Gloria Umogbai

Gloria Umogbai
Home Institute: University of Toronto
Supervisor: Dr. Carolyn Cummins, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

I am a fourth-year student enrolled in a double major in Population Health, and Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Disease. I love the intersectionality of both programs and how easily applicable to the real world they are. When I am not indulging on vanilla flavoured ice-cream, you will find me either reading on my Kindle, or having a spontaneous dance party in my room. I love to watch horror movies with my eyes closed and spend my nights writing slam poetry. I believe my passion for science and learning made me a suitable Amgen scholar. My educational, research, and work experience have paved the way in fine tuning my interest and ambition in research. Additionally, my leadership, team playing, communication, and organizational skills, and my enthusiasm for stepping out of my comfort zone set me apart as an Amgen scholar. 

Project title: The Role of Steroid Hormones in Modulating mRNA Diversity 

This summer, I have the privilege of working with Dr. Carolyn Cummins and Post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Florian Le Billan, in surveying the scientific literature, and compiling information on the various outcomes of steroid hormone action in their relation alternative splicing. I am delighted to begin my role in writing a literature review that will summarize what is currently known about this mechanism. I believe literature reviews are vital in their usefulness in expanding on the existing knowledge base, and I am very honoured to be a part of this project.

The opportunity, and privilege to learn from, and be mentored by experienced researchers drew me to apply for the program. Additionally, I am delighted for the opportunity to interact with, and get to know students like myself who are passionate about science. I am hoping to build on the knowledge of science I already have, network with researchers, and peers, and gain insight into what it means to be a researcher in the scientific community through my experience. I also hope to find an area that greatly intrigues me and will fuel my future pursuit as a researcher, and hopefully, a physician scientist.