FASEB Fellows for the Future

Francis Ayombil, PhD

Francis Ayombil is a biochemist by training and his research interests lie in understanding the biology and regulation of clotting factors and their pathology in bleeding disorders. He desires an academic career due to his passion for mentoring and contributing to new knowledge, particularly in rare bleeding disorders affecting pediatric and adult populations. Ayombil earned his doctorate in biochemistry investigating platelet biology and function in clotting from the University of Vermont (UVM) after pursuing a master’s and bachelor’s degree also in biochemistry from the University of Ghana. He has been a student advocate and leader since his undergraduate years, serving as the vice president of the biochemistry students association and senator of the biochemistry program in the graduate student senate at UVM. He led efforts to create and run a graduate students soccer club, which fostered a community of belonging for most international students who enjoy recreational soccer.

As a member of the career enhancement and training committee of UPENN and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Biomedical Postdoc Association, Ayombil advocated for and helped develop professional development activities and programs for postdocs. For his community outreach, he regularly volunteers for CHOP-based iSTEM in their programed activities in Philadelphia aimed at helping our local community kids with opportunities and exposure to coding games, and food drives for persons in need. 

Through his favorite sports and as a board member for Philly Open Soccer, he volunteered as an after-school soccer coach for deprived elementary schools in the West Philadelphia area, teaching kids about sportsmanship and having fun. As a mentor, Ayombil has, over the years, mentored high school kids from historically underrepresented communities in the greater Philadelphia area through the CHOP RISES program, which brings together and connects brilliant high school kids interested in science to young scientists who look and act like them to advise and inspire them on life and in their career choices of the future. Presently, he serves on the Division of Hematology institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee for the Department of Pediatrics at CHOP and is passionate about advocating for historically underrepresented communities, their needs, and the importance of DEI education and efforts to workplace cohesion and success.

FASEB Member Society: American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics