Former student of the Convent High School (CHS), Nygerma Laurent Dangleben, received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Toxicology during the commencement ceremony of the University of California (UC), Berkeley in December 2012.
Dangleben’s research focused on effects of arsenic on a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human cells.
After graduating from high school on the island Dangleben moved to the US in 2000 with the intention of entering medical school. In retrospect she admits that at the time she was not aware of the various career tracks that were possible and it was only after becoming involved in research projects during her undergraduate program that she discovered her true interests and strengths.
Dangleben made the National Dean’s list every year of her undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin where she earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. She also received several honors research fellowship offers from prestigious schools including the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School.
She opted instead for a work-study placement in the laboratory of Professor Andrea Gore, which she found through the Science Undergraduate Research Group at The University of Texas.
During the course of her undergraduate research career, Dangleben became intrigued by the study of endocrine disruption, that is factors in the environment that affect the body’s hormonal system which links the brain to the organs that control metabolism, growth and reproduction.
She received several undergraduate research awards, including a fellowship from the Endocrine Society to conduct an independent research project in Professor Gore’s lab and a subsequent Award for Excellence in Health and Social Sciences Research for her presentation at an undergraduate research forum. Her work at the time examined how exposure to specific fungicides affects an animal’s offspring and its mating choices.
Professor Gore described Dangleben as one of the best researchers she had ever had in her lab – that she was “very independent, focused, a fantastic writer and an incredibly diligent researcher.”
Dangleben enrolled directly into the doctoral program in Molecular Toxicology at the University of California, Berkeley after completing her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin.
Her graduate studies were funded by several graduate awards, including the Chancellor’s Fellowship for Graduate Study and the highly coveted National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. When asked about the challenges she faced while pursuing the PHD,
Dangleben indicated that there were many hurdles but the greatest was working through the slow pace of research to obtain comprehensive results to contribute to her field. Her doctoral studies took six and a half years for completion. Her graduate advisor, Professor Martyn Smith, commented that
“Nygerma persisted through difficult times and several setbacks to generate a better understanding of arsenic’s toxic effects on the immune system. These effects may play an important role in generating many of the harmful effects of early-life exposure to arsenic,” her graduate advisor, Professor Martyn Smith said.
Dangleben, who is the daughter of Margaret Laurent, Financial Adviser at SAGICOR, Dominica, wishes to continue her quest to better understand the relationship between environmental factors and our health. She is currently interested in public health and public policy matters, particularly in engagements in governmental and not-for-profit sectors.
Congratulations job well done. I am so proud of this young lady.
Some people commented about she won’t be able to use that degree at home (Dominica)….what’s all the hate for? A Dominican got an award many people around the world with they could get close to obtaining and some people are still complaining. What Dr. Dangleben brings is positive notoriety to our small island and gives our island a good name! Stop with the negative comments, anyone would be proud to have such and outstanding young woman in their family.
DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL!!!
congrats who is ha fada no mention of his name DNO ?
Stanislaus Dangleben
With hard work and persistance one can achieve any thing in America. Congratulations my dear, you have made us proud.
I AM A DANGLEBEN WII!!!!! AND I ATTENDING THE CONVENT HIG SCHOOL
And your point is what exactly?
Congratulations to Nygerma – a classmate from St. Martin’s Primary School to Convent High School -class of 1995/2000.
Product from those days when St. Martin’s grade 7-1 would sweep the common entrance exams with full passes (mostly bursary and scholarship thanks to teachers like Ms. Rolle (now Mrs. Carette)in 5-1, Mrs. Guye in 6-1 and Mrs. Morvan in 7-1).
Many from that class have gone on to perform exceptionally well in our professional lives but too few will ever be able to make a contribution back to Dominica as much as we would like to!
Congrats! Go CHS!
Congratsbut stay where you are! nothing for you d/ca
Is Dominica going to benefit from that. I don’t think so because Dominica don’t have the facility so this girl will not be returning to Dominica.
I agree wiff you yeh,,,
Only ting Mamzelle can say is she from DA,,,
Instead Skerrit go Lobby for Cruise Ship to Come Dominica and Go Morocco to tell dem come build hotel, why don’t he lobby for a Massive U.S. Grade hospital dere by Ross,that way dem students can stay right dere and do deir residency and even special studies like mamzelle,,,
You know how much extra revenue Dominica can accumulate from dat???
Marn not even going to get into the Benefit of the Medical expertise dats going to be dere to provide exceptional care to the inhabitants of this region,,,
But all dat said, Congratulations to mamzelle yeh good to see Dominicans making it this far and setting examples,,,
@Dicky. This young lady may just find herself in a position of influence where she will be calling the shots in the future. You don’t know what tomorrow holds, and she can end up coming back to Dominica with a team of experts, opening labs etc…
On the flip side, even is she does not return, you cannot erase her roots and upbringing. She will always be a Dominican wherever she is in this world.
Yes there is lots that she can contribute to Dominica if she is inclined – I am speaking from experience. As you can see, she has an interest in public health and governmental to NGO engagements, something that can easily be integrated into the region if she creates, engages and/or looks for opportunities here. Again, if she so desires.
I agree with you…I am back here for about three years now with a degree in Forensic Science and though Dominican are being killed like flies and so many unsolved crimes…due to no facilities and lack of hindsight, I work in an unrelated field to my studies..I have come to realize that students who want to come back to work in Dominica should not think outside the box in their career choice but go with the flow as lawyers, business people, fishermen and farmers…It will be hard for this girl to come back home with a degree of this sort and should stay where she is…I wish I did… because,I am wasting away with knowledge that could be utilized, but is decaying in my brain.
I am sorry -maybe you should consider leaving go somewhere where you skill could be utilized.
Go CHS! Congrats, Dr. Dangleben!
CONGRATS from Soufriere and FLA!!!!!
why everything in Dominica always have that bantaing without any meaning,we lower our standard through petty jealousy,and we wonder why we are always angry.
Great job Nygerma. Looking forward to hearing more success stories about you.
Congratulations to this very brilliant young lady. Wow, awesome! Hard work pays off.
congratulation young lady you have not only made the country and parent proud you have made yourself proud keep up the hard work
Congratulations Nygerma! You were always destined for such remarkable success, since you are extremely brilliant! God’s richest blessings in whatever paths you pursue.
But what is the thumbs down about nuh
wowwwww….yet another testimony of how intelligent Dominicans are, and how well we do at universities. Im encouraged to cont my path of studies;since ive never heard someone with a degree in what im pursuing so far in DA, yours as well. congrats
CONGRATULATIONS YOUNG LADY! YOU HAVE CERTAINLY MADE YOURSELF AND FAMILY PROUD. WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO AFTER THIS MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST.
Congratulations. Always good to see fellow Dominicans and all West Indian immigrants for that matter, working hard and blazing a trail. Well done.
Could someone pass me her contact info, I am also in my first year of my PHD prog. ItKs always good to have good role models around
Congratulations to the young lady. This it the stuff that makes you want to jump for joy.
Let us not forget, however, that her achievement at the highest academic reward bestowed upon human kind is due, in part, to the high-quality pre-school, primary and secondary education careers in Dominica. With that, the sky is the limit for any Dominican child.
And this is coming from one with 12 years’ experience in administering junior- and high-school education in Uncle Sam.
AMEN!!
Congratulations, you have made your family/friends and country proud.
The winding path of your life has already presented you with several crossroads. May you go on to make wise choices that will not only take you forward, but will enable you to put your skills and knowledge to good use in benefiting humanity.
Ms. Dangleben,
The sky is the limit for those who are focused, deligent, enthusiastic, competitive, unwavering, persistent and most of all intelligent. You are have followed the footsteps of those who preceeded you and you are an example for those who will follow you.
We are an intelligent people anyway. It’s just that sometimes we do not follow our dreams and might not have the opportunities that should be available.
Congratulations on achieving your dreams and continue to be a light to others. May I also encourage you to stay humble in all that you do as well.
Peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Indeed, this is a remarkable achievement, congratulations!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Dr. Laurent Dangleben on her high achievement. It takes a lot of hard work, discipline and intelligence to achieve such accolades. Best wishes!
Does this brilliant daughter have only a mother?
Yes and absolutely no other relatives….and yes her mother who has her where she is today…duh!
Gemma has a father Staney Dangleben of Soufriere who provided both emotional and financial support from birth (in Queens, NY) to Berkeley.
A family fracture explains the deliberate omission of Staney Dangleben’s name among those interviewed for this rag: demonstrating a severe character flaw with both Ms. Dangleben and her mother, Margaret Laurent.
It would seem so, well congratulations to Ms Nygerma and double congrats to her mom for raising such a well rounded and successful person.
You fathers like to abandon your responsibility in times of “gwayez” and when things bright and cheery allu like to push allu self infront!! Is so mine show up to my graduation without an invitation after donkey years of passing me straight on the road. Let the young lady and her mom shine, and take a hike! Congrats my dear….
would you like to take a bow on behalf of her father ?…
This must be a rhetorical question. Obviously the people who are commenting know the mother very well and would know how much support she gave her daughter. so wheel and come again.Btw I am not a relative, just an observer. Congratulations young lady.
Congrats! Take a bow Maggo!!
Cngratulation Ms Dangleban may continues to bless you in your career.
Congratulations. A true inspiration. I know it must not have been the easiest journey but hard work pays off indeed – you are a true testimony of that!
Well done Nygerma. So far from those St martin School days. God’s richest blessings in the future.
Congratulations on your success young lady. Your story is truly an inspiration to other young people here. There are so many fields to choose from. People should be open to exploring those fields and identifying the one which will truly inspire them to be the best that they can be.
All I can say is WOW!!!! Congratulations girl….You did it!
Congrats! Good news is good
wonderful!!!!!!!
That’s what I am talking about. Great stuff!!!!
wow amazing i’m happy…hope she comes back home :/
after she makes some cash in the us lol….but these are the people who will help Dominica in the future…there’s HOPE
She will, if she gets paid enough
Suki, “hope she comes back home” to do what? How can Dominica utilize her intelligence for its future development? Do we have research labs in Dominica? Per the article, she “wishes to continue her quest to understand the relationship between environmental factors and health”. Do we have the avenue in Dominica for her to do so?
Congratulations again Ms. Dangleben and please stay in the USA.
That is the difference between the doctorate and lesser academic degrees (i.e. BS, MS, etc)
For the most part, the Ph.D is a research oriented degree, so if research is her passion then Dominica would be an ideal incubator for her research interests. Besides, the internet has made it easy to colloborate with colleagues from across the goble.
No more brain–come back to D/ca and contribute.
Nacimod wrote : “That is the difference between the doctorate and lesser academic degrees (i.e. BS, MS, etc)”
Dude made it look like a BS/MS is nothing —ouch
We have start somewhere…if every time we say Dominica doesn’t have this and that so we are not coming back…then that’s sad Someone has to start it… that’s the only way we will have it -_-
like they say… if you want things done… do it your self…me self i want to be a pathologist… and i want to see my country prosper… i am not going to say “Dominica doe have that” and just give up…I can always be utilized well my opinion
Thanks for encouraging brain drain… Dominica will never have nothing… if that’s the people’s mentality -_-
congrats young lady, you have made our country proud U_U
Proud to hear a Dominican has done so well on the international scene. Hats of the you my dear, remembering that the sky is the limit. Do hope that others can walk a similar path to success.
Wish you well madame,we need your resources back home!We can do well when given the opportunity and excel!
Margaret
I want to congratulate you on your daughters achievement.
your friend.
This is great news!! Congratulations!
Congratulations
From one CHS woman to another – CONGRATS! you make CHS and country proud! I wish u much blessings and guidance from the Almighty!
WISH U ALL THE BEST MY CHILD…NEVER STOP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LIFE
Congratulations Nygerma!!!Margo must be proud.
Our lovely and beautiful Gems congrats and all the best. Sorry we couldn’t have made it to the graduation,but we shall celebrate with you and your mom very soon.
Love, love, love….all the best
Congrats! A great achievement for our small island,so many others like her have proven the quality of human resource Dominica posess locally,regionally and internationally.
Thank God for America, a place where u can achieve your dreams.
lol
thank God for Dominica, a place where you can get a firm high school education that will allow you to succeed anywhere in the WORLD…
Since 2000 the girl graduate who fool you? It was…
@Weezib i hope when we hear of Dominicans doing crime in St.maarten u will be the first to say, Dominica, a place where you can get a firm high school education that will allow you to commit crime anywhere in the WORLD!
some of you sound that like that preschool teacher in newtown who always feels she is responsible for all dominicans who succeed and had attended her school….have you reviewed the high school situation and how it has been during the last 10 years?
-this girl deserves all the credit she worked and worked in order to achieve her goals.
Ignorance is bliss
Thank God for all the immigrants who have worked hard to make America what it is today and who still get so little credit for it.
Thank God for America, who have made all the immigrants what they are today, you ungrateful so and so
I said LOL, because this man has a twisted mind. He thanked America and did not congratulate the young Dominican achiever.
Where is your sense of pride?
Congratulations ! I was there in 1983 in Queens, New York, in Houston, in Austin, in Bath Estate, on Channing Way and everywhere else. I am looking on waiting to see the end product.