Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Certification
REVIEWER
Community Service
Selected Publications
Timeline
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AYO EGBONTAN

AYO EGBONTAN

Albany,New York

Summary

Experienced researcher prepared for leadership role in scientific investigation. Strong focus on team collaboration, adaptability, and achieving results. Known for analytical thinking, project management, and problem-solving skills. Trusted by peers for reliability and flexibility in meeting changing needs.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Principal Investigator

01.2023 - Current
  • Assessing the Environmental Impact of Pesticide and Herbicide Pollution: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Practices
  • - Conduct field surveys and sample analyses to measure pesticide and herbicide residues.
  • - Utilize remote sensing and GIS mapping to track pollution dispersion and hotspot identification.
  • - Apply microbial bioremediation techniques to test eco-friendly solutions for pollutant breakdown.
  • - Engage with farmers, policymakers, and environmental agencies to establish feasible and sustainable regulatory practices.

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023
  • Screening of cassava cultivars against phytopathogenic infection-associated fungi in Western States of Nigeria.
  • - Pathogen inoculation of 10 cassava stems
  • - Disease assessment using morphological, epidemiologic studies, and molecular diagnostic techniques for fungi detection in cassava tubers.
  • - Data collection and analysis of variance using SAS 9.4M4 Analytical software package.
  • - Provided recommendations to farmers on cassava stem handling.

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023
  • Enhancing yield and profitability of cassava in southwestern Nigeria through intercropping with maize.
  • - Designing and administering questionnaires to cassava farmers in the southwestern region of Nigeria
  • - Data collection and coding using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp
  • - Farm inspection and diseased cassava stem sample collection
  • - Carried out pathogenicity test on diseased cassava stem varieties.
  • - Determine multigene phylogenetic study of clonal diversity of fungi pathogen strains isolated.
  • - Provided training and recommendations for farmers and Agricultural extension workers.

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023
  • Molecular characterization and identification of Fusarium sp using Next-generation sequencing technology.
  • - Collection of Wheat samples and derivatives from international marketers and local farmers in Nigeria
  • - Optimization of sample collection and extraction of samples free of contamination
  • - DNA extraction
  • - Amplicon production
  • - High throughput DNA sequencing (HTS)
  • - Data sequencing analysis

Principal investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017
  • Field evaluation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) diseases and their impacts on production. Highlights of the research include:
  • - Field setup/layout through experimental design (split-split plot)
  • - Field management and record-keeping
  • - Sample handling and dissection of sample tissues
  • - Disease assessment using Point of Care (POC) and Colony-forming Unit were deplored.
  • - Diseased sample culturing, pour-plating, pure culture isolation.
  • - Identification of phytopathogens through DNA extraction and phylogenetic analysis
  • - Four peer-reviewed journals were published, and three manuscripts were submitted.

Principal investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017
  • Mechanism of intercropping in disease epidemiology of sunflower cultivation.
  • - Field layout in Randomized Complete Block Design fitted into split-split plot.
  • - Evaluation of Pathogen inhibition by allelopathic influence of sunflower.
  • - Evaluation of host alternation because of morphological changes that potentially change microclimates around companion crops.
  • - Evaluation of microclimates in intercropping system
  • - Field management and record-keeping
  • - Sample handling and dissection of sample tissues
  • - Disease assessment using Point of Care (POC) and Colony-forming Unit were deplored.
  • - Diseased sample culturing, pour-plating, pure culture isolation.
  • - Identification of phytopathogens through DNA extraction and phylogenetic analysis
  • - Three peer-reviewed journals were published, and two manuscripts were submitted.

Co-investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017
  • Pathology of sesame and mustard seeds; Importance in quality seed production in Nigeria
  • - Evaluation of the economic importance of seed-borne diseases of sesame and mustard seeds
  • - Biotechnological approach to diseases and injuries of sesame and mustard seeds
  • - Phylogenetic approach to seed-borne fungi, bacteria, and viruses of mustard seeds
  • - Evaluation of storage pathogens in sesame and mustard seeds
  • - Morphology and anatomy of sesame and mustard seeds in relation to transmission of pathogens
  • - Mechanism of sesame and mustard seed pathogen transmission
  • - Recommendations were given to crop farmers and training was delivered to Agricultural extension workers.
  • - Two peer-reviewed journals were published, and two manuscripts were submitted for publication.

Principal Investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017
  • Phytochemical analysis of 76 plant parts (leaves, stems, and roots) of tropical trees for pathogen inhibition
  • - Chemical analytical tests with major domains in thin-layer chromatography and Ultraviolet spectrometry.
  • - DNA sequencing, morphological study, microscopy, and taxonomy keys were deplored for the identification of 10 tropical plants.
  • - Extraction, isolation, and identification of bioactive compounds from plant extracts
  • - Six peer-reviewed journal articles were published, and 3 manuscripts were submitted for publication.

Co-investigator

01.2013 - 01.2017
  • Updates on vegetable viruses in Southwest Nigeria; distribution, prevalence, and coinfection
  • - Field survey of vegetable viruses
  • - Evaluation of viral diseases, incidence, prevalence and severity
  • - Virus detection by ACP-ELISA
  • - Virus detection using RT-PCR
  • - Transformation and the incidence and severity data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the PROC GLM statement of Statistical Analysis System, version 9.2 (SAS 2008).

Customer Care Associate/Social Media Representative

TechMahinra (Service Delivery for Airtel Telecom)
01.2012 - 01.2017
  • - Content creation on Twitter (x) and WhatsApp
  • - Publicity and Advertisement
  • - Brand/Product promotion
  • - Resolving customers’ complaints
  • - Product activation on customers’ devices

Co-investigator

01.2010 - 01.2013
  • Distribution and incidence of Tomato Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in Southwestern Nigeria.
  • - Tomato fields were surveyed for bacterial wilt in ten prefectures in Southwestern Nigeria
  • - Samples collected from the field showing tomato wilt symptoms.
  • - Determination of disease incidence.
  • - Geolocation and mapping; the surveyed sites were georeferenced using GPS map62nd, GARMIN.
  • - Identification and isolation of R. solanacearum.
  • - Bacterial streaming was carried out.
  • - Serological detection was carried out.
  • - Bacterial test and Pathogenicity test.
  • - Training and recommendations were given to the farmers on tomato wilt management.

Principal investigator

01.2010 - 01.2013
  • Evaluation of mycotoxins-producing fungi in maize and wheat consumed in Nigeria.
  • - Sampling of maize and wheat
  • - Isolation of mold
  • - Identification of mold
  • - Multi-mycotoxin assessment of maize and wheat grain using Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.
  • - One peer-reviewed journal was published, and one manuscript was submitted for publication.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy - Plant Pathology

Federal University of Agriculture
01.2019

Master of Science - Environmental Health

University At Albany
Albany, NY
08-2027

Master of Agriculture - Crop Protection (Plant Pathology)

Federal University of Agriculture
01.2014

Bachelor of Science - Microbiology

Federal University of Agriculture
01.2009

Skills

  • Collaborative research
  • Scientific communication
  • Interdisciplinary knowledge
  • Experimental design
  • Research design
  • Microsoft word, excel, powerpoint

Affiliations

  • I.American Phytopathological Society (APS)
  • II. Mycological Society of Nigeria (MSN)
  • III. Nigerian Society For Plant Protection
  • IV. International Society of Pesticidal Plants (ISPP)

Certification

  • 2022 – 2023: Certificate in Economic analysis of compliance of an organization with private standard Committee Linking Entrepreneurship-Agriculture-Development (COLEAD), Belgium
  • 2019 – 2021: Certificate in Sustainable Management of Environment Committee Linking Entrepreneurship-Agriculture-Development (COLEAD), Belgium

REVIEWER

  • - Nigeria Journal of Biotechnology
  • - Nigeria Journal of Plant Pathology

Community Service

Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP), is a world bank assisted project for capacity building, Women Affinity Group Support Officer (WAGSO), - Undertake regular field visits, and surveys to monitor Project Implementation; and identify problems and propose remedial action/alternative course of action to improve project delivery., - Provide direct mentoring and supportive supervision of a cluster of WAGs., - Facilitate training sessions on the role of women in agricultural enterprise and production

Selected Publications

  • aniyu, S. A., Yekinni, B. A., Ajiwe, S. T., Abubakar, I., Ayuba, E., Adesina, M. W., Egontan, A. O., and Popoola, A. R. 2025. Effect of foliar application of mango leaf extract on bacterial leaf speck severity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Kashere, North Eastern Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Plant Protection 39(1):34-44
  • Yekini, B. A., Egbontan, A. O., Alade, O. D and Nwawuisi, J. U. 2022. Viability and seed-borne fungi associated with mustard seed (Brassica nigrum) in South-eastern, Nigeria. The Bioscientist Journal.Vol. 10 (1): 18 -27
  • Yekini, B. A; Egbontan, A. O; Okereke, P. O; Bamidele, A. J and Nebo, A. I. 2022. Preliminary observations on the response of soybean genotypes to frogeye disease under natural conditions in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science.Vol. 26(4):162-168
  • Yekini, B. A., Egbontan, A. O., Olejeme, O. C; Oguntade, M. I., and Mbah, S. O. 2021. Influence of rice dust with different packaging materials on fungi incidence of postharvest rot of sweet potato (Ipomea batata, L.) in storage. Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science. Vol. 52(3):332-338
  • Yekini, B. A., Egbontan, A. O., Oguntade, M. I., Olusola, O. J and Okereke, P. O. 2021. Incidence of fungal organisms associated with Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) fruits and pathogenicity of the isolates in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Mycology. Vol. 13(1): 27 - 34.
  • Yekini, B. A., Egbontan, A. O; Babatunde, A., Olusola, O. J and Nwoke, L. C. 2021. Influence of two tropical plant extracts on seedling growth and germination of groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) seed. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture 52 (3): 332 – 338
  • Egbontan, A. O.,Yekini, B. A; Beckley, F; Aigbokhan, F. O and Babatunbe, A. 2021. Sclerotium rot disease management in sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) with sawdust or ash extract. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture. Vol. 53(2):297-302
  • Egbontan, A. O., Yekini, B. A., Awoyemi, S. O., Adeoti, A. O and Oyeleye, A. D. (2020). In vitro evaluation of some tropical sawdust or ash samples against seed-borne pathogens of sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.). Nigerian Journal of Mycology 12(2): 33-42
  • Egbontan, A. O., Yekini, B. A., Awoyemi, S. O. and Olejeme, O. C. (2020). Alternaria leaf blight disease management in sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) with sawdust or ash extract. Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science 25: 29-38
  • Egbontan, A. O., Yekini, B. A., Nwafor, S. O. and Sanusi, O. O. (2020). Seed-borne fungi associated with improved varieties of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) Seeds in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Mycology 12(1): 40-53
  • Egbontan, A. O., Yekini, B. A., Dada, O. A., Oyeleye, A. D., Olejeme, O. C. and Sanusi, O. O (2020). Fungitoxicity of some tropical ash against seed-borne fungi of sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.). Nigeria Journal of Plant Protection 34(2):27-37
  • Egbontan, A. O., Yekini, B. A., Nwafor, S. O. and Sanusi, O. O. (2020). Effect of sawdust extract of some tropical trees on mycelial growth of seed-borne fungi of sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.). Nigerian Journal of Horticultural Science 25:116-125
  • Ngegba, P.M, Enikuomehin, O.A., Afolabi, C.G., Akintokun, A.K., Egbontan, A.O. and Kanneh, S. K. (2017). Efficacy of plant extracts on Cercospora leaf spot incidence and severity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) In-vivo. International Journal of Current Research 9(12): 607-613
  • Ngegba, P. M, Enikuomehin, O.A., Afolabi, C.G., Akintokun, A.K., Egbontan, A.O. and Kanneh, S. K. (2017). Evaluation of some plant extracts on mycelial growth and sporulation density of fungal pathogens of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) In-vitro, International Journal of Development Research 7(7): 138-144
  • Egbontan, A. O., Clement G. Afolabi, Iyabode A. Kehinde, Ololade A. Enikuomehin, Chibundu N. Ezekiel, Michael Sulyok, Benedikt Warth and Rudolf Krska (2017) A mini-survey of molds and mycotoxins in locally grown and imported wheat grains in Nigeria. Mycotoxin Research33:59–64


Timeline

Principal Investigator

01.2023 - Current

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023

Principal Investigator

01.2017 - 01.2023

Principal investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017

Principal investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017

Co-investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017

Principal Investigator

01.2014 - 01.2017

Co-investigator

01.2013 - 01.2017

Customer Care Associate/Social Media Representative

TechMahinra (Service Delivery for Airtel Telecom)
01.2012 - 01.2017

Co-investigator

01.2010 - 01.2013

Principal investigator

01.2010 - 01.2013

Master of Agriculture - Crop Protection (Plant Pathology)

Federal University of Agriculture

Bachelor of Science - Microbiology

Federal University of Agriculture

Doctor of Philosophy - Plant Pathology

Federal University of Agriculture

Master of Science - Environmental Health

University At Albany

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