From Classroom to Career: how NCCU’s BRITE program transformed one student’s path

When Oderah Udemadu started studying chemistry as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, he had no idea his journey would take a different turn. It wasn’t until friends introduced him to the Biomedical Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) at North Carolina Central University in Durham that he discovered an opportunity too good to pass up. 

That decision ultimately set him on a path that led to a career at Merck.

“I was still young and figuring things out,” Udemadu recalls. “Chemistry was a passion of mine, and BRITE’s pharmaceutical sciences B.S. degree let me expand into the life sciences while keeping my foundation in chemistry. It wasn’t something I planned, but everything just fell into place.”

With a dual focus on health research and workforce development, BRITE prepares undergraduate and graduate students with the skills and hands-on training to step directly into high-demand life sciences careers. 

“What drew me to BRITE was the level of support, the cutting-edge facilities, and the strong student resources,” said Udemadu. “It was clear the focus wasn’t just on academics but also on real-world training.”

Practical experiences 

The BRITE program and its partnerships with local universities provided Udemadu with critical hands-on training in cell culture and lab techniques. This provided a strong foundation that made his transition into the industry seamless. 

He gained key research experience by working as a research assistant at NCCU’s Julius L. Chambers Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Institute. He also participated in the Partners Research Educational Program, a collaboration between NCCU and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center that offers undergraduate students training in cancer biology and public health research, aiming to develop a workforce dedicated to eliminating cancer health disparities. 

“The Partners Research program gave me the valuable opportunity to see what it was like to conduct cancer research at an R1 institution,” said Udemadu. “I also attended scientific conferences, notably, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).” 

Udemadu said that seeing people from different backgrounds “in these spaces helped me envision my own path forward at a very impressionable stage in my career.”

Making connections

Networking is another key aspect of BRITE, and through the program, Udemadu had the opportunity to attend Merck’s inaugural HBCU Day in 2019 at the company’s Maurice R. Hilleman Center for Vaccine Manufacturing in Durham, hosted by the League of Employees of African Descent, Merck’s first Employee Business Resource Group.

“I had assumed you needed a Ph.D. to work in biotech or pharma, but connecting with others showed me that wasn’t the case,” he said. “Through such opportunities and networking, I was able to find my place at Merck.”

Udemadu now works at Merck as a process engineer, a position that involves cross-functional collaboration to implement and refine manufacturing processes for medicines and vaccines.

“The BRITE program gave me not only technical expertise but also the problem-solving and teamwork skills I needed to be successful,” said Udemadu. “When I joined Merck at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, these skills were immediately valuable for the COVID-19 project I worked on.”

Bringing different perspectives 

Udemadu points out that having different perspectives in the workforce is essential for innovation and business success, helping to bring fresh views to problem-solving. By connecting students to real opportunities in research and industry, BRITE helps students make a meaningful impact on both the workforce and the businesses that hire.

Udemadu said he has benefited from those connections.

“I’ve had the privilege of leading Merck's HBCU Day events for the last two years, knowing how important it is to support students as they enter the workforce,” he said.