Olabisi Atofarati, from Nigeria, is a doctoral candidate in ecology and environmental biology at Howard University. Her research explores the intersection of conservation science, public health, and gender by integrating molecular ecology, feeding ecology, and gut microbiome analyses to understand fish biodiversity, diet, and ecosystem functioning in Nigerian aquatic systems. Her work aims to advance biodiversity conservation, enhance food security and safety, and reduce health risks for women, who make up a significant portion of the fisheries workforce in Nigeria.
Olabisi holds a master’s degree in environmental biology from the University of Abuja, where she graduated with distinction and was named Best Graduating Student, and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Ilorin, where she earned first class honors. A first-generation scholar from an underserved background, she exemplifies resilience and leadership, pursuing her doctorate full-time in the United States while maintaining strong family commitments in Nigeria.
She is the founder of Aquatic System Conservation Nigeria, an initiative dedicated to biodiversity conservation, environmental education, and women’s empowerment. Through this organization, she has established conservation clubs in schools, mentored over 150 girls in STEM, and led outreach programs reaching hundreds of students in underserved communities. Olabisi aims to further expand the organization’s reach and amplify its impact through teaching, research, and policy engagement.
Olabisi aspires to become a professor of environmental biology, where she will combine research, teaching, and policy engagement to advance sustainable ecosystems, contribute to the development of her home country, and empower women and girls through science and education.
