Ifeyinwa Madu: Bridging Mathematical Theory and Global Health

By Ugo Aliogo

Ms. Ifeyinwa Madu’s journey into the mathematical sciences is as inspiring as it is impactful. With nearly three decades of experience in academia in Nigeria, she is now breaking new ground through her research at Morgan State University in the United States.

There she is working with Riordan arrays, a powerful combinatorial tool, to model and predict RNA folding, a critical aspect of understanding diseases such as cancer and malaria.

Her work integrates advanced mathematical theory with artificial intelligence tools, marking a significant step forward in computational biology.

In addition to her research, Ms. Madu serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Mathematics, where she mentors students and contributes to the academic growth of the next generation of scientists.

Her passion for STEM began early. In 1986 she was the only female among more than two hundred girls in her class who chose and sat for Additional Mathematics in the West African School Certificate exams.

At the Federal University of Technology Owerri she was again the only woman admitted into the Industrial Mathematics department, later renamed Mathematics and Computer Science.

These experiences reinforced her conviction that science and technology are instruments for national and global development and that women must be encouraged to take their place in those fields.

Before relocating for doctoral studies, Madu helped shape computer science education in Nigeria.

At the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, she rose from assistant lecturer to chief lecturer. She was part of the pioneer faculty that transformed Computer Science from a service unit into a fully accredited department.

The department now offers National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, and Postgraduate Diploma programs.

Hundreds of students passed through her classes and project supervisions, and many now supply vital technical expertise to industry and government.

Since 2021 she has pursued a PhD in Industrial and Computational Mathematics at Morgan State University, maintaining a grade point average of 3.91 on a 4.0 scale.

Her ongoing projects include refining Python-based algorithms for RNA folds of sequences of twenty-five bases or longer.

She is also exploring links between lattice path models and epidemiological frameworks.

Alongside research, she teaches Mathematics 106, 109, 114, and 120.

She has also instructed high school students through the Summer Academy for Actuarial Science and Mathematics and the iQUEST program.

As a graduate research assistant, she has supported journal reviews, presentations, and a funded study on single-cell motility in prostate cancer metastasis.

Madu is also deeply committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.

She volunteers regularly at the Maryland Science Olympiad for high school and middle school students, where she serves as a judge and actively mentors participants.

She has been a judge at the Science Math Engineering Research Fair and similar events, giving young people technical feedback and moral encouragement.

Her dedication to STEM education and community engagement extends through her membership in professional bodies, her work as an external assessor and examiner, and her scholarship for underserved female students.

Her scholarly contributions include two textbooks published in 2013 and numerous journal articles spanning artificial intelligence, health modeling, intrusion detection, and educational technology.

Recognition for excellence has followed her from secondary school to the present, including the Best Graduate Student Service Award at Morgan State University in 2024.