Meet the organizers

The Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC) is a group of graduate students from the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland-Baltimore, and Michigan State University. They are responsible for the tasks associated with the planning of the symposium at the Fall 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting.

Damilola Petinrin

Chair

Damilola is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, where she studies atmospheric and environmental chemistry with a focus on hydroxyl radical production from phenolic ozonolysis at the air–solid interface. She earned her Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, in 2018.

Outside the lab, Damilola is deeply involved in mentorship, teaching, and scientific outreach. She also has a strong record of leadership and service, including roles as Public Relations Officer for the American Chemical Society Graduate Student Organization at the University of Kentucky and Vice President of the Nigerian Graduate Student Association, where she helped organize cultural and academic events.

Lekan Ajiboye

Vice chair

Lekan is a PhD chemistry candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore with research expertise in nanomaterials and nanophotonics. He had his BSc. In Industrial Chemistry from Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria.

His current research focuses on directionally assembling nanomaterials to form nanostructures that have applications in quantum computing, communication, and cryptography. Lekan enjoys having conversations about technology transfer and science communication.

Emmanuella Duruye is a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is from Ghana and holds an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from La Roche University in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to her studies, she was a peer tutor for subjects such as College Algebra, Principles of Chemistry, and English as a Second Language, as well as a Peer Counselor to freshmen students who entered the university with low high school GPAs.

Moreover, she was the President of Globalization at La Roche One Beat on Earth (G.L.O.B.E.), which was under the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) at La Roche. As a graduate student, she is under the supervision of Dr. Brian Cullum, where she works on Thermally Induced Optical Reflection of Sound (THORS) in condensed matter and tissues.

Outside the lab, Emmanuella enjoys cooking, reading, volunteering, and crocheting.

Emmanuella Duruye

Logistics

Motunrayo Oladele

Fundraising Coordinator

Motunrayo is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, researching microdroplet technologies for contaminant remediation. She earned a First-Class degree in Chemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria, and has published in leading journals.

Beyond research, she actively promotes STEM outreach and environmental awareness through community and leadership initiatives.

Paninga is a graduate student at Michigan State University (MSU), where he works to develop sustainable paper packaging using biodegradable polymers. He is also a fellow of MSU’s graduate school leadership program, with emphasis on designing and executing change projects on campus.

As the founder of Pannyword Foundation, he leads a team of young Africans to provide education on research, education , and leadership development to college students and graduates.

Paninga Mulliya

Speakers Cooridnator

Lateefat Jimoh

Public Relations Officer

Lateefat Jimoh is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, specializing in inorganic materials for energy storage applications. She earned her B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. Her current work utilizes solid-state synthesis and in situ TEM to study diffusion mechanisms in manganese-based nanowires for battery technologies.

Outside the lab, Lateefat supports scientific education and outreach through teaching, mentoring undergraduate researchers, and serving as a volunteer judge at science competitions. Beyond academics, she enjoys making pastries and watching movies.

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