Leaving his home in Central Nigeria to pursue a master's in chemistry at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), graduate student Omale Ogbe carries a deep-seated passion for chemistry and a desire to make a difference in the world. After only one semester at Eastern, Ogbe's ongoing research on water purification earned him the prestigious New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NMWRRI) Student Research Grant, supporting his work toward uranium remediation in New Mexico and his cancer-fighting initiatives. From adapting to a new culture and overcoming financial obstacles to honing his research skills, Ogbe's story evidences the power of perseverance and the pursuit of knowledge.

Ogbe's passion for chemistry began early in his life. "I had an experience with a friend; he suffers from seizures. This particular day, I went over to see him, and he had a serious seizure. So, they gave him a drug called Phenytoin. And after just two capsules, he was fine; he was calm. He was resuscitated. I was so marveled!" he said. "I love chemistry."

Ogbe credits this encounter as his introduction to the vast opportunities the world of science could provide. The immediate impact of the medication left a lasting impression on him, eventually leading him to the labs of ENMU.

"Coming to the United States was my first time traveling out of my home country, so leaving my family behind was my biggest challenge," Ogbe said. "I like it here, though. It's a nice community. Portales is filled with great people; I've made friends, and to be honest, it's quite fun to be with my classmates."

Despite his initial homesickness, Ogbe's positive experiences with peers have made him feel increasingly at home, and with the help of his advisor, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Md Mhahabubur Rhaman, Ogbe has been able to grow as a student. "I feel like I have some of the best lecturers in New Mexico," he said. When Ogbe started at Eastern in the Spring of 2024, Rhaman invited Ogbe to his research on water purification, and he jumped on the chance.

Ogbe's interest in water quality first began when he lost his aunt to breast cancer. "I've actually read a lot about cancer and the various risk factors; some of those are things you can't do anything about," he said, acknowledging that genetic factors often play a part in cancer diagnoses. "But some of those factors, I actually think you can modify, like making sure the environment is free from toxicants and carcinogens."

Ogbe's primary goal is to provide people with a more inexpensive way to filter toxic metals like uranium from groundwater. "My research project is an extension of an existing method called the ion exchange method, which is pretty expensive. Using ion exchange to remediate uranium from 10 gallons of water costs about 5 million dollars. With my research, I'm trying to use a method that is more cost-effective," he said. "If I am successful, I'll be able to train residents here. Using this simple method, they'll personally be able to remediate uranium from groundwater."

"Uranium has so many adverse effects on humans, ranging from kidney failure to liver failure, but to date, there has not been any reported cases of uranium being linked to cancer," he said. Ogbe describes this project and his time at Eastern as a stepping stone to a much bigger project: water purification as a cancer-fighting solution. He believes success with his uranium remediation will enable him to remove Plutonium, a well-known carcinogen responsible for causing cancer, from water using almost the same techniques.

"In the long run, I want to remediate plutonium from groundwater. Plutonium has been known to cause anything from lung cancer to liver cancer to bone cancer," he said.

Ogbe's research faced financial constraints concerning purchasing reagents, essential substances used in laboratory tests. "At first, when I was going into my research, I tried to compute what the budget would be, and to be honest, it was way, way above what I planned for," he said. Ogbe admitted that he even began considering removing factors from the experiment to keep expenses down. "I was even of the opinion that at the end of the day, I might not have my work published because of the cost," he said.

Fortunately, Rhaman encouraged Ogbe to submit his research to NMWRRI to apply for the student grant. "They look for the best research from the six major higher [education] institutions in New Mexico. But in the end, it's just 15 people that were picked from the major schools," he said.

After an intricate application process and an agonizing wait, Ogbe finally heard back from the organization. "It was exactly on the 1st of October. In the evening, I got an email from them, congratulating me, and letting me know I'm among one of the few lucky people that had been awarded the grant," Ogbe said. As his birthday was the following day, he described the email as an early birthday present.

NMWRRI required grant recipients to present their research at the 69th Annual New Mexico Water Conference in Pojoaque, which Ogbe explained would've been a daunting task had he not received presentation coaching during one of the required courses, graduate seminar. He attributes his presentation confidence to Associate Professor of Chemistry James Finley, whom he said prepared him for the presentation of research.

Finley immediately recognized the lack of confidence and gave him tips on how to work through presentation anxiety. Ogbe said his first presentation for the course went very poorly, even resulting in a failing grade. "After the presentation, [Finley] sat me down and let me know of my shortcomings," Ogbe said. "It was my first time presenting to people outside of my home country," he admitted, "I just have this anxiety in me that they might not actually understand my accent."

Ogbe said Finley emphasized the importance of pacing oneself and staying calm by employing techniques as simple as taking a sip of water. "There's nowhere in the world that you want to go and present that you will be stopped from having a water bottle. So, when you feel anxious, you should just take a sip of water, and then you'll be fine," Ogbe said. "I've actually been applying that, and it has been great for me."

Later in his first semester, Ogbe participated in the annual ENMU Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCC), where he was given the opportunity to present his research. Ogbe not only had the confidence to enter the conference but also took first in his designated group of presenters. "I wasn't so great at making a presentation when I came [to ENMU]. But with effort from Dr. James Finley, I feel like I can present before anybody right now, not minding the size of the crowd," Ogbe said. "It has made me a better person. I now feel greater each time I talk to people; I take charge of the moment. I freely express myself."

His time at Eastern has not only shaped Ogbe's academic and professional trajectory but has also instilled in him a deep appreciation for the opportunities he has been afforded. As he looks toward the future, he aspires to pursue a doctoral degree, possibly at Baylor University or the University of New Mexico. His goal is to become a chemistry professor or an industrial chemist specializing in quality control.

Ogbe expressed his hopes that Eastern might one day offer a Ph.D. program in his field, allowing him to continue his academic journey at the institution that has done nothing less than nurture his passion for chemistry. Regardless of his path, using his foundation in water purification and cancer research, Ogbe's dedication to research and his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge are sure to make a lasting impact.