myVU - Resources for Faculty and Staff

Vanderbilt View: Crossing the Bridge

Posted 2/26/2010

When Stephen Babalola was growing up in Nigeria, his father, a U.S.-trained radiographer, encouraged all of his children to pursue studies in science. Babalola had no idea how far that pursuit would take him, or of the additional encouragement he would find along the way.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, Babalola set his sights on graduate school in the United States. Years earlier, a childhood friend had relocated to the states and settled in Nashville. That friend was now graduating from Fisk University’s physics program, and he encouraged Babalola to give it a try.

Fisk proved a good fit, and Babalola finished course work toward a master’s degree in physics in just three semesters. He also conducted research – and built strong relationships – with Fisk professor Arnold Burger and his Materials Science and Applications Group.

With master’s degree in hand, valuable research experience under his belt and now a U.S. citizen, Babalola was ready to join the work force. But a new opportunity would intervene.

To read the rest of this story, go to the Vanderbilt View  Web site here.

---