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Award-winning ambassador at UofT Mississauga

Carla DeMarco
car.demarco@utoronto.ca
Mulu Geletu-Heye, Senior Research Associate in the Gunning lab

Senior Research Associate from the Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences is recognized for her passion for science and social justice

Dr. Mulu Geletu Heye has made it her mission to share her love for the lab and to inspire budding young scientists, but also to give back and contribute to causes that are close to her heart. This passion and her tireless efforts were recently recognized with the Exemplary University of Toronto Ambassador (EUTA) Award.

 “I am so grateful to the Vice-President’s Office and the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture, and Executive Committee of the University of Toronto for accepting my nomination and selecting me for this EUTA Award,” says Geletu Heye.

“This accomplishment is a significant milestone in my life, and getting nominated for this award is a great achievement for me because it strengthens my belief in myself and what I have set out to do to get young people excited about science.”

Geletu Heye has been a Senior Research Associate in the Gunning Group lab for the past 10 years, and her area of expertise is in cancer cell biology.

Along with her contributions to her field, Geletu Heye also spearheaded a Youth Mentorship Program at UTM for underrepresented communities that aims to encourage young students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities.

She was nominated by her supervisor, UTM Professor Patrick Gunning in the Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences (CPS), and the nomination was coordinated and supported by Dr. Elvin de Araujo (Gunning Group), her previous supervisor Professor Leda Raptis (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University), Dr. Sara Da Silva (UTM’s Office of the Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean), and Simran Garcha (HDAX Therapeutics).

“I cannot commend Mulu enough for everything she has brought to the lab – from her dedication to science and working through her own scientific experiments to supporting all the students and lab personnel we have shepherded through our group over the past decade,” says Gunning.

“Her stellar impact far exceeds the confines of the lab and I think she can be credited with recruiting many students to the UTM campus over the past few years.”

Geletu Heye was one of 18 individuals recognized with an EUTA in the inaugural year these awards were presented.

Established in 2022, EUTA recognizes the contributions and achievements of staff and librarians, either in teams or as individuals, who have furthered the strategic priorities of their unit, faculty, department, or division, provided outstanding service, and made a significant, positive impact on the University. Heather Boon, Acting Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, will present the awards to recipients at a ceremony this Spring.

“Mulu is the ultimate ambassador for UTM,” says Vice-President and Principal Alexandra Gillespie.

“She inspires young people from diverse backgrounds to find their path in STEM education and to see UTM as a place they can excel.” 

Read more about Geletu Heye’s own path that led to her career as a scientist, as well as the work she does with the Ethiopian community in the GTA and beyond.

Geletu Heye shares her thanks for her UTM colleagues as well as her family for their unwavering encouragement in her pursuit of her own goals and ambitions.

“I am so fortunate to have a strong network,” says Geletu Heye.

“I am grateful to my husband Assefa Nigussie, and my two sons, Yonas and Nathanael Assefa, for their love and priceless support, and my Ethio-Canadian Network for Advocacy and Support [ECNAS] family, as well as the Ethiopian and Eritrean community members for their valuable support and encouragement. Their motivation is my motivation and I extend my appreciation to them all.”

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