Titi Akinwe

Department of Anesthesiology Featured Member: July 2025

Titi (they/them pronouns) is from Yorubaland (Ondo, Nigeria) and is currently a PhD student in the molecular genetics & genomics program. Before coming to WashU Medicine, Titi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Georgia State University. During their undergrad career, they mostly focused on computational neuroscience but became interested in genomics and its applications to precision medicine through a SURP at Medical University of South Carolina. This interest was further developed through the OGR program at MGI where they narrowed down their interest to the genetic etiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. They are co-mentored by Drs. Joe Dougherty and Meaghan Creed on a collaborative project focused on exploring the epigenetic and transcriptomic landscape of ventral pallidum cells in the context of opioid self-administration mouse models. In their free time, they love community organizing, exploring the local culinary and music scenes, working as a harm reduction consultant at UMSL-MIMH’s Addiction Science Team, dreaming of becoming a DJ on the side, taking nature walks, and cuddling with their cat.