About Us

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My name is Tayo. I am the founder of "I am Pluripotent. "  I am developing an afterschool STEM program as a business for social good.  In addition, I have a  full time career as a Medical Science Liaison in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

I am a Nigerian American Citizen and proud of my heritage as a woman from the Yoruba tribe.  Over the last fifteen years, I have gained experience in regenerative medicine spanning scientific research, public health, and medical affairs. I have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, a doctoral degree in interdisciplinary cell and molecular biology, postdoctoral training in bioengineering and regenerative medicine, a master’s in public health, and a master’s in business administration. 

I have a teaching license as a subject matter expert to teach biology, chemistry, and health from the Arizona Department of Education. As a woman in STEM*, I am aware of the disparities in STEM and I want to be part of the solution as a learned Yoruba woman.

*STEM Science Technology, Engineering and Math 

See more about me at the bottom of the page 

• 1 in 10 STEM professionals is a minority woman
• 12% of undergraduate degrees in STEM are minority groups
• 73% of scientists and engineers are non-minorities
• The gap between educational achievement in STEM grows even wider at the graduate level

As a result of these disparities, I feel compelled to take action and provide STEM learning opportunities in K-12 classrooms and communities. I am translating my experience in science, technology, engineering, and healthcare to provide educational content along with our partners and collaborators. We also provide a curriculum from an established franchise. 

• STEM afterschool program
• ALIGNED with the next generation science standards
• ACCESSIBLE culturally tailored, universally designed educational content
• MULTIMODAL in person, online and use a variety of educational technology 
• IMPACT increase the pipeline of diverse youth in STEM careers who are competent and confident leaders of tomorrow

I am pluripotent
I am unique

I can become anything

I will unleash the science within
I will learn my scientific story from my genetic code through human development, growth, aging and the cycle of life 

I will learn how to use science, technology, engineering and math to positively impact my life and my environment 

I will use that knowledge to transform myself to reach my highest potential and empower others to do so

I will become the STEM solution in my community and globally 

I am a citizen scientist now and forever 

I will ensure that everyone has access to medical technology

I am the future 

I am pluripotent 

All students, regardless of income, ethnicity, or gender, deserve the opportunity to be prepared with 21st-century skills for future occupations 

Summary of my education and training 

2002 Bachelors in Science Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 

2006 Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 

2008  Postdoctoral training in Bioengineering (2006-2008), University of California San Diego,  La Jolla, CA

2012  Postdoctoral training in Regenerative Medicine (2008 -2012) The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 

2016  Masters of Public Health  in Health Promotion & Behavioral  Science, San Diego State University, CA

2021  Masters of Business Administration, WP Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Research & Work Experience 

My doctoral research was on the development of electrochemical bioassays. After my Ph.D., I moved from Arkansas to California to pursue postdoctoral research. The postdoctoral fellowship is an experience after a Ph.D. to gain more research experience or learn a new area. I had postdoctoral research experience in two different labs, one at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for two years, 2006 to 2008. This was followed by three years of postdoctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute.  At UCSD  my postdoc was on bioengineering stem cells, and I tested making cardiac cells from human embryonic stem cells by growing them in hydrogels. This research in the laboratory of Dr. Andrew McCulloch was funded by an institutional training fellowship from the National Institute of Health. 

My second postdoctoral research was at The Scripps Research Institute, Laboratory of Dr. Jeanne Loring. I developed a biobank of induced pluripotent stem cells from ethnically diverse participants. This research was funded initially by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Negro College Fund/Merck Fellowship. In addition, the work was supported by multiple funding sources in the laboratory of my mentor, Dr. Jeanne Loring, including the  California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. In 2012 after my postdoc, I stayed in the lab of my mentor, Dr. Jeanne Loring, to continue research as a professional scientific collaborator, along with Plex Pharmaceuticals, collaborations with principal investigators of H3 Africa and my nonprofit IFASEMB. 

In 2014 I started my career in Medical Affairs, first as a Medical Affairs Associate, then followed by roles as a Medical Science Liaison.  I have been living and working from Arizona since 2015. I have seven years of full-time experience in the Medical Affairs/Medical Science Liaison career. This experience, combined with my experience in research after my Ph.D. provides me with 15 years of cumulative experience. Furthermore, since completing my Ph.D. in 2006, I  have obtained two master's degrees. As a continuous learner, I  am translating my education, research, and work experience into learning content for K1-12.  I founded Ilera LLC in 2017, and  "I am Pluripotent" is a DBA of Ilera.