Q&A with Chioma Odo, MID PhD Student

Chioma Odo is a recently graduated PhD student in the Microbiology and Infectious Diseases program in the lab of Samuel Shelburne, PhD. During her time at the Graduate School, she worked on identifying the key molecular mechanism that enabled a new strain of M4 Group A Streptococcus to emerge, expand, and replace an existing strain. As a child, Odo fell in love with science after being taught by her uncle. She later attended a science-focused high school that solidified her passion and set her on a path to her PhD. Odo joined the MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in the fall of 2019. After a rotation in the lab of Samuel Shelburne, PhD, she knew working with him would give her the exposure and support she needed to succeed. Throughout her studies at the Graduate School, Odo redefined herself through a journey of self-discovery. Her advice to current students is to think highly of themselves and says that a student's best asset in graduate school is their own self-concept. 

Meet the Staff: Lenay Johnson

Lenay Johnson joined the Graduate School in 2022. As Director of Student Affairs and Admissions, she works with the faculty and admissions teams to coordinate all aspects of admitting new students. When she's not supporting the newest members of the Graduate School, Lenay enjoys spending time outdoors. Keep reading to learn more about Lenay! 

Meet the Staff: Sarah Trevino

Sarah Trevino serves as Senior Executive Assistant to Dean Alejandro Aballay, PhD. In this role, she performs a variety of administrative and organizational tasks to help his office run smoothly. When she’s not supporting Dean Aballay’s work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and attending sports games. Keep reading to learn more about Sarah!