Nana Kwame Kwabi Boateng engaging in hematology workshop to help advance collaboration, research

As Nana Kwame Kwabi Boateng sees it, the best science happens when people come together. Collaboration, he believes, is what turns individual ideas into discoveries that matter.

That spirit of connection is what makes his selection as an ambassador for the 2025 Students Exploring Academic Research Careers in Hematology (SEARCH) Workshop so meaningful. Hosted by the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society (HTRS), the program gives him a chance to merge his passions for mentorship, student engagement, and biomedical science.

This fall, Nana will travel to Milwaukee, Wis., to actively engage with like-minded researchers from across the country. SEARCH is a national program designed to open doors for the next generation of scientists. It introduces undergraduate, graduate, medical, doctoral, and pharmacy students to careers in hematology (the study of blood and blood disorders, including conditions related to clotting and bleeding).

Over several days, SEARCH participants will immerse themselves in interactive panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with experts and mentors. The goal is not only to share knowledge but also to create connections that last well beyond the workshop, supporting HTRS’s mission of building a strong future workforce in the field.

For Nana, who attended last year, the experience cemented his interest in hemostasis and thrombosis research. He recalls how facilitators shared the paths they took to enter biomedical research, offering valuable lessons and guidance for students on their own journeys. This year, as an ambassador, Nana aims to pay it forward by guiding attendees and supporting them as they explore their own paths in biomedical research.

Mentorship, in fact, is a theme that runs through his work. Last summer, Nana mentored MSU undergraduate Riley Wimberley through the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow (SURF) program.

Riley went on to present the findings of their research earlier this year at the HTRS Scientific Symposium through a platform presentation. The experience, Nana said, deepened his commitment to helping future scientists find their way.

Nana’s efforts took another step in the recent 35th Phi Zeta Research Day where he was was recognized for his research with the Best Oral Presentation Award, highlighting both his skill in communicating complex scientific findings and his dedication to advancing biomedical research.

That same commitment to excellence and connection is at the heart of his current leadership role. Earlier this year, Nana was elected Graduate Student Representative for the Michigan Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology.

His goal is to create a stronger network for graduate students, one that connects them to opportunities for professional growth across the state. “I’d like it to be more of a cohesive force to bring people together, a collaboration that represents the interests of graduate students in Michigan,” he said.

One of his first efforts is encouraging students from across the state to take part in MSU’s upcoming “PhmTox Week” this month. “We don’t exist in isolation,” Nana said. “It would be nice if our sister institutions joined for one of the activities. That’s how we build bonds and foster collaboration. It’s something I’m very passionate about.”

He’s also inviting students to attend the Regional Society of Toxicology meeting on Oct. 3 in Ann Arbor.

“Several people are doing toxicology-related work who aren’t yet members of the society,” he said. “It would be valuable to hear about their work and gain their perspectives on the research being shared.