Howard University graduate students Olabisis Atofarati and Chukwudi Ikegwu were selected as recipients of the 2026 Katherine S. McCarther Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA), presented by the Ecological Society of America.
Atofarati and Ikegwu, doctoral candidates in Howard’s biology graduate program, are two of the 20 students selected to be part of this year’s GSPA cohort, the university’s first recipients to receive the award since its creation in 2007. The award provides recipients with an opportunity to interact with congressional decision-makers, federal agency officials, and ecologists who work in the science and public policy arena.
Expanding Aquatic Ecology Research
As part of the program, awardees will travel to D.C. for training in science communication, policy and career development, and meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. For Atofarati, a native of Abuja, Nigeria, the GSPA honor “affirms the relevance of my work in ecology and conservation and its connection to science-informed policy,” she said.
Atofarati’s research includes studying fish diets and gut microbiomes across urban and peri-urban aquatic ecosystems. She shared that the program will provide her with an opportunity to directly engage with policy makers to better understand how scientific evidence can inform environmental decision making.
“This award strengthens my commitment to bridging ecological research, conservation practice, and policy,” said Atofarati. “It inspires me to continue contributing to evidence-based solutions that support sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihoods.”
Atofarati’s doctoral focus centers on aquatic ecology, conservation genomics, and molecular approaches to biodiversity research. She’s working under the mentorship of Dr. Lotanna Micah Nneji, an assistant professor of biology at Howard who runs the Nneji Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Conservation (NEGEC) Lab. Her dissertation investigates the diet composition and gut microbiomes of economically important fish species across diverse aquatic ecosystems. Using DNA metabarcoding and ecological analyses, Atofarati examines how environmental conditions influence fish health, productivity, and ecosystem functioning.
“My research generates data that directly informs conservation strategies and fisheries management practices,” Atofarati explained. “Participating in the GSPA program will enhance my ability to communicate scientific findings to policymakers, understand the legislative and funding processes that support ecological research, and translate research into practical, policy-relevant recommendations. Professionally, it will expand my network with scientists, federal agencies, and policy professionals, while also preparing me for future roles that integrate ecological research, biodiversity monitoring, and evidence-based environmental policy.”
Examining Amphibian Biodiversity
Ikegwu, who hails from Ekka, Nigeria, is also part of Lotanna’s NEGEC Lab. His research examines amphibian biodiversity and conservation biology in the global South with a particular focus on understudied African montane ecosystems (distinct, high-altitude habitats located on mountain slopes).
Ikegwu shared that as a GSPA recipient, he’s eager to “engage directly with policymakers, gain insight into how policy decisions influence research and conservation outcomes, and learn how scientists can contribute more effectively to evidence-based environmental governance.”
His research includes integrating machine learning techniques, macroecological modeling frameworks, and advanced spatial analyses to characterize broad-scale biodiversity patterns. This work, Ikegwu explains, aims to identify persistent research and conservation knowledge gaps while assessing the environmental and bioclimatic factors that shape species richness and distribution.
Ikegwu’s research also incorporates projections of global environmental change to evaluate potential future shifts in habitat suitability and biodiversity vulnerability. He conducts extensive field-based surveys using molecular tools and non-invasive environmental DNA methodologies to document species occurrence, refine distribution records, and validate model predictions across heterogeneous landscapes.
“As an early-career researcher, this ESA award signifies an important milestone in developing my academic and professional path,” said Ikegwu. “It emphasizes my dedication to wildlife ecology and conservation science and broadens my opportunities to collaborate with policymakers whose choices impact wildlife protection and ecosystem management. It also enables me to participate in discussions that promote both biodiversity conservation and support for scientists working to protect natural systems.”