On Episode 35 of Black in Science, I spoke with Dr. Esther Ngumbi, who currently works as an Assistant Professor of Entomology at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. To open, Dr. Ngumbi discusses her childhood while growing up on the Kenyan Coast before transitioning to her time as an undergraduate Biochemistry and Zoology major at Kenyatta University. After describing the research she did for her master’s thesis in Entomology, Dr. Ngumbi delves into her experience as a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Entomology and Plant Physiology at Auburn University. Before outlining the ecological, environmental and entomology-related research her lab presently focuses on, Dr. Ngumbi recounts the remarkable series of events that led to her current position. To conclude, Dr. Ngumbi shares her feelings on the importance of remaining focused and driven, embracing your individuality and more.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Dr. Ngumbi’s episode of the podcast and wish to contact her with questions, feel free to reach out via:

Twitter: @estherngumbi

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.estherngumbi.com/