Today we’d like to introduce you to Raisa Carmen Andeme Ela.
Hi Raisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Raisa Carmen Andeme Ela. I love my name, and I believe it has a strong influence on my character and personality. Raisa means “leader or female president”, and Andeme is the African name my father gave me, I am named after my father’s eldest sister.
The memories of my life commence at around three years old with the separation of my parents. In one word I describe that period as “Recognition”. Prior to that, my life had been perfect. My parents, my siblings, and I lived in Madrid, Spain, during the diplomatic mission of my father in the kingdom of Spain. Yet so abruptly, I discovered emotions of fear, loneliness, and insecurity, and away from my mother’s overprotection I felt an intense desire to explore the world. I was heartbroken but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally stimulated.
As a child I loved playing, but I still do, I am very much child-like at heart. My strong characteristics include self-assertiveness, compassion, intuitiveness, determination, and directorship. I am a visionary and goal-oriented person.
When I was seven years old some of my cousins won scholarships to study Petrochemical Engineering. As a curious and ambitious child, I enquired from them to learn about that profession that sounded so fascinating. I was captivated by the idea of removing petroleum from the ground, processing it, and creating new products. I was fascinated by the idea of manipulating molecules and creating new things. From that moment I knew I wanted to become a chemical engineer.
I did my pre-school and primary school in the Adventist College of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. I was such a mischievous child. In those years I enjoyed dancing in various modern-dance groups and practicing sports. I loved running and I was quite fast. After completing 7th grade in Adventist College, my father was destined for a diplomatic mission in Pretoria, South Africa. In the South Africa College Private School in Pretoria, I completed my high school education. During my years in South Africa, my life took a drastic turn toward the path to achieving my destiny.
Before I proceed, I’d love to acknowledge my father, Pedro Ela Nguema Buna. When I think of my life in retrospect, I realize all the silent sacrifices, resilience, and vision behind his exemplary parenting style. I can never thank him enough for all he did and continues to do for me.
I was raised in the Catholic faith. I have to recognize that since I was a child, aside from doing all I can to fulfill the religious commandments, I have always been silently curious and compelled to learn deeply about Divinity. Before traveling to South Africa, my maternal grandmother Juana Oyana Edjang instructed me to pray every day. With prayers and commitment I graduated high school as the top achieving student in my generation, I also delivered the valedictory in a very memorable Prize Giving ceremony. Today, after so much growth, I proudly identify as a JESUS Girl. I am a Christian and I love reading the Bible.
When I got to university it was a whole new world. My first years of university were not the happiest of my life. After the separation of my parents, I always lived with my father, and even though I desperately needed a mother, my father did an excellent job shielding and nurturing me. In my first year of university in South Africa, my father was destined for a new diplomatic mission. I was an adult by then, and it was my first time living without that parental protective shield. Suddenly I realized I was in need of guidance, I needed mentors and role models, I struggled emotionally, and I needed help.
All the questions I had suppressed my entire life surfaced. I love my mother, Juana Magdalena Obono Sima Oyana. Yet I wondered why she had to leave, and why up to this day we could never build a strong and stable relationship. My prayer life dwindled, I lost interest in school because I was internally questioning my purpose in life. I felt lonely during those university years in South Africa while simultaneously trying to discern who are the people in my corner I could confide in, and love them back as my tribe. The feelings of loneliness, confusion, and out-of-place heighten. So I took the decision to migrate to the United States of America and complete my education here.
I transferred to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. I would love to discuss the reasons that lead me to that school, but that’s a story for another day. I graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. From there, I moved to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, Houghton Michigan. From Michigan Technological University I graduated with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, and now I am a postdoctoral associate at the National Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Polymers, and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota.
Today, I feel at peace. I am happy, I am growing, I am content, I have been surrounded by exceptional people including my academic advisors and mentors, and I am excited for a bright future ahead. When I think about what has helped me to become a chemical engineering scientist and a stable well-meaning person, I attribute the merit firstly to GOD ALMIGHTY, secondly to parental love and support, and last but not least, all the institutions, professors, mentors, and colleagues that support me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My father paved the way to make my trajectory so much smoother. Most of the challenges I encountered have been social, emotional, and psychological. I am self-confident, and determined. Also, having a child-like heart helps me to recover quickly from awful situations. To give an example, I am the first female chemical engineer in my family. I am also the first person to hold a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in my family.
As an African woman, I am considered to have shattered a glass ceiling. What I learned from this experience is that whenever you pursue an unconventional objective you will be confronted with resistance from traditionalists. How I approach this is by maintaining my calm, thinking objectively, persevering, and finding my tribe.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
To the glory of GOD, I am a chemical engineering scientist. Currently, I am working on transforming biomass-derived molecules into hydrocarbon fuels, chemicals, and materials, as potential sustainable substitutes for the fossil-fuel-derived versions we utilize today. The key factor is designing a suitable catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that facilitates these transformations by making the process faster and cheaper.
Additionally, I am the founder of Rai StarAlla™️, a company that produces customized natural cosmetic products for hair, scalp, and skin care. I want to believe that I am known for having a strong work ethic, being passionate, and being very gregarious. I have been privileged to receive various prestigious awards, including the Mistletoe Research Fellowship in 2022, but I am most proud of myself for never giving up and asking for help whenever I need it.
I believe my originality and my unique combination of educational background, and social and cultural experiences set me apart. I always make sure, in any setting of life I find myself always contributing as much as I can, maintaining an optimistic mindset, and giving my all. I believe this is what makes me a memorable person, the love I transmit to my environment.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To dream continuously, to be practical, to persevere, and to be honest.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.raisaelaphd.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raistaralla/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raisa-carmen-andeme-ela-1bb6851b8
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/raisa_ela?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.raistaralla4229
