Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe

Francisca attended the University of Ife in Nigeria for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She loved her invertebrate paleontology course as a sophomore. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She is currently a Professor and Associate Dean at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Francisca has had many role models within and outside academia who have challenged her to be herself and showcase her talent. One male colleague in particular encouraged her to boldly voice her opinion, which helped to shape her career and her entry into university administration. Francisca plays various roles in her work. Her research is in collaboration with other scientists and covers deposits from all over the world, including different regions of the Americas, Australia, western and southern Africa, Egypt, and Iraq.

Francisca is active in professional associations like AASP – The Palynological Society and Association for Women Geoscientists.

What advice would you give to a girl or young woman who wants to be a paleontologist?

“My advice is to stay true to her passion while being open-minded to a variety of opportunities. Paleontology has proven to be a key player in the puzzle we know today as planet Earth, especially as fossils were among the first clues used for plate tectonics. Ask for help when she needs to. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Instead, it is a chance to learn and advance. Also, she should be proud of every contribution she makes in life and should not allow others to define her success.”

Daring to Dig Interview

In this interview, Francisca talks about her path to a career in paleontology and her research. She also answers the questions:

• What is the hardest thing about being a scientist?

• What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a paleontologist?

This interview was recorded in 2021.

Selected works by Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe

Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., and S.E. de Villiers. 2003. Dispersed organic matter in samples from the western continental shelf of Southern Africa: palynofacies assemblages and depositional environments of Late Cretaceous and younger sediments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 201: 67–88. Link

Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., C.G. Obi, and C.A. Jaramillo. 2005. Lithofacies, palynofacies, and sequence stratigraphy of Palaeogene strata in southeastern Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences 41: 79–101. Link

Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., D.G. Benson, R.W. Scott, J.M. Holbrook, M.J. Evetts, and J. Erbacher. 2007. Re-evaluation of the Albian-Cenomanian boundary in the U.S. Western Interior based on dinoflagellate cysts. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 144: 77–97. Link

Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., M.K. Spencer, C.E. Campbell, and R.D. Haselwander. 2012. A portrait of late Maastrichtian and Paleocene palynoflora and paleoenvironment in the northern Mississippi Embayment, southeastern Missouri. Palynology 36: 63–79. Link

Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E., H. Antolinez-Delgado, and W.K. Awad. 2017. Dinflagellate cyst assemblages, biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of a Paleocene-early Eocene sedimentary succession in the northern Niger Delta Basin: Comparison with low, mid and high latitude regions. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 481: 29–43. Link

Further reading

2018. I loved mathematics and science-related subjects said Prof Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe. Science Communication Hub Nigeria. Link

Bowles, N. 2020. Researchers apply machine learning to study fossil pollen. Missouri S&T News and Events, 16 November 2020. Link

Shillito, L.-M. no date. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe: from petroleum to pollen. Trowelblazers. Link 

Video & audio content

Science in the Virtual Pub: Women in Paleontology Discussion Panel. Panel for Daring to Dig exhibit held 25 March 2021. Video, 2021, via YouTube. Link