Danielle Kido Amaegbo

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Languages: English, Yoruba

 

Biographical Sketch:

Danielle Kido Amaegbo has always been captivated by the impact of science on health care accessibility since her youth in Abuja, Nigeria. Her passion for biochemistry began while observing the need for affordable, effective  treatments for diseases at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Danielle's journey in science grew from her desire to solve complex health challenges in the field of drug accessibility and resistance.

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Danielle began her studies at Austin College, where she was awarded a Presidential Scholarship and pursued a degree in Biochemistry, with a minor in Visual Arts. As an Honors Thesis Researcher at Austin College, Danielle is conducting a research project focusing on peptide stability in hydrogel drug delivery. In her role as a Biochemistry and Structural Biology Honors Thesis Researcher, she is currently designing alpha-helical peptides for peptide-based drug carriers with enhanced stability under stress to support the development of reliable hydrogel systems for affordable drug delivery.

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Prior to her academic achievements, she fostered her determination to explore research in drug development, which led her to achieve research internships at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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At UW–Madison, Danielle investigated the multidrug resistance of proteobacterial antimicrobial compound efflux (PACE) transporters, which play a critical role in bacterial resistance, and she achieved a Best Presentation Award at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS). Following her experience at UW–Madison, she joined the MIT Summer Research Program in Biology to address antibiotic resistance in

gram-negative bacteria (GNB) to improve trimethoprim  delivery and increase bacterial susceptibility. Her work has promising implications for the future of  affordable antibiotic therapies, and she presented this research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Conference.

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In addition to her research, Danielle is an active leader in her college community. As President of the Student International Organization (SIO) at Austin College, she leads cultural and mentorship programs for students from diverse backgrounds. She is also a Teaching Assistant (TA) for Organic and General Chemistry, where she assists students in understanding complex concepts and lab techniques, encouraging them to see the value of their diverse perspectives in scientific discovery.

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Beyond her academic commitments, Danielle works with No Patient Left Behind, advocating for equitable access to essential medicines and health care services. Danielle is also deeply passionate about art and believes that creative expression enhances her work as a scientist. Whether in the lab or the art studio, she finds that exploring creativity strengthens her problem-solving skills and deepens her understanding of science. She sees art as an essential part of her scientific journey, as it allows her to think in new ways and bring a fresh perspective to her research.

 

Awards and Honors:

• Marion B. Sewer Distinguished Scholarship, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), 2024 

• American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Scholarship, 2024

• Bradshaw Frederick Armendt Chemistry Fellowship, Austin College, 2024

• Best Presentation in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), 2023

• Alpha Chi (AC) National Honor Society, Austin College, 2023

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Selected Works:

• Amaegbo, D. (2024). Raise Your Voice—Lost in Translation—La Pieta (Artwork). Suspension Magazine.

• Amaegbo, D. (2024). Improving Cytoplasmic Delivery of Trimethoprim via Conjugation to Enterobactin. Bernard S. and Sophie G. Gould MIT Summer Research Program in Biology (BSG–MSRP–Bio). Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

• Amaegbo, D. (2023). Investigating the Role of Proteobacterial Antimicrobial Compound Efflux (PACE) Transporters in Antibiotic Resistance and Susceptibility. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS).