Tony Kabilan Okeke, the 21-year-old 2018 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Science Quiz Champion, has achieved extraordinary academic success in the United States. On June 13, 2024, Okeke graduated from Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with double degrees in Biomedical Engineering, earning both a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) with summa cum laude – First Class with the highest distinction in both degrees.
Okeke left Nigeria in the fall of 2019 to pursue a 5-year accelerated dual degree program at Drexel University's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems. Specializing in Bioinformatics (M.Sc.) and Neuroengineering (B.Sc.), he consistently demonstrated academic excellence, securing a spot on the Drexel University Dean’s List every term from 2019 to 2024.
"Tony’s academic journey at Drexel has been exemplary," noted university sources. "His deep understanding and innovative application of complex concepts in data structures, algorithms, bioinformatics, and machine learning have been exceptional. His passion for learning new technologies and his contributions to various projects are a testament to his insatiable curiosity."
One of Okeke’s significant achievements was the development of a sophisticated machine-learning pipeline for predicting biological functions from genome-wide transcriptomic data. This project involved processing 11,000 RNA-sequencing datasets using Google Cloud resources, optimizing multiple models to enhance performance. His work garnered recognition from the USA Society of Toxicologists, leading to an invitation to present at the Society of Toxicology’s 63rd Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, in March 2024.
Okeke also collaborated with Moberg Analytics and Dr. Dmitriy Petrov at Penn Presbyterian Medical Centre to develop a novel machine learning algorithm for treatment planning in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Their research was showcased at the 50th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC) in Hoboken, New Jersey, in April 2024, where their poster presentation was well received.
In addition to his academic coursework, Okeke excelled in high-impact industry research internships. At Penn Medicine during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he investigated biomarkers for immune activation and neuro-injury, contributing to a better understanding of COVID-19's impact on patients. His work led to high-impact publications and presentations at the Critical Care Congress Meeting in Puerto Rico in 2022.
During his internship at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Okeke developed numerous data analysis packages, advancing GSK’s data science capabilities to investigate toxicity mechanisms. He also founded Meddibia, an interdisciplinary team that developed an AI-powered iOS application to aid healthcare workers in underserved communities, winning the Philly CodeFest Collaborative Team Award in 2023.
In May 2024, Okeke's Meddibia team won the Startup Fund Competition organized by Drexel’s Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship, receiving grants, mentoring, and incubation services. Okeke described the rigorous selection process, including detailed pitches and market analysis, which culminated in their victory.
Okeke's exceptional achievements have earned him several accolades, including induction into the USA National Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi, and a nomination for membership in the Scientific Research Honor Society, Sigma Xi. He has also won multiple research awards, including the Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee Professional Development Award from the Health Environmental and Safety Institute.
Beyond his academic and technical prowess, Okeke demonstrated leadership by co-founding Drexel Computational Design (DCD) and mentoring peers. The DCD, recognized as the New Student Organization of the Year in 2022, provided peer tutoring in programming courses, fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment.
Tony Okeke’s journey from Enugu, Nigeria, to achieving double First Class honors in the US stands as a beacon of excellence and inspiration for young scholars worldwide. His contributions to biomedical engineering and his dedication to learning and innovation highlight a promising future for this exceptional young scientist.
