September 16, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Winning an AAUW International Fellowship has been a dream of Grace Owojori’s since her father first told her about the program, which supports international women pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. – women who have a track record of academic excellence and empowering other women and girls. Ten years later, Owojori knows her dad, who has since passed away, would have been proud to see her receive this honor.
The Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences student will use the fellowship’s $25,000 stipend to support her doctoral studies, which focus on using wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor antimicrobial resistance. She first became interested in this area when she was a Master of Public Health student at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
Owojori had spent two years as a microbiologist between her bachelor’s and master’s programs, so as an MPH student, she volunteered to help evaluate the efficiency of the university hospital’s wastewater treatment plant at removing pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. After graduating in 2019, she spent five years working on research projects in the public health sector that further revealed the real-world consequences of environmental factors on community health.
“One project demonstrated the effects of water pollution on children under five, which left a lasting impression on me,” Owojori says. “Later, after having my first child and seeing firsthand how environmental exposures could affect her health, I felt an even greater urgency to pursue advanced training.”
Wishing to contribute to research that would safeguard population health, Owojori began looking at doctoral programs in the field. The Arnold School’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences stood out to her due to its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to addressing environmental and public health challenges. She liked having the opportunity to learn with faculty who share her research interests in wastewater-based epidemiology, environmental exposures and antimicrobial resistance.
“Dr. Devin Bowes has been my primary mentor, and she has consistently supported my academic pursuits, reviewed my proposals, and encouraged my research ideas, including my application for this award,” Owojori says. “Dr. Geoff Scott is a wealth of knowledge and always approachable, making him a key mentor, and Dr. Daniel Kilpatrick has also been instrumental, offering valuable academic guidance.”
The AAUW International Fellowship award will help Owojori conduct much-needed research assessing the presence of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes in household water sources in Nigeria. It will also help support her family, especially her daughter, back home.
“Through this program, I will be equipped to mentor future scientists and lead research that informs policies and practices for wastewater management and water treatment,” Owojori says. “It will also help me advocate for healthier communities and serve as a voice for women in science.”
