Ruqayya Adam

Mrs Adam is currently an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bayero University Kano and also working towards pursuing her Ph.D. in Plant Science and Biotechnology at Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina. Her path into academia has been shaped by curiosity, a love for teaching, and a deep desire to contribute to science, health and agricultural challenges in Nigeria.

She started with a B.Sc. in Biology from Ahmadu Bello University, and then earned an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Bayero University Kano. Her masters research, supervised by Prof. Sulaiman S. Ibrahim focused on malaria drug resistance, specifically investigating pfmdr1 and pfcrt mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Kano. That work gave her a strong foundation in molecular biology and led to several peer-reviewed publications.

Over the years, she has taught a wide range of undergraduate courses, including genetics, cell biology, plant biotechnology, and mycology, first at Federal University Dutsinma, and now at Bayero University Kano. She has supervised student projects, guided SIWES trainees, and taken on roles like Examination Officer, Seminar Coordinator, and member of various quality assurance committees.

Through her masters study and ongoing Ph.D. research, she has developed strong hands-on molecular skills including DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequence analysis, and the use of bioinformatics tools for phylogenetic studies. Also she has experience in pathogenicity testing for plant pathogens, bioassay techniques, biochemical analysis, and general laboratory methods for assessing host-pathogen interactions. Her MSc. work provided her with a solid foundation in molecular markers of drug resistance, while her current Ph.D. research has extended these skills into plant science, including genetic diversity analysis and biochemical characterization of plant pathogens. Working in the lab feels like home to Ruqayya, and she enjoys the precision, the troubleshooting, and the quiet focus of experimental work.

In a nutshell, Ruqayya sees herself as both a scientist and a mentor, someone who shows up, listens, and keeps learning.