Current Position: PhD Dissertator in Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology and MBA Candidate in Marketing Research
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheikh Omar Jobeis currently finishing his PhD in Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology and MBA in Marketing Research dual degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Washington University with a major in Biology as McNair Scholar. Shortly after graduation, Omar worked for Medtronic Inc., one of the world’s largest cardiovascular medical device manufacturing companies. At Medtronic, he worked as a senior animal research technician with responsibilities including developing study operational procedures and maintaining departmental safety policies, SOPs and guidelines. Working for Medtronic allowed Omar to learn about combining scientific research experience with the businesses of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to better serve the needs of health care consumers and patients. This exposure led him to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he is currently finishing his PhD in Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology and an MBA in Marketing Research. For his excellence in academic achievement and research, Omar has received various merit-based awards including Pfizer SGI President’s Best New Investigator from Society for Gynecologic Investigation and USDA-NIFA-NRI awards from Society for the Study of Reproduction. As a graduate student, his work has led to various presentations at national/international conferences as well as publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals.
In his own words: “Most students understand that college will be different – and harder – than high school, but many minorities including myself do not realize exactly what those differences and challenges will be. More importantly, there are few academic programs that have attempted to counteract the various visible and invisible barriers minorities encounter upon entry to college such as the TRIO McNair Program. The Eastern Washington University McNair Scholar Program provided tools and an outlet for grappling with the competitive demands of academics and economics, the needs of family and the search for meaningful relationships. Moreover, the program provided a blueprint and resources to enter graduate school and various tools for retention. Apart from helping me learn about the rigors of life and academia, preparing for the GREs and building presentation skills, the McNair program gave us the opportunity to travel to conferences and meetings for professional development. It is because of them that we always remember that as TRIO McNair scholars we are here to contribute to the value of the world and adhere to a deep sense of purpose and ultimately increase the number of minority and underrepresented populations in graduate programs.”
