Eruysalam Bedasso

Eruysalam Bedasso

Eruysalam Bedasso came to the United States from Ethiopia because, as she said, “if you work hard and have the determination you can accomplish anything here.”

Bedasso has done just that. Since arriving in Chicago in 2004 as a high school sophomore, she has learned a new language and culture, secured her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and on Dec. 12 she earned her Ph.D. in chemistry.

When she arrived at NIU to begin her Ph.D. work, she said she didn’t know a lot about the field of nano technology. But she began studying with chemistry Professor Narayan S. Hosmane and the exciting research he was conducting on boron biomolecules and nanostructured materials for cancer therapy.

She says fell in love with this new field. Now her own research in nano structures for boron neutron capture therapy has contributed to identifying new compounds that could advance cancer treatment.

Bedasso plans to bring all her knowledge and research experiences back to the classroom. She plans to teach chemistry and nanotechnology.