Splash Biography



GONNA NWAKUDU, Yale senior studying molecular biology/genetics



Major: Molecular Biology

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2023

Picture of Gonna Nwakudu

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Hello! My name is Gonna Nwakudu, and I am a senior at Yale University. My schtick is biology and medicine, but I am also a fan of crafting, roller skating, video games, and spending time with family. I taught for Sprout/Splash every year I've been at Yale, and I also have experience with tutoring students in math, Spanish (sí yo hablo), and physics. Overall, I'm really excited to meet fun kids in the New Haven area and share my love for learning with others.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S4678: Diseases and Infections: Studying Prion Structure and Function in Splash Spring 2023 (Apr. 01, 2023)
This class will introduce you to the wondrous world of prions, or, as I like to call them, "funky proteins". Learn how prions are formed and how they cause degenerative disease in patients. Class will then end with group discussions on different case studies featuring prion diseases.


E4494: Diseases and Infections: Humanity's Greatest Challenge in Sprout Spring 2022 (Feb. 19 - Mar. 05, 2022)
**Can be taken multiple times: each time will cover a different infectious disease** Disease is a natural part of human life. As is known today, there are one trillion different species of bacteria, at least 320,000 different types of viruses, and many more different types of infectious specimens that mankind hasn't even put a name to yet. These mysterious beings have interacted with humanity for centuries, sometimes providing good results, other times causing a variety of diseases and infections. This class discusses the fundamentals of infectious materials, outlining their structures as well as their mechanisms of spreading from individual to individual. The first part of each class will focus on learning about each type of infection, and the second part will involve a close examination of different case-studies surrounding the topic of interest.


S4348: Diseases and Infections: Studying Bacteria Structure and Function in Splash Spring 2021 (Apr. 24, 2021)
This class will introduce you to the wondrous world of bacteria. Learn how typical bacteria are structured and how they infect their hosts. Class will then end with group discussions on different case studies featuring bacterial diseases.


C3849: Diseases and Infections: Humanity's Greatest Challenge in Sprout Fall 2019 (Sep. 28 - Oct. 12, 2019)
Disease is a natural part of human life. As is known today, there are one trillion different species of bacteria, at least 320,000 different types of viruses, and many more different types of infectious specimen that mankind hasn't even put a name to yet. These mysterious beings have interacted with humanity for centuries, sometimes providing good results, other times causing a variety of diseases and infections. This class discusses the fundamentals of infectious materials, outlining their structures as well as their mechanisms of spreading from individual to individual. The first part of each class will focus on learning about each type of infection, and the second part will involve a close examination of different case-studies surrounding the topic of interest.