Dr. Hortense Dodo

Expert Bio

Dr. Hortense Dodo is an Inventor, a Scientific Entrepreneur and the President of IngateyGen, LLC., http://www.ingateygen.com/ an AgBiotech company which applies cutting edge technology including Genomics, Proteomics, Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Propagation to develop and produce high value agricultural products to enhance and save human lives.

Dr Dodo is currently an adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Biological sciences at Fayetteville State University (FSU) in North Carolina http://www.uncfsu.edu/ .  She was a tenured and full professor of Food Biotechnology and Molecular Biology at Alabama A&M University (AAMU), Normal, AL for 18 years.  She was first to propose and develop a hypoallergenic peanut via transgenic technologies as a solution to the problem of peanut allergy for which she holds many patents.

Dr Dodo’s research interests are in the conscious use of science and technology to improve human conditions. Her research expertise encompasses bio-fortification of peanuts and yams, plant tissue culture and micro-propagation, gene silencing and the latest genome editing technology. She developed a successful research and teaching program in Food Biotechnology and Plant Molecular Biology at AAMU, the first of its kind at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and trained many Americans and international high school, undergraduate (BS) and graduate (MS and PhD) students.  She has trained and continue to inspire many youths and girls in the US and Africa to embrace the STEM fields. Dr Dodo has been successful in acquiring several million dollars in funding for research, capacity building and student training.  Her company was recently awarded 2 SBIR Phase I awards from the National Science Foundation and a matching grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Dr Dodo was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (CI), School of Biosciences, (2007-08). During her tenure, she worked with the various local stakeholders to establish a program in Biotechnology. She taught the scientific Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and crops. Dr Dodo was the biotech advisor to the Government of CI, and to VITIB (Village of Information Technology and Biotechnology) and was instrumental in establishing a biotech program for the Free Trade Zone of CI (2007- 09) to attract foreign direct investments. She also organized and led a team of scientists and attorneys to draft the 1^st Biosafety regulations submitted for voting to the Parliament of CI in 2008.   

Dr Dodo has travelled extensively as a Scientific and Biotech consultant and science Envoy for the US Dept. of State and many international organizations including: The FAO (Food Agricultural Organization of the United Nation) in Rome (Italy), Vienna, (Austria); The UEMOA Commission (Mali, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal);  The Winrock Foundation’s Farmers to Farmers program (Kazakhstan  and Kirghizstan); The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) in Ibadan (Nigeria); She was invited to lecture on STEMs to young girls and students by many US Embassies including the Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon. She was a leading scientist to propose and teach the importance of science and transgenic Agriculture for Africa and the benefits and challenges offered by the field of Biotechnology, throughout West and Est Africa including Burkina Faso, Benin, CI, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Kenya, Mali, Martinique, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Togo…

She has been honored with many awards including: 1) Women of Excellence Award nomination by the E. City Chamber of Commerce, 2) Appreciation award from the US Dept. of Defense; 3) Lifetime achievement award by Alabama A&M Research Institute; 4) Outstanding contribution to the promotion of transgenic agriculture in Africa by the School of Bio-Sciences of CI;  5) The Sepracor Research Excellence Award by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI);  6) The George Washington Carver Award for Excellence and Outstanding Achievements by AAMU; 7) The Best Researcher of the Year;  8) President of the Biotech Division of the Institute of Food Technology (IFT) and many more…   

Dr Dodo has served as a keynote speaker for many National and International organizations and has presented over hundreds of scientific conferences and abstracts. She has published numerous peer reviewed scientific articles and book chapters.  Dr Dodo is an active member of many professional and scientific organizations. She speaks English, French and Dida fluently and can read and write in Spanish. 

Dr Dodo holds a Bachelor degree, 2 Masters degrees: (1) Animal Science from the University of Abidjan, CI and (2) Food Science, from the University of Georgia in Athens GA, USA, and a PhD degree in Food Biotechnology & Molecular Biology from Penn State University PA, USA.

Dr Dodo is married and has a daughter.