Before Favour Foday began engineering bacteria and researching renewable energy at the atomic level, biochemistry seemed like something abstract and out of reach.

“Initially, I viewed it almost like a story that felt distant and fictional,” says the second-year biochemistry major and bioengineering minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. “However, the collaborative atmosphere here has changed that for me.”

Since coming to the University of Oregon from Sierra Leone, Foday has studied in three different research labs, all focused on different subjects within the chemistry field.

Her goal: Find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, from antibiotic resistance to energy usage.

That goal is what led her to join an undergraduate research group that participates in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, where Foday and her team presented their research on one health approach to antimicrobial resistance in livestock, which can lead to antibiotic resistance in humans.

“It’s a huge issue. Farmers counter pathogens with antibiotics, and when the animals become immune to them, they just give them more antibiotics,” she says. “When this meat is sold in the supermarket, and we eat it, we get micro doses of these drugs, and our bodies become immune to them. If you get sick because of pathogenic bacteria, it is very hard to treat.”

The team developed a method for producing toxin-creating bacteria that target harmful pathogens and without harming beneficial ones. In October, they traveled to France to present their findings to other students studying similar problems within the field of synthetic biology.

— Favour Foday, biochemistry major

Foday’s first research experience at UO involved computation rather than hands-on lab work. During a three-month research period, she used programs like Python, along with 3D models, to simulate the process of phonons, or “pockets of energy,” passing through atoms.

This research helps understand how different alloys within batteries affect things like battery life, efficiency and charge speed. Foday, along with her colleagues, explored the real-life applications of these batteries, especially those used for larger energy generations.

“It is important for us to study the atomic properties of these molecules that are in our phones, in our laptops and in everyday devices to improve efficiency and durability, and to make them long-lasting,” she says.

Her latest research project, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, involves investigating the reverse current phenomenon in alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), a technology that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity.

“AWE is one of the most promising methods for producing green hydrogen, especially when powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind,” Foday says. “But there’s a catch. When the power supply fluctuates, as it often does with renewable energy, something unexpected happens: reverse current.”

Reverse current occurs when the flow of electricity reverses direction, disrupting the reactions needed to produce hydrogen. Instead of generating hydrogen at the cathode, the system may reabsorb it or cause undesirable side reactions. This not only wastes energy but can also damage electrodes, reducing the efficiency and lifespan of the system.

Foday and the graduate student she is working with are studying the effects of combining alkaline with different kinds of metals to see what happens at the atomic level during the reverse current process. They aim to help prevent the energy losses caused by reverse current, while also protecting electrode materials from degradation and improving the efficiency of hydrogen production.

Foday hopes her work will help bridge the gap between renewable energy sources and scalable hydrogen production, contributing to the fight against climate change and the creation of a greener, more equitable future.

“Hydrogen is a key player in the global transition to net-zero emissions, offering a clean alternative to fossil fuels for industries, transportation and energy storage,” she says. “But for hydrogen to truly become the fuel of the future, we must make its production as efficient and cost-effective as possible. By addressing the reverse current phenomenon, my research helps unlock the full potential of AWE systems, bringing us closer to a sustainable, hydrogen-powered world.”

In all of her research, Foday focuses on finding solutions while keeping an open mind. She appreciates learning new information, even if that involves being wrong.

“I’ve learned that research is fundamentally about answering questions we don’t yet have answers to, which adds an element of excitement,” Foday says. “Whether my hypothesis turns out to be true or false, the process of exploring the unknown and gaining new insights is what makes it so rewarding and interesting.”

—By Grace Connolly, College of Arts and Sciences