level determination, IBD, IBV, mycoplasma screening.
Performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of raw materials, process intermediates and finished products using analytical methods such as UV/VIS spectroscopy, NIR spectroscopy, TLC analysis, pH analysis, water and wet chemistry analysis etc.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND VOLUNTEERING
CO-FOUNDER
BOT Academy 2020-till date
Actively works together with a group of 3 to provide support for Nigerian students seeking opportunities for graduate studies abroad
Guided 15+ students in obtaining graduate admission and scholarships in Switzerland,Germany and USA worth a combined amount of $250,000.
PUBLIC SPEAKER
Smart communication and training 2018
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Participated in speaking events on topical issues in science, development in Africa and intercultural competencies.
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Audience ranged from 10-50 people with varying levels of educational qualifications/backgrounds.
EVENT MANAGER
Dream Events April 2015 till June 2022
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Successfully organized 35+ events with single events having budgets up to $60,000.
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Performs market survey; finds suitable event vendors, and negotiates deals based on client's preference and budget.
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Oversees team of 5-6 event coordinators to actualize projects.
CORP MEMBER
​National Youth Service Corp Nov. 2013-Nov. 2014 ​
Volunteered a total of 96 hours towards sensitization programs on HIV/AIDS and sickle cell for students in 10+ high schools across Nsit Ibom local area.
Liaised with local health department to provide free testing. About 50% of participants were tested and 70% of participants indicated gain of new knowledge from program.
SKILLS
TOP SKILLS
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Product Management and Strategy
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Agile Methodologies
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Water Fall Methodologies
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Stakeholder Management
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Data-Driven Decision making
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Scientific Research and Writing
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Event management
TECHNICAL SKILLS
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Microsoft office (Word, powerpoint, excel, outlook)
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Beginner in Python synthax
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Proficient with command bash line
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Creating graphic tools to explain scientific concepts
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Visual and Oral presentation skills
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Scientific supervision and support
RESEARCH SKILLS
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hiPSC culture/differentiation strategy
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Mammalian cell culture
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Molecular cloning (PCR. site directed mutagenesis, use of SnapGene, APE, Benchling)
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SDS-PAGE and immunoblot analysis
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Lentiviral transduction and DNA transfection
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CRISPR/Cas9 genetic knockout strategies
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Immunostaining, fluorescence microscopy and image processing
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Metabolic labelling studies, click chemistry and HPTLC
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Flow cytometry (Cell sorter software)
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Laboratory animal handling
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Biosafety level 1 and 2 laboratory
SELECTED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS​
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Sokoya T, et al, Pathogenic variants of sphingomyelin synthase SMS2 disrupt lipid landscapes in the secretory pathway -in review. https://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.04.02.486804v1.
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Niekamp P, Scharte F, Sokoya T, et al, Ca2+-activated sphingomyelin scrambling and turnover mediate ESCRT-independent lysosomal repair. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29481-4.
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Sokoya T, et al, Pathogenic SMS2(R50X) yields an active enzyme mistargeted to the early Golgi - in preparation.
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Kol M, Sokoya T, et al, Gaining optical control over sphingolipid metabolism using photoswitchable sphingosine -in preparation.
SELECTED SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS
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Gordon Research Conference & Seminar on sphingolipids and glycolipids, Lucca, Italy, 25 Mar. to 1 Apr. 2022. Oral Presentation titled “Pathogenic variants of sphingomyelin synthase SMS2 disrupt lipid landscapes in the secretory pathway”.
- Awarded best presentation at the GRS​
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International Ceramide Conference, Virtual, 19-22 Apr. 2021. Oral presentation titled “Perturbation of sphingomyelin asymmetry and subcellular sterol distribution by pathogenic SMS2 variants”.
​ - Awarded prize for outstanding presentation
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Annual IRTG-SFB retreat, Bremen, 16-18 Oct. 2019. Oral presentation titled “Dissecting sphingolipid function with photoswitchable lipid probes”.
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Sphingolipids in physiology and pathology- Conference by FEBS, Cascais, Portugal 6-10 May 2019. Poster presentation titled “Gaining optical control over sphingolipid metabolism and signaling with photoswitchable lipid probes”.
​ - Awarded FEBS youth travel grant
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FEBS Advanced Lecture course on lipid dynamics and membrane contact sites, Spetses Island, Greece, 31 Aug. to 7 Sep. 2018. Oral and poster presentation titled “Gaining optical control over sphingolipid metabolism and signalling with photoswitchable lipid probes”.