Dr. Tolulope Olumide Ajewole

Biography

Dr. Tolulope Olumide Ajewole is a Lecturer in the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Nigeria. He obtained a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin, where his doctoral research focused on the morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterization of drought resistance genes in *Basella alba* Linn. and *Basella rubra* Roxb. He also holds an M.Sc. in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry from Ekiti State University and a B.Sc. in Plant Science from the then University of Ado-Ekiti.

Dr. Ajewole's research focuses on plant physiology, plant biotechnology, molecular plant biology, plant stress physiology, phytochemistry, mushroom biotechnology, and sustainable crop production. His work investigates plant responses to abiotic stresses, particularly drought, using physiological, biochemical, and molecular approaches to improve crop resilience and productivity.

Since joining FUOYE in 2018, he has been actively engaged in teaching, research, student mentorship, and academic administration. He currently serves as Staff Adviser to the Plant Science and Biotechnology Students' Association and as the 300-level Students' Adviser. In 2021, he was an Overseas Research Fellow in the Department of Genetics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where he gained research experience in molecular genetics and plant biotechnology.

Dr. Ajewole has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in reputable national and international journals on plant physiology, drought tolerance, plant molecular biology, phytoremediation, crop improvement, plant anatomy, and mushroom cultivation. He has participated in several national and international conferences and professional development programmes in molecular biology, grant writing, academic leadership, and scholarly publishing. He is a recipient of TETFund-supported research grants and is a member of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria (BSN). His research is dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation, climate resilience, and food security through innovative plant science research.

Research Interests

Plant Physiology
Plant Biotechnology
Plant Molecular Biology
Plant Stress Physiology (Drought, Salinity and Heat Stress)
Plant Ecophysiology
Plant Biochemistry

Qualifications

Professional Qualification

Grants