Aleke Kuoh •  Chemical Engineer

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I am a

CHEMICAL ENGINEER

Aleke Kuoh

Presented by The Amgen Foundation
MY LIFE
MY PATH
MY WORK
FOR YOU 
MY PATH

How I became a globetrotter, martial artist & chemical engineer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • International Upbringing

    Growing up on three different continents, each with their own very unique culture and vantage point, had a huge impact on how I view the world.

  • Martial Arts

    Practicing Kung Fu requires physical and mental discipline. These habits influenced how I live.

  • Environmental Crises

    Seeing the state of our natural world influenced me significantly. I have a deep desire to find ways to build a healthier world for people and planet.

  • Supportive Teachers

    I had teachers throughout my education who encouraged me to pursue science. Their support helped give me the confidence I needed.

I’m curious about what’s possible if we push our limits.

From my upbringing to my identity, most of my life has been about bringing together different vantage points and embracing challenging problems. When we do that in science — like blending biology, technology, chemistry, and engineering — it unlocks new possibilities, and those are the spaces I want to operate within.

Major Milestones

High School in Switzerland

My educational experience in Switzerland was vastly different from the rigid French school systems I had been exposed to. The multicultural experiences, opportunities and encouragement from  teachers and mentors helped me find the next step in my path.

Earning my Undergraduate Degree

Having a professor at the University of Tampa who believed in me enough to challenge me helped me overcome self-doubt. His help allowed me to move past the mental block preventing me from adjusting to the U.S. school culture and challenging, fast-paced workload.

Pursuing my Masters Degree

After spending some time in labs, I became interested in Chemical Engineering, which eventually led me to my career in biotechnology.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • We often already have everything that we need.

    I think a lot of people don't realize how much is possible with what they already have access to, so they don't take advantage of the things they already have. Learning to recognize and maximize my resources has been an important lesson.

  • Healthy strategies often require good management.

    I don’t like waiting until the last minute to get prepared for a deadline. If I have a six-month project, trying to fit it into two months isn’t effective time management. I’d rather do 5% every day to get to my goal with a lot less stress.

  • The environment you're in can have a big impact on whether or not you thrive.

    I had very different outcomes depending on the school I was in. When the system was rigid and demanding, without a lot of support, students like me who were learning multiple languages could get left behind. It wasn’t until I found the right kind of supportive environments for me that I realized what I was capable of.

MY WORK →

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Stephanie Singleton

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