Journal of Plant Pathology & Microbiology

Chioma Okeoma

Chioma Okeoma
Department of Microbiology
University of Iowa, USA

Biography

Dr. Chioma Okeoma is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She is the 2008 recipient of the Andy Kaplan Prize by the Cold Spring Retrovirus Meeting. Chioma had her postdoctoral training at the Laboratory of Dr. Susan Ross of the University of Pennsylvania. From a humble beginning in Nigeria, Chioma obtained a B.Agric.Tech degree from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and a Master of Science degree from the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, both in Nigeria. Chioma became a scholar of the New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance (NZODA). She received her PhD in Animal Science from Massey University, New Zealand. She received a medallion from the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists following publication of her studies on neosporosis in New Zealand cattle.

Research Interest

Dr. Okeoma laboratory uses different viral models to investigate host factors involved in viral infection. Our goal is to develop an understanding of the role host proteins play in the dynamics of host-virus interaction and how we might manipulate host factors to mitigate viral pathogenesis and transmission.