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On the first day of Organic Chemistry at ���������ƽ�� students are given a task. They are asked to write a contract. Before a single reaction appears on the board, they write and sign a contract outlining their goals, study habits and the standards they will hold themselves to. For Associate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Oluseye Onajole, that moment is where transformation begins. “This is not a wish. This is something that you’re willing to work for,” he tells them. It is more than an exercise. It reflects the learning environment Dr. Onajole intentionally creates, one built on accountability, clarity and a deep belief in student potential. “I will not expect from you what you would not expect from me. I will go above and beyond to make sure that you learn.”

A synthetic organic chemist specializing in drug design and discovery, Dr. Onajole teaches organic and medicinal chemistry while guiding students from literature review to lab work. His mentorship produces measurable outcomes. In 2025, his lab coauthored focused on anti-tuberculosis compounds. Across his time at ���������ƽ��, he has published with 19 undergraduate/graduate students as coauthors, demonstrating how undergraduate mentorship can translate into real scientific impact, regardless of student insecurities. “The intimidation aspect is totally removed because I am actively engaged with them. I’m there with my students every step of the way.” In light of his achievements, Dr. Onajole was recently awarded the Research Award at the 2025-2026 ���������ƽ�� Faculty and Staff Awards.

Central to his teaching is reinforcement and clarity. Concepts are revisited and refined until students fully understand them. For Agustin Herrera, a senior biology major from Chicago’s South Side, that approach made all the difference. “He won’t just rush through the material. He’ll come back and reinforce it multiple times if needed.” His steady curiosity and willingness to push beyond his comfort zone quickly set him apart in the lab. Encouraged by Dr. Onajole, Agustin joined ���������ƽ��’s , gaining hands-on experience and growing into a leadership role in the lab. “I was able to step out of my bubble and really go and get research experience that will help me in the future,” he says. Agustin recently presented at the .

Dr. Onajole pairs high expectations with deep confidence in his students. Aileen Saucedo, a senior biology major and Honors and McNair Scholar, recognized that immediately. “He wouldn’t be strict on you if he didn’t believe in you.” Aileen’s drive to take on every opportunity in front of her reflects a deep commitment to both learning and leadership. In his lab, she is exploring compounds with antimicrobial and anticancer properties, connecting chemical theory to real-world applications. “Being able to make novel compounds is an amazing thing, to be able to say that I am making a difference.” With support from the RU PRIME grant, she conducted intensive summer research and presented her findings in California. Aileen was also a recent presenter at the Symposium. 

His mentorship style also reduces intimidation in the lab. Students are guided closely at first, then given independence as they build confidence. Eileen Paleracio, a senior biology major, experienced that shift firsthand. “As the semester went on, I really improved. Now he just leaves us alone sometimes to do our work.” Her quiet confidence and growing independence mirror the discipline she brings to her research. As she progressed in the lab, she became more comfortable making decisions, troubleshooting challenges and trusting her own scientific reasoning. Her work evaluating novel compounds has become the foundation of her Symposium presentation and supports her goal of pursuing a graduate program in healthcare. “I've grown overall more confidence, and not just in the lab. I think I can handle more stress because of that.” In addition, Eileen was also one of Dr. Onajole’s research students in the 2025 RU Summer Research Intensive program.

Another pillar of Dr. Onajole’s approach is prioritizing understanding over memorization. Patrick Bryant, a biology major from South Holland, found his perspective transformed. “I don’t want you to memorize the concepts. I want you to understand them,” Dr. Onajole emphasized. Patrick’s reflective mindset and willingness to rethink how he learns helped unlock a new level of confidence. That mindset reshaped how he approached both coursework and lab challenges. Learning to think critically, explain his reasoning and adapt from mistakes helped him build confidence and prepare for pharmacy school. “Dr. Onajole has taught me to be confident even when I’m wrong. If you're confidently wrong, that's okay. You can also confidently correct.”

Despite the rigor, students describe an environment defined by warmth and care. “He’s a really fun guy, a really caring person,” Agustin says. Students frequently return to the lab outside of class, drawn by both the work and the community. As Dr. Onajole notes, “Our students are very passionate and driven. They find time out of no time to come to the lab.” That safety to explore would not be possible without the hospitable environment created by Dr. Onajole. “I want my students to feel welcome, feel heard and feel that they’re in an environment that they can learn in comfortably.” As Patrick says, “I could not ask for a better professor. I love Dr. Onajole.”

At its core, Dr. Onajole’s mentorship is about transformation. Through accountability, encouragement and hands-on experience, students gain more than technical skills, they build confidence, community and a clear path forward. As he puts it, “my primary goal is to impart that knowledge to you,” a promise reflected in the success of the students he mentors. “Fifty percent of my approach to teaching is motivation. I want to motivate my students to be the best version of themselves.”