Justus Ekwunife

Alaska, AN  |  ccruise110@gmail.com  |  (838) 667-4942  |  linkedin.com/in/justus-ekwunife

 

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Environmental biochemist with over 4 years of progressive experience delivering measurable impact across agricultural, environmental, and water research settings. Brings a track record of translating complex molecular data into actionable field recommendations, collaborating across cross-functional teams, and adapting quickly to shifting project demands. Equally comfortable in the lab and presenting findings to regulatory stakeholders. Actively seeking research, industry, or postgraduate opportunities in environmental and agricultural science.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Junior Research Scientist June 2023 – Present

Corteva Agriscience | Indianapolis, IN

• Lead biochemical analysis across 12 agricultural test sites, evaluating the effects of novel crop protection compounds on soil microbial diversity, delivering findings that directly inform product development decisions

• Drive field trials assessing nitrogen uptake efficiency in corn and soybean crops, contributing data that improved fertiliser application recommendations by 14% across 3 trial regions

• Execute PCR, ELISA, and spectrophotometric assays on a weekly basis to characterise enzyme activity in treated soil environments, maintaining a 98% sample accuracy rate

• Collaborate with a 6-person cross-functional research team to prepare technical reports submitted to the EPA, developing strong written communication and stakeholder management skills in the process

• Stepped up to independently manage a 4-week field campaign when the lead scientist was unexpectedly unavailable, coordinating sample collection across 3 sites without disruption to project timelines

Laboratory Research Assistant Jan 2022 – May 2023

ExxonMobil Environmental Sciences Division | Houston, TX

• Assessed hydrocarbon contamination levels in water and soil samples collected from 6 active remediation sites, supporting compliance reporting for 2 EPA-regulated projects

• Processed over 300 environmental samples monthly with zero chain-of-custody violations across a 16-month tenure, demonstrating strong attention to detail and procedural discipline

• Operated and maintained HPLC, GC-MS, and UV-Vis spectrophotometers, reducing instrument downtime by 20% by introducing a proactive maintenance log adopted by the wider lab team

• Contributed to a bioremediation pilot study examining microbial degradation of petroleum compounds, helping the team meet a 6-month project deadline despite a mid-project pivot in methodology

• Adapted quickly when the lab transitioned to a new LIMS platform, completing self-directed training within one week and helping onboard 3 colleagues unfamiliar with the system

Environmental Science Intern May 2021 – Dec 2021

Dow Inc. Agricultural Sciences Division | Midland, MI

• Supported a team of 8 scientists conducting water quality assessments across 5 agricultural runoff sites in Michigan, collecting and processing over 150 samples during a 7-month internship

• Performed enzyme-linked assays and basic chromatography analysis to detect pesticide residues in surface water, achieving results consistent with senior analyst benchmarks within the first 6 weeks

• Contributed to a research report on herbicide impact on aquatic microorganism populations, a section of which was incorporated into a peer-reviewed submission to the Journal of Environmental Quality

• Developed time management and prioritisation skills by independently balancing lab duties, field work, and report writing across 3 concurrent projects with overlapping deadlines

Undergraduate Research Assistant Sep 2020 – Apr 2021

USDA Agricultural Research Service | College Station, TX

• Assisted 2 senior researchers in a federally funded study examining the biochemical impact of drought stress on sorghum crop yields, contributing to data collection across a 6-month growing cycle

• Prepared and analysed over 80 plant tissue samples using spectrophotometric and gel electrophoresis techniques, maintaining detailed lab notebooks that passed 2 internal quality audits without revision

• Presented preliminary findings to a department of 15 researchers at the end-of-semester review, receiving commendation from the supervising principal investigator for clarity of analysis

• Took initiative to learn R for basic statistical analysis after recognising a gap in the team's data processing workflow, cutting data turnaround time by an estimated 30% for the final project phase

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry Graduated 2021

University of Nigeria Nsukka | Enugu, Nigeria

Second Class Upper (2:1)  |  Dissertation: Biochemical Effects of Agricultural Runoff on Freshwater Enzyme Activity

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Laboratory Techniques:  PCR, ELISA, HPLC, GC-MS, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, Gel Electrophoresis, Enzyme Assays, Cell Culture

Specialisations:  Soil Biochemistry, Environmental Toxicology, Plant Biochemistry, Bioremediation, Water Quality Analysis

Software & Tools:  GraphPad Prism, ChemDraw, SPSS, Microsoft Excel, LabArchives, R (statistical analysis), LIMS platforms

Soft Skills:  Cross-functional collaboration, scientific writing, stakeholder communication, adaptability, problem-solving under pressure, public speaking

CERTIFICATIONS

• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Certification, 2022

• Laboratory Safety and Biohazard Handling, OSHA, 2022

• Environmental Data Analysis, Coursera (Johns Hopkins University), 2023

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Ekwunife, J. (2021). Biochemical Effects of Agricultural Runoff on Freshwater Enzyme Activity. Undergraduate Dissertation, University of Lagos.

Poster Presentation: Soil Microbial Response to Nitrogen-Based Fertilisers. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Annual Meeting, 2024.