Hi, I’m Precious Ojo from Ibadan, Nigeria. I attended Livingstone College of Arts and Sciences, and I’ve always known that I wanted to be a researcher. But for a long time, I had no idea how to begin. That changed when I discovered the Next Nobel Research Scholar program.
Why I Applied to the Next Nobel Program
The Next Nobel Scholarship, run by Indigo Research, aims to close the gender gap in high-level academic recognition, like the Nobel Prize, where women currently make up only 6% of laureates. It empowers young women aged 14–19 from all nations with top-tier mentorship, resources, and platforms to grow as future research leaders.
When I saw the program, it felt like the perfect opportunity. I already had some research experience, but I lacked the structure and guidance to lead my own project. I saw it as my chance to actually develop something I’m passionate about with proper support. The mentorship part especially stood out to me, because having someone experienced to guide you makes such a big difference in research. Oh, and the chance to get published? That was huge. I just knew this could help me go from “I’ve got an idea” to “I’m actually contributing something meaningful to the field.”
As a Next Nobel Scholar, I am one of only four students globally awarded a full-ride scholarship valued at $28,000. Through this opportunity, I am being mentored by faculty from world-class institutions—my mentor is from the University of Pennsylvania—and I’m developing original research with the potential for publication. The program also includes the chance to present at the Indigo Academic Conference, earn college credit from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and receive support to submit my work to top journals and conferences. Basically, you’re getting the tools, support, and spotlight to become the next game-changing scholar and maybe even a future Nobel Prize winner.
The Application Process
Let’s just say the application process was not for the faint of heart; it was intense, but also incredibly rewarding. The Next Nobel scholarship didn’t just want an idea; they wanted depth. They asked us to break our ideas wide open, question them, research them, and test them. It wasn’t just “submit your idea and move on”; it was “prove it matters, and prove you’re the one to make it happen.”
What helped was that they gave us a Google Doc template to organize everything before we submitted, which made it easier to keep track. But be prepared to write essays, annotations, bibliographies, the whole deal. It stretched me, but it also sharpened my clarity of thought.
I spent about three weeks preparing my application.
Week 1: Brainstorming, refining my research question, and conducting background reading to identify gaps in current literature. I also reflected on my personal motivations for choosing the topic, how it connects to both global environmental issues and the historic underrepresentation of women’s health in science.
Week 2: Outlining and drafting my essays, ensuring each section was clear and evidence-based.
Week 3: Editing heavily, revising for clarity, and fact-checking all my sources.
Overall, the process helped me sharpen not just my writing but also my scientific thinking. It made me more intentional about connecting passion with purpose and pushing for research that centers communities and issues often left out of the mainstream scientific conversation.
My Research Focus
I wrote my essays on a topic that intersects environmental health, epigenetics, and women’s reproductive biology: how microplastics may epigenetically reprogram the female reproductive system. My central research question was: How do microplastics influence female epigenetic reprogramming, and what are the potential long-term effects on reproductive health? This subject had been on my mind for a while, and the application gave me the opportunity to formalize my curiosity into a focused research inquiry.
Academic Background and Extracurriculars
For my academic background, I sent in my transcripts and WASSCE results. I had a cumulative GPA of 4.85/5.00, combining my Grade 10 and Grade 11 transcripts. For WASSCE, I had eight distinctions and one credit.
While I didn’t submit any traditional extracurricular activities as they weren’t requested, I detailed my research internship at the University of Ibadan's Biochemistry Department. There, I worked in the Drosophila Research Laboratory, gaining hands-on experience in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This internship allowed me to design experiments, collect data, and perform analyses. I also secured a letter of recommendation from my research professor, highlighting my capabilities and the impact I made during my time there.
By focusing on this internship, I was able to demonstrate my ability to conduct meaningful research, as well as my commitment to using research to address important biological and environmental questions, such as the impact of microplastics on reproductive health. My research experience helped illustrate my skills and dedication to scientific inquiry.
Honors and Awards
I focused on highlighting achievements that showcased my academic strengths and potential contributions to scientific advancements:
Girls Who Code Data Science Certificate
Technovation Girls’ Quarter Finalist and Student Ambassador
National Biology Olympiad Qualifier
African Union Mathematics Ambassador
International Youth Mathematics Challenge Finalist
Yale Young African Scholar (Public Health Track)
Scholarship and Financial Aid
The Next Nobel program is a fully funded research scholarship. It covers mentorship, access to academic resources, research tools, and connections to global research communities. Thankfully, there was no separate financial aid application; everything was embedded in the main application.
My Experience So Far
I'm being mentored by an incredible doctor who graduated from UPenn and Emory Med School, and honestly? She’s the real deal. She's brilliant and understands the nuances of navigating the STEM field as a Black woman. We flow really well, and she’s been so supportive, whether it’s breaking down research papers or walking me through complex ideas.
The research process itself is demanding—reading papers, identifying gaps, and learning new research software—but it's teaching me to think critically and ask meaningful questions. I’m starting to understand how to form research questions that actually matter. It’s not just about finding answers anymore; it’s about learning how to ask better questions and being okay with not knowing everything right away.
Advice for Future Applicants
Start early: Give yourself ample time to ideate, research, and write without burning out.
Let your passion lead, but ground it in evidence
Highlight your experiences: Even if you don’t have access to fancy labs, highlight what you’ve done, like internships, certifications, and competitions.
Embrace uniqueness: If your idea is unconventional, that might be your strength.
Identify research gaps: They're looking for impactful questions, not just interesting topics.
Lessons Learned
One significant lesson I've learned is that curiosity isn’t enough; you need structure. It’s great to dream big, but if you can’t clearly map out how you’ll get from Point A to Point B, it’s hard for others to buy into your vision. Structure turns ideas into impact.
Another lesson: Your research matters because you matter. For too long, women’s health has been underrepresented in science. Being able to center that narrative through my work feels not just important but radical and necessary.
I’ve also realized that perseverance and grit are legit research skills. Not every hypothesis will succeed, and not every paper will be immediately understandable. The key is to stay curious and push through uncertainty.
Lastly, be open to change. Don't cling too tightly to your ideas; let them evolve. Feedback, even when it stings, is invaluable. Some of my most significant breakthroughs came from someone pointing out something I completely missed. Stay humble, stay teachable, and let your research grow with you.
