Dr Helen Onyeaka PhD, MSc, BSc

Dr Helen Onyeaka

School of Chemical Engineering
Associate Professor

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 121 414 5292
Email
h.onyeaka@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@DrOnyeaka
View my research portal
Address
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Dr Helen Onyeaka is an industrial microbiologist with over 25 years of experience. Her career in microbiology to date has been varied with experience gained in industry as well as academia (both teaching and research).

Dr Onyeaka lectures and leads modules on various postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Food Microbiology, Food Safety and Chemical Engineering. She supervises PhD and MSc research projects related to industrial microbiology. She also plans and delivers training for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), including courses for Food Safety Inspection Officers, the food industry and international trainees from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. 

Dr Onyeaka’s PhD researched the impact on individual microbial cells due to a changing microenvironment with regard to their physiology and metabolic pathway and suggested how this knowledge could be used to predict as well as optimize future process performances in the industry. She received the Bridon postgraduate and IChemE Biochemical Engineering award for this doctorate thesis.

Helen is married and a mother of three and enjoys travelling, reading and charity work.

Qualifications

  • Fellow of HEA 2017
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, 2017
  • Prince 2 – Project Management, 2012
  • PGCE in Biology from Warwick University, 2008
  • PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham, 2004
  • MSc in Biomedical Sciences, Wolverhampton University, 1998
  • BSC in Industrial Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, 1991

Member of:

  • The Institute of Biomedical Science
  • Society for General Microbiology
  • Biochemical Engineering Subject Group (IChemE)
  • Institute of Biology
  • Society of Chemical Industries
  • The European Federation of Biotechnology, Society for Applied Microbiology

Biography

Dr Helen Onyeaka graduated with a BSc in Industrial Microbiology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria in 1991. She then furthered her studies in Wolverhampton University obtaining an MSc in Biomedical Sciences in 1998 to then later obtain her PhD in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham in 2004. Helen worked as a research assistant from 1998 to 2000 and October 2003 to January 2005. She later assumed a position of research fellow in October 2004 at the University of Birmingham. Since 2013, she is a full time staff in the Chemical Engineering Department.

Helen was awarded the Bridon postgraduate award for the best PhD project in 2003 as well as a prize at the IChemE Biochemical Engineering Subject Group Postgraduate Research Event (2002) for the best poster presentation. She also worked and was acknowledged in the production of an over-the-counter male fertility kit now marketed as Fertell®. (Development of a novel home sperm kit - Björndahl et al. Human reproduction (2005) Vol. 21 (1): 145). She also received an award from the Royal Academy of Engineering for the 11th European Congress on Biotechnology in Basel, Switzerland in 2003, and raised funds from different societies and companies for payment and travel expenses to different conferences. For the past three years she has been involved in the production of a training manual as well the training and teaching of adults in the voluntary sector.

Currently an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, she delivers lectures on a variety of microbiology topics and laboratory classes to undergraduates and postgraduates in the Food Safety, Hygiene and Management Masters/MSc/PG Diploma/PG Certificate as well as to MSc Environmental Health and MSc in Public and Environmental Health Sciences. She also lectures bioprocess engineering to chemical engineering students. Helen’s research focuses on food safety and sustainable microbial bioprocessing.

Teaching

  • Delivers lectures on a variety of microbiology topics and laboratory classes to undergraduates and postgraduates in the Food Safety, Hygiene and Management Masters/MSc/PG Diploma/PG Certificate
  • Lectures on a variety of microbiology topics and laboratory classes to postgraduates MSc Environmental Health and MSc in Public and Environmental Health Sciences
  • Teaches first year Chemical Engineering students 
  • Delivers lectures and produces basic microbiology training-materials for the bi-annual Food Hygiene Premises Inspection course at the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA) and SFDA Food Microbiology and Food Manufacturing and Chinese Summer school
  • Oversees specific modules within the above courses
  • Organises CPD training on current food related issues
  • Responsible for dissertation supervision on undergraduate and MSc programmes

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Onyeaka supervises PhD and MSc research projects related to Food safety and microbiology, environmental bioremediation, sustainable bioprocessing, and food waste valorization.

Research

Research Themes

  • Microbial responses to environmental stress 
  • Use of natural preservatives in food processing
  • Food fermentation processing
  • Safety of reformulated foods
  • Food safety, quality and spoilage
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Food waste valorisation

Other activities

Poster/Oral Presentation

  • 11th European Congress on Biotechnology (ECB11), held at the Convention Centre in Basel Switzerland from 24-29 August 2003
  • The Spring Colloquium, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK, 2003
  • Young Engineers Reception, House of Commons, Westminster, London, UK, December 2002
  • The Biochemical Engineering Subject Group (IChemE) meeting, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Cambridge, UK, December 2002
  • Presented at The University of Birmingham School seminar November, 2002
  • Society for General Microbiology meeting, Loughborough, UK, September, 2002

  • 2nd international conference on “Analysis of microbial cells at the single cell level”, Vejle, Denmark, June, 2002

Academic Awards and Achievements

  • Worked and acknowledged in the production of “over the counter” male fertility kit now marketed as "Fertell". (Development of a novel home sperm kit - Björndahl et al. Human reproduction (2005) Vol. 21 (1): 145)
  • Won the Bridon postgraduate award for the best PhD project in 2003
  • Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering for the 11th European Congress on Biotechnology, Basel, Switzerland, 2003
  • Won a prize at the IChemE Biochemical Engineering Subject Group Postgraduate Research Event (2002) for the best poster presentation
  • Performed consultancy work for 3M Science and pH7 and is now a speaker for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
  • Raised funds from different societies and companies for payment and travel expenses to different conferences. For the past three years, she has been involved in the production of a training manual and also in the training and teaching of adults in the voluntary sector.
  • In collaboration with her local church, Dr Onyeaka supports various mental health organisations across Birmingham. Her community also supports those in need with material or financial donations around Birmingham and worldwide. 

Publications

  • Helen N. Onyeaka, Ozioma F. Nwabor., Food Preservation and Safety of Natural Products - Elsevier Science, 2022.  ISBN 0323857000, 9780323857000
  • Onyeaka, H., Tamasiga, P., Agbara, J.O., Mokgwathi, O.A. and Uwishema, O., 2022. The use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19: Panacea or enigma?. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, p.101074.
  • Tamasiga, P., Guta, A.T., Onyeaka, H. and Kalane, M.S., 2022. The impact of socio-economic indicators on COVID-19: an empirical multivariate analysis of sub-Saharan African countries. Journal of Social and Economic Development, pp.1-18.
  • Onyeaka, H., Ukwuru, M., Anumudu, C. and Anyogu, A., 2022. Food fraud in insecure times: challenges and opportunities for reducing food fraud in Africa. Trends in Food Science & Technology.
  • Onyeaka, H., Passaretti, P., Miri, T. and Al-Sharify, Z.T., 2022. The safety of nanomaterials in food production and packaging. Current Research in Food Science.
  • Onyeaka, H., Nwabor, O., Jang, S., Obileke, K., Hart, A., Anumudu, C. and Miri, T., 2022. Sous vide processing: a viable approach for the assurance of microbial food safety. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
  • Onyeaka, H., Obileke, K., Makaka, G. and Nwokolo, N., 2022. Current research and applications of starch-based biodegradable films for food packaging. Polymers, 14(6), p.1126.
  • Nwaiwu, O. and Onyeaka, H., 2022. New model high temperature pasting analysis of fermented cassava granules. Fermentation, 8(2), p.89.
  • Lawal, L., Aminu Bello, M., Murwira, T., Avoka, C., Yusuf Ma'aruf, S., Harrison Omonhinmin, I., Maluleke, P., Tsagkaris, C. and Onyeaka, H., 2022. Low coverage of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa: current evidence and the way forward. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 18(1), p.2034457.
  • Nwaiwu, O. and Onyeaka, H., 2022. New Model High Temperature Pasting Analysis of Fermented Cassava Granules. Fermentation 2022, 8, 89.
  • Ekwebelem, O.C., Onyeaka, H., Yunusa, I., Miri, T., Onwuneme, Y.M., Eunice, A.T., Anyogu, A., Obi, B. and Carol, N.A., 2022. Do we trust the government? Attributes of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance in Nigeria. AIMS Medical Science, 9(2), pp.268-282.
  • Onyeaka, H., Kalane, M.S., Guta, A.T. and Tamasiga, P., 2022. Food fraud amid COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Public Health, 3, p.100234.
  • Uwishema, O., Taylor, C., Lawal, L., Hamiidah, N., Robert, I., Nasir, A., Chalhoub, E., Sun, J., Akin, B.T., Adanur, I., Onyeaka, H., and Mwazighe, R.M., 2022. The syndemic burden of HIV/AIDS in Africa amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic. Immunity, inflammation and disease, 10(1), pp.26-32.
  • Nwaiwu, O. and Onyeaka, H., 2021. Acquired Antimicrobial Resistance Genes of Escherichia coli Obtained from Nigeria: In silico Genome Analysis. Journal of food quality and hazards control, 8(4), pp.186-189.
  • Ghosh, S., Falyouna, O., Malloum, A., Othmani, A., Bornman, C., Bedair, H., Onyeaka, H., Al-Sharify, Z.T., Jacob, A.O., Miri, T. and Osagie, C., 2021. A general review on the use of advance oxidation and adsorption processes for the removal of furfural from industrial effluents. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, p.111638.
  • Onyeaka, H., Miri, T., Hart, A., Anumudu, C., and Nwabor, O., 2021 Application of Ultrasound Technology in Food Processing with emphasis on bacterial spores, Food Reviews International
  • Dada, A.C., Somorin, Y.M., Ateba, C.N., Onyeaka, H., Anyogu, A., Kasan, N.A. and Odeyemi, O.A., 2021. Microbiological hazards associated with food products imported from the Asia-Pacific region based on analysis of the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) notifications. Food Control, 129, p.108243.
  • Onyeaka, H., Miri, T., Obileke, K., Hart, A., Anumudu, C. and Al-Sharify, Z.T., 2021. Minimizing carbon footprint via microalgae as a biological capture. Carbon Capture Science & Technology, p.100007.
  • Haindongo, N., Anyogu, A., Ekwebelem, O., Anumudu, C. and Onyeaka, H., 2021. Antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and mint (Mentha piperta) on Escherichia coli biofilms. Food Science and Applied Biotechnology, 4(2), pp.166-176.
  • Onyeaka, H., Ekwebelem, O.C., Eze, U.A., Onwuka, Q.I., Aleke, J., Nwaiwu, O. and Chionuma, J.O., 2021. Improving food safety culture in Nigeria: A review of practical issues. Foods, 10(8), p.1878.
  • Anyogu, A., Olukorede, A., Anumudu, C., Onyeaka, H., Areo, E., Adewale, O., Odimba, J.N. and Nwaiwu, O., 2021. Microorganisms and food safety risks associated with indigenous fermented foods from Africa. Food Control, p.108227.
  • Onyeaka, H., Anumudu, C.K., Al-Sharify, Z.T., Egele-Godswill, E. and Mbaegbu, P., 2021. COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the global lockdown and its far-reaching effects. Science Progress, 104(2), p.00368504211019854.
  • Bandehali, S., Miri, T., Onyeaka, H. and Kumar, P., 2021. Current state of indoor air phytoremediation using potted plants and green walls. Atmosphere, 12(4), p.473.
  • Onyeaka, H., Agbugba, I., Ekwebelem, O.C., Anumudu, C., Anyogu, A., Odeyemi, O. and Agbagwa, S., 2021. Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Malnutrition in Nigeria. European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, pp.103-109.
  • Umenweke, G., Adesanya, Z., Onyeaka, H. and Miri, T., 2021. Modular bio-refinery simulation of Nesogordonia papaverifera by fast pyrolysis (FP): a focus on bio-oil enhancement. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp.1-11.
  • Obileke, K., Onyeaka, H., Meyer, E.L. and Nwokolo, N., 2021. Microbial fuel cells, a renewable energy technology for bio-electricity generation: A mini-review. Electrochemistry Communications, p.107003.
  • Obileke, K., Onyeaka, H. and Nwokolo, N., 2021. Materials for the design and construction of household biogas digesters for biogas production: A review. International Journal of Energy Research, 45(3), pp.3761-3779.
  • Obileke, K., Nwokolo, N., Makaka, G., Mukumba, P. and Onyeaka, H., 2021. Anaerobic digestion: Technology for biogas production as a source of renewable energy—A review. Energy & Environment, 32(2), pp.191-225.
  • Hart, A., Anumudu, C., Onyeaka, H. and Miri, T., 2021. Application of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide in improving food shelf-life and safety by inactivating spores: a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, pp.1-12.
  • Ekwebelem, O.C., Yunusa, I., Onyeaka, H., Ekwebelem, N.C. and Nnorom-Dike, O., COVID-19 vaccine rollout: will it affect the rates of vaccine hesitancy in Africa?. Public health, pp.S0033-3506.
  • Anumudu, C., Hart, A., Miri, T. and Onyeaka, H., 2021. Recent Advances in the Application of the Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin in the Inactivation of Spore-Forming Bacteria in Foods. Molecules, 26(18), p.5552.
  • Onyeaka, H., Al-Sharify, Z.T., Ghadhban, M.Y. and Al-Najjar, S.Z., 2021. A review on the advancements in the development of vaccines to combat coronavirus disease 2019. Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research, 10(1), p.6.
  • Al-Sharify, Z.T., Nussrat, H.H., Al-Najjar, S.Z., Onyeaka, H. and Al-Sharify4and, N.T., 2021. The emergence of COVID-19 and its pandemic potentialas a global health security threat and its effect on future life strategy. System Rev Pharm, 12(3), pp.259-269.
  • Mustapha, A.N., Onyeaka, H., Omoregbe, O., Ding, Y. and Li, Y., 2021. Latent heat thermal energy storage: A bibliometric analysis explicating the paradigm from 2000–2019. Journal of Energy Storage, 33, p.102027.
  • Omoregbe, O., Mustapha, A.N., Steinberger-Wilckens, R., El-Kharouf, A. and Onyeaka, H., 2020. Carbon capture technologies for climate change mitigation: A bibliometric analysis of the scientific discourse during 1998–2018. Energy Reports, 6, pp.1200-1212.
  • Obileke, K., Onyeaka, H., Omoregbe, O., Makaka, G., Nwokolo, N. and Mukumba, P., 2020. Bioenergy from bio-waste: a bibliometric analysis of the trend in scientific research from 1998–2018. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp.1-16.
  • El Kadri, H., Alaizoki, A., Celen, T., Smith, M. and Onyeaka, H., 2020. The effect of low-temperature long-time (LTLT) cooking on survival of potentially pathogenic Clostridium perfringens in beef. International journal of food microbiology, 320, p.108540.
  • Omoregbe, O., Mustapha, A.N., Steinberger-Wilckens, R., El-Kharouf, A. and Onyeaka, H., 2020. Carbon capture technologies for climate change mitigation: A bibliometric analysis of the scientific discourse during 1998–2018. Energy Reports, 6, pp.1200-1212.
  • Obileke, K., Onyeaka, H., Omoregbe, O., Makaka, G., Nwokolo, N. and Mukumba, P., 2020. Bioenergy from bio-waste: a bibliometric analysis of the trend in scientific research from 1998–2018. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp.1-16.
  • Obileke, K., Mamphweli, S., Meyer, E.L., Makaka, G., Nwokolo, N. and Onyeaka, H., 2020. Comparative Study on the Performance of Aboveground and Underground Fixed‐Dome Biogas Digesters. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 43(1), pp.68-74.
  • Putu Virgina Partha Devanthia, Robert Linforthb, Helen Onyeaka, Konstantinos Gkatzionisa (2017) Effects of co-inoculation and sequential inoculation of Tetragenococcus halophilus and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii on soy sauce fermentation
  • Christopher J. Hewitt, Helen Onyeaka, Gareth Lewis, Ian W. Taylor, Alvin W. Nienow (2007) A comparison of high cell density fed-batch fermentations involving both induced and non-induced recombinant Escherichia coli under well-mixed small-scale and simulated poorly-mixed large-scale conditions Biotechnology and Bioengineering Vol.96(3):495-505)
  • H Onyeaka, CJ Hewitt, AW Nienow. 2004. Further Studies Related to the Scale-up of High Cell Density Recombinant E.coli Fed-Batch Fermentations (In 5th European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering .Science, Stuttgart, Germany Sept 2004, Stuttgart, Germany, Inst. Biochem. Eng, 122).
  • Helen Onyeaka, Alvin W. Nienow and Christopher J. Hewitt (2003) Studies related to the scale-up of high cell density E. coli fed-batch fermentations using multi-parameter flow cytometry: effect of a changing micro-environment with respect to pH. Biotechnology Bioengineering. Vol.  84(4): 474-84.
  • Ivic A, Onyeaka H, Girling A, Brewis A, Ola B, Hammadieh N, Papaioannou S, Barratt CL.(2002) Critical evaluation of methylcellulose as an alternative medium in sperm migration tests. Human Reproduction Vol. 17 pp 143- 149.
  • Helen Onyeaka Single cell microbial analysis (2003). Biomedical Scientist VOL 47; PART 1, pages 29-30.

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