Benedicta Ada Ottairoegbu

IGC FELLOW    |   Global Change Center

Ph.D. Student  •  Biological Sciences

Advisor: Dr. Susan Whitehead

Research Interests: Plant adaptation to rapid environmental changes.

ottaibenedicta@vt.edu •  Twitter  •  LinkedIn

Benedicta received her Bachelor's degree in Botany from the University of Lagos and graduated among the top five in her department with a CGPA of 4.72/5.0. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research work on the plant growth analysis of Costus spectabilis and identified genetic diversity among four Costus species using RAPD markers. This experience drove her to want to understand how plants are able to adapt to their environments and how climate change affects these changes to ensure conservation and sustainable agriculture.

She has participated in joint research that aims to understand the epidermal tissues of plant and how they have been shown changes over time. She is interning as an African Learning Partner with the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development focusing on the effect of salinity and drought on the seed germination, growth parameters and phytochemical composition of Vigna subterranea.

For her PhD, she is interested in understanding how plants respond and adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Through the IGC program, Benedicta hopes to become an advocate for change, armed with a diverse background, a passion for interdisciplinary research, and a vision of contributing to a more resilient and equitable world.