Global Ambassador: Isaiah Mensah

Isaiah Mensah is from Ghana and is pursuing his PhD in Biochemistry in the Purdue College of Agriculture.  

Ambassador Q & A (Questions and Answers)

Why did you choose Purdue?

My main reason for choosing Purdue is the diversity of research areas in the Department of Biochemistry and available state-of-the-art resources.

Please briefly describe your research.

My research focuses on the mechanism of a zinc finger transcription factor on epigenetic regulation of genes and its role in the early stages of cardiomyocyte generation from mouse embryonic stem cells.

How did you decide what to study?

I chose biochemistry precisely because I have always been passionate about understanding the molecular processes that control life.

What was your process for selecting a graduate school?

I was concerned about the caliber of research conducted, the available resources, world ranking, availability of funds, and past students' success.

Where do you spend most of your time on campus?

I spend most of my time researching in my lab in the biochemistry building.

How did you decide where to live?

The main factor was the cost. I also wanted to be close to campus and needed my apartment to be on a bus route.

What’s one thing prospective students from your home country should know about Purdue?

There is a rich community of Ghanaians at Purdue, but also in Lafayette and West Lafayette. There is also a Ghanaian association that prospective students can join.

How do you de-stress in your free time?

I play soccer a lot, and I like to exercise.

How do you keep yourself organized?

I keep a to-do list every day on a sticky note and place them all around my desk to remind me of my daily achievable goals.

What are you hoping to do after you graduate from Purdue?

I plan to pursue a post-doctorate after graduation to gain more independent research experience.

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