Class of 2025: Tolulope 'Tolu' Odimayomi named Outstanding Graduate Student for the College of Engineering
As a doctoral student, Odimayomi mentored more than eight undergraduate students and hopes to continue to inspire those with a passion for environmental engineering in the next phase of her academic career at Virginia Tech.
Name: Tolulope "Tolu" Odimayomi
College: College of Engineering
Major: Civil and environmental engineering
Hometown: Westfield, Indiana
Plans after post-doctoral completion: Pursuing a career in academia focused on improving water sustainability and equipping future engineering professionals to effectively serve the public
Favorite Hokie memory: Developing connections with faculty, current graduates, and prospective students at the Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Program recruitment weekend potluck
Odimayomi isn’t just an exceptional researcher. She’s the kind of mentor who changes lives. A postdoctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering, she blends scientific rigor with deep compassion, pushing her students to excel while ensuring they feel supported every step of the way.
Odimayomi’s journey to Virginia Tech was anything but ordinary. Before arriving, she had already thrived in Purdue University’s chemical engineering program and completed her master’s degree with a near-perfect GPA. When looking into her future plans, she wasn’t just looking for another academic challenge. She felt a calling.
She came to Blacksburg with a dual purpose: to contribute to public-inspired science and to help establish a new church. Despite the hurdles of exploring an entirely new field and extending her Ph.D. timeline, she embraced every challenge with joy and determination.
Pioneering research in waterborne disease prevention
Odimayomi’s research stands as a testament to her perseverance. To develop her research plan, she reviewed over 60 peer-reviewed papers, building upon her strong foundation in premise plumbing and polymer science from her chemical engineering studies. Her work required a rigorous four-year experiment that delayed publication until its full completion in August 2024.
Odimayomi has presented her research at eight national and international conferences, earning high praise from experts in the field. One of her presentations at Virginia Tech was recognized with an Outstanding Oral Presentation award. Her work will be foundational in developing new strategies to combat waterborne diseases caused by opportunistic pathogens in building plumbing systems. It aims to advance public health and provide engineering solutions to waterborne disease spread.
A passion for mentorship
“Tolu was recruited with prestigious Via and New Horizon Fellowships to Virginia Tech,” said Marc Edwards, University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech. ”She has exceeded expectations at every opportunity in dimensions of service, mentoring, teaching, and research."
Among those dimensions, Odimayomi has always been drawn to mentorship. Her students describe her as passionate, knowledgeable, and kind. She leads by example, inspiring undergraduate researchers through her meticulous approach to water quality research. She works alongside her students to inspire them not just to learn, but to strive to be better.
Odimayomi doesn’t see undergraduate researchers as just extra hands in the lab. She sees them as future scientists and leaders. Whether it is answering questions, teaching new techniques, or designing research projects that align with students’ interests, she invests deeply in their growth. She doesn’t shy away from giving honest feedback, turning mistakes into stepping stones rather than setbacks. And she cares beyond the lab, reminding students that success isn’t just about hard work, but also about balance and well-being.
Her mentorship has already transformed careers. Seven of her undergraduate students were so inspired by her guidance that they nominated her for a Virginia Tech mentoring award. Under her leadership, mentees have secured prestigious Ph.D. placements, been accepted into medical school, and won competitive research grants. One student recalls watching Odimayomi present at an international conference and described her delivery as being so compelling that it outshone even seasoned industry professionals.
Leading with kindness
Odimayomi strives to extend acts of kindness beyond academia, whether it’s advocating for students who feel out of place in the lab, writing anonymous notes of encouragement, or making sure new researchers feel welcome.
"Tolu is a true model graduate student and overall human being,” said Amy Pruden, University Distinguished Professor. “She is brilliant, kind, humble, and never hesitates to help others, whether it is her knowledge, experience, insights, or a helping hand in the lab. She is a careful and dedicated researcher and does not shy away from taking on complicated problems.”
Her dedication to her work was also noted as she was named Graduate Student of the Year for Virginia Tech.
Through her mentorship, Odimayomi exemplifies the best of Virginia Tech’s commitment to fostering future scientists and engineers. As she continues her journey as Presidential Postdoctoral Scholar at Virginia Tech, Odimayomi’s influence will undoubtedly extend beyond the walls of her lab, shaping the next generation of engineers dedicated to making a difference.
