National Society of Black Engineers - News - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student turns Personal Experience into Award-Winning Research

Samantha Koros — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

There is a photograph Peter Zokoro returns to in his research presentations: two children hunched over their schoolwork late at night, their only light a flickering kerosene lamp. He does not use it for dramatic effect. He uses it because he has lived it.

Zokoro, a master’s student in mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, grew up in Nigeria, where electricity is not a given. That experience became the foundation of his research, research that recently earned him first place at one of the largest engineering conventions in the country.

“You feel the impact of energy in its absence,” Zokoro said. “Not in its abundance. In its absence.”

In April, Zokoro won first place in the Technical Research Exhibition at the 2026 National Society of Black Engineers Annual Convention in Baltimore, competing in both poster and oral presentation categories against students from universities across the nation.

His research focuses on biomass gasification, a thermochemical process that converts waste materials into syngas. Syngas can then be utilized to generate energy, produce green hydrogen and support chemical synthesis. The approach addresses two global challenges at once: the approximately 750 million people worldwide who lack access to electricity, and the roughly 2 billion tons of solid waste generated annually.

He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Lagos State University in Nigeria, graduating top of his class with First Class Honors. He moved to the United States in 2024 to pursue his master’s degree, hearing from a friend back home how supportive ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty are, his choice was made. He quickly immersed himself in campus life while exploring his academic path, earning a graduate teaching assistantship early on to cover expenses. He also joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the campus chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where he now serves as treasurer and international chair, helping build mentorship pipelines and organize professional development opportunities.

During this time, he found his research focus through Dr. Ashokkumar Sharma, his thesis advisor. Sharma’s work centered on two challenges that were deeply personal to Zokoro, challenges he had lived – access to energy and the growing problem of global waste – prompting him to take action. As his learning and research progressed, he began building a research team, recruiting undergraduate students and introducing them to his vision, inviting them to contribute to the project.

“Peter Zokoro is one of the most driven graduate students I have mentored,” said Sharma. “His innovative bioenergy and machine learning research, along with his leadership and mentorship of undergraduates, reflects both depth and originality. His first-place award at the 2026 NSBE Conference reflects his academic and community impact.”

In Baltimore, Zokoro arrived with the research to match his ambitions. Supported by Dr. David Montague, NSBE chapter co-advisor, and other ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students in attendance, he earned first place. Their presence made the achievement all the more meaningful.

“Seeing familiar faces from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in that room while I was presenting meant more than I can put into words,” Zokoro said. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock may not be the biggest school in the room, but we showed up and we won—that matters for every student here.”

The pride he felt was shared by others within the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock community, including his mentors.

“Zokoro exemplifies the hard work and dedication of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. His innovative research resonated with audiences, and his award for best presentation came as no surprise,” said Montague.

Zokoro graduates this May, but the vision behind his research continues to expand — shaped by his lived experiences and the support he found at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He hopes to help build a future where clean energy is accessible everywhere and give new purpose to materials often thrown away.

“For developed nations like the U.S., the vision is energy independence,” Zokoro said. “Reducing and eventually eliminating dependence on fossil fuels by generating clean energy from the waste we already produce. And beyond that, imagine being able to export the green hydrogen generated from this process to other countries and companies that need it. That is a completely new value chain—new economic opportunities built on something we currently throw away.”

For Zokoro, the photograph of two children studying by kerosene light is not just a presentation slide; it is the reason behind his work.

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��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Secure Career Opportunities at National Society of Black Engineers Convention

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:00:34 +0000

Nearly 30 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students attended the 50th Annual Convention of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where they learned valuable skills and made great connections with colleagues and future employers.

“It was a very successful conference, and there were over 18,000 people who attended,” said Faith Shelton, a senior civil and construction engineering major. “I attended the career fair, our regional opening event, and I had one-on-one interviews with several companies. I learned more about potential job opportunities from many companies that I never heard of. I was also able to see how NSBE chapters in our region are working together to accomplish goals. I feel like it was a really good learning experience.”

The students spent their spring break attending the conference from March 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia. The 29 students who are members of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student chapter of NSBE were able to attend the conference with funding provided by the Donaghey College of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics as well as the School of Business.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who attended the conference include Adedapo Adeniyi, Praise Uthman, Adepeju Tugbogo, Lotenna Nwana, Emmanuel Bediako-Tandoh, Tomisin Fowowe, Precious Sani, Emma Egbon, John Ita, Catherine Alemoh, Olakunle Durosomo, Kemisola Kasali, Olanrewaju Oyinbooke, Oyindamola Koleoso, Ridwan Amure, Abiodun Quadri, Racheal Ogan, Oseghale Obeto, Omasan Okpaghoro, Ogooluwa Ojo, Kam’Ron Coleman, Tope Christopher Falade, Tashiba Harris, Faith Shelton, Nzubechukwu Okolie, Antarence Tyree, Anulika Nwashili, and Emmanuel Addai.

The convention provided many networking and employment opportunities for a greater number of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. Only seven ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students were able to attend the NSBE Annual Convention in 2023.

“I learned many valuable things at the NSBE Conference,” said Antarence Tyree, an electrical and computer engineering major. “They have many workshops that prepare you in soft skills like resume building and interviewing. I got to talk to people with a lot of experience, and it was valuable to see the skills that are necessary going forward into this career. I spoke with recruiters about their expectations for up and coming graduates. It was a great spring break, and I really enjoyed it.”

Philip Ojo, a senior mechanical engineering major, is feeling confident after leaving the conference with a job offer to work as a process engineer at Intel starting in June.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students attended the 50th Annual Convention of the National Society of Black Engineers in Atlanta.

“There are many valuable things to learn at the NSBE Conference,” said Philip Ojo. “It can be difficult to get an internship or job through online applications. I remember applying for several positions online and getting rejections. With NSBE, it brings the companies right to us and gives us a chance to tell them what we can do in person. This is a dream come true, and thanks to NSBE, I am able to actualize my dream. That is why I believe this conference is so important.”

Students were immersed in a wealth of opportunities and experiences that have enriched their academic and professional growth while opening doors to promising career prospects.

“Thanks to NSBE, I got an internship in a supply chain department at a company in Columbus, Indiana,” said Emma Egbon, a business information systems and analytics major. “One would think that opportunities are only open to engineering students at NSBE, but there are lots of opportunities for many students, including in the medical field.”

Anulika Nwashili, a graduate student studying bioinformatics, found the experience empowering as she received the People’s Choice Poster Award after presenting her research at the NSBE Technical Research Exhibition. Her research aims to develop more effective Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) drugs by modifying existing drug molecules that have proven to be effective in previous research.

“I had a really great experience presenting my research at NSBE,” Nwashili said. “It was my second time presenting at a conference, and it was fun to communicate with different people and share my research in a positive way. We received the People’s Choice Award, which is a huge highlight for me and puts our chapter on the map.”

Adedapo Adeniyi, a graduate student in business information systems and analytics, and current President of the school chapter received a job offer for a technical sales position while attending the NSBE Convention.

“There are a lot of opportunities to receive job offers and internships at NSBE, and it’s not just engineering,” he said. “There are many different opportunities across STEM fields. This is an opportunity that every student should have. Our goal is to continue growing NSBE at ��Vlog��ýLR and grow the number of students who can go to the conference. We want to have many more students benefit from the conference in the future.”

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Graduate Discovers New Calling at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Tue, 14 May 2024 13:05:24 +0000

After studying computer science as an undergraduate student in Nigeria, Anulika Nwashili was intrigued by the prospect of participating in the cutting-edge research taking place at the at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

“I had heard about COSMOS, and it was such a great opportunity,” she said. “Social computing was a new perspective on an application of computer science. COSMOS research focuses on misinformation, toxicity, and the social media space. I knew I could apply that knowledge to make sure the lives of people on social media are protected. On the other hand, I also heard about the bioinformatics program, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to work with the amazing people in the field.”

In 2022, Nwashili moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Bioinformatics. She graduated during the spring semester with a perfect 4.o GPA at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, where she has experienced much personal growth during her graduate school experience.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting with other international students and people from other parts of the world,” she said. “When it comes to merging schoolwork and research, this has been such a growth process for me. I never thought that I would research these areas. I have grown in terms of work and research and school and building core principles like hard work and resilience.”

As a data research analyst at COSMOS, she has investigated the impact of bots on toxicity in X discussions about the South China Sea as well as analyzed COVID-19 discussions about Uyghur women on X, which led to new insights into the spread of misinformation and hate speech.

As a student researcher in the Center for Molecular Design and Development, Nwashili has been researching novel drug treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her research aims to develop more effective ALS drugs by modifying existing drug molecules that have proven to be effective in previous research.

Nwashili presented this research at three conferences this spring, and she received the People’s Choice Poster Award after presenting her research at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Technical Research Exhibition in Atlanta.

She credits Dr. Nitin Agarwal, director of COSMOS, Dr. Mary Yang, director of the Bioinformatics program, Dr. Jerry Darsey, director of the Center for Molecular Design and Development, and her fellow students in COSMOS for helping her be successful in obtaining her graduate degree. Now she is excited about taking the next step in her future.

“It feels good to come this far and see this as a milestone,” Nwashili said. “The entire journey of two years here is where the beauty lies. I am so grateful for the journey and how far I’ve come. Graduation is a testament to that journey and everyone who helped me along the way. I am so excited about what the future holds. I know for a fact there are greater things to come, and it can only get better.”

After graduation, Nwashili is looking forward to a career in biotechnology and pharmaceutics.

“I definitely want to contribute to a pharmaceutical company,” she said. “My research in drug discovery is dear to me, and being able to get that industry experience would be great for me.”

The post Graduate Discovers New Calling at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock appeared first on News.

National Society of Black Engineers - News - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Student turns Personal Experience into Award-Winning Research

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Secure Career Opportunities at National Society of Black Engineers Convention

Graduate Discovers New Calling at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

National Society of Black Engineers - News - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student turns Personal Experience into Award-Winning Research

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Secure Career Opportunities at National Society of Black Engineers Convention

Graduate Discovers New Calling at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock