Autobiography of the Founder of MicrobiologyClass.net

Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu is a distinguished Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Stiftung in Germany and currently serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Microbiology at Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany, following his previous role as a Research Fellow at Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. His role integrates both research and teaching, with a primary focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in environmental systems.

His previous work, supported by the AvH Georg Forster Research Fellowship Programme for Experienced Researchers, centers on the soilRESIST project, which investigated the impact of antibiotic mixtures on soil microbial activity and the evolution, persistence, and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soils. He has particular expertise in understanding how antibiotic residues interact with soil microbial communities and how these interactions influence resistance gene dynamics.

Dr. Ejikeugwu’s research emphasizes soil as a critical environmental reservoir of ARGs, highlighting its central role in ecosystem health and its potential contribution to the transmission of resistance genes and bacteria through the food chain and wider environment. His overarching goal is to translate scientific insights into actionable strategies that mitigate AMR, promote sustainable environmental stewardship, and improve global health outcomes.

In addition to his role in Germany, Dr. Ejikeugwu is a Reader and Researcher on AMR at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, Nigeria. With a passion for mentoring, he works closely with undergraduate and postgraduate students, guiding their interests in microbiology and research.

Dr. Ejikeugwu is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of www.Microbiologyclass.net, a leading online platform offering comprehensive resources in microbiology. As Africa’s largest microbiology website, it serves students, researchers, and educators, inspiring young scholars across the continent to explore careers in microbiology.

An alumnus of the Global Young Academy (GYA) in Germany, Dr. Ejikeugwu served in the GYA’s Global Health and Science Education for Youth Working Groups. His selection for GYA reflects his commitment to global scientific collaboration and youth development.

Dr. Ejikeugwu obtained his PhD. in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria, in 2017. He subsequently completed his first postdoctoral fellowship at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, in 2018 as a Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) Fellow, where his research focused on HIV-1 reservoirs and potential cure strategies. In 2021, he conducted postdoctoral research on biocide resistance at the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) in Berlin, Germany, under a DAAD Fellowship. He then completed a third postdoctoral fellowship at the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany, from 2023 to 2026, funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

A Pharmaceutical Microbiologist by training, Dr. Ejikeugwu holds a B.Sc. in Applied Microbiology from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria, and an M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. His research interests include AMR, infectious diseases, drug discovery, HIV-1, bacteriology, and virology. His work on AMR has generated substantial evidence on priority resistant pathogens, informing policies to combat AMR in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. His research on AMR and infectious diseases has garnered several global citations, underscoring its impact.

Dr. Ejikeugwu is an accomplished author with several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. Notable works include contributions to“Lichen Secondary Metabolites as Possible Antiviral Agents” (Springer) and“Antimicrobials: Past, Present & Future” (Amazon). He actively reviews for international journals and participates in professional organizations such as Applied Microbiology International (AMI), European Society of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the Nigerian Society for Microbiology.

As a passionate educator and community developer, Dr. Ejikeugwu has pioneered networks to advance AMR and microbiology research across Japan, the UK, the USA, Germany, Canada, and Austria. His efforts aim to reduce the burden of AMR and optimize antimicrobial use in human and animal health in Africa.

An advocate for holistic education, Dr. Ejikeugwu authored “Street Smart Book Smart”, available on Amazon, to empower young individuals to merge academic knowledge with real-world skills.

Dr. Ejikeugwu’s contributions extend to mentoring and training students, fostering global collaborations, and promoting the advancement of microbiology in Nigeria and beyond. His online portfolio and publications are accessible at:

• ORCID: https://bit.ly/2PcAsTe
• Google Scholar ID: https://bit.ly/30kBHRp
• ResearchGate ID: https://bit.ly/2MqsK5F
• Loop ID: https://rb.gy/cc4tmm
• LiveDNA ID: https://bit.ly/2MpQUx6
• Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2YYMnpb

AWARDS / SCHOLARSHIPS / GRANTS

Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu has received numerous accolades throughout his career, reflecting his dedication to research, education, and innovation. Key awards and grants include:

• COFUND, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowship, Horizon Europe, European Union, tenable at the RMIT Europe Barcelona (Spain) & RMIT University, Melbourne (Australia) on the project: ‘Water-fit-for-Purpose’ (unutilized 2025).

• The Momentum MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme (Momentum PPDF – 1st call) on the project: PREVENT-BIOFILM, tenable at the HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary (unutilized, 2025).

• Research Fellowship funded by Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), and tenable at Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Virologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany (2025).

• Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Georg Forster Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany (2023–2026).

• CAMRA Grant, National Institute of Health (NIH), for the project “Combatting AntiMicrobial Resistance in Africa Using Data Science (CAMRA).” Dr. Ejikeugwu serves as Principal Investigator (PI) for the study “Genomics to Monitor Abundances and Diversity of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Genes and Strains Circulating in Poultry Food Chains in Nigeria” (2024–2025).

• COMPASS Mentoring Program Grant, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany (2023).

• Rising Star Postdoctoral Fellowship, Freie Universität (FU) Berlin, Germany (unutilized, 2023).

• Research Fellowship, Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), Hamburg, Germany (Unutilized, 2023).

• Travel Grant, The World Academy of Science (TWAS), for participation in the 20th Annual Meeting of Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS forum), Kyoto ICC, Japan (October 1–3, 2023).

• TWAS Young Affiliateship Award (2022).

• Young Investigator Award on Antimicrobial Resistance, Institute Mérieux, France (2021).

• DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany (2021).

• AAS Affiliate Membership Award, African Academy of Sciences (AAS), (2021).

• Speakers Fund Scholarship, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development) for attending the Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2021 (SRI2021, virtual).

• Scholarship Award, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for participation in the Virtual Life Keystone Symposia eSymposia meeting on HIV Vaccines (EK42, June 1–4, 2021).

• DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Berlin, Germany (unutilized due to COVID-19, 2020).

• National Researchers Prize in Microbiology, Nigeria (2020).

• Elected Member, Global Young Academy (GYA), Germany (2020–2025).

• Elected Fellow, African Science Leadership Programme (ASLP, 2020–2025).

• Travel Grant, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Nigeria (2019).

• Travel Grant, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), for attending the 8th Congress of European Microbiologists (FEMS2019), Glasgow, Scotland, UK (July 7–11, 2019).

• Travel Grant, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for attending the Keystone Symposium on HIV Vaccines, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada (March 24–28, 2019).

• Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, Kyoto, Japan (2018).

• TETFund Institutional-Based Research (IBR) Grant for Early Careers, Nigeria (2018).

• National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award of Excellence, recognizing his exemplary performance as a Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Advocate in Kaduna State, Nigeria (2010).

About Microbiologyclass.net

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