Student spotlight: Naomi Dibong

A long line of students waited to talk with the L'Oréal representatives at the STEM Career Fair. Naomi Dibong, who dreams of working in the beauty industry, was thrilled. As part of her job at Carnegie Mellon's Career & Professional Development Center, she had campaigned to increase participation from beauty companies in the career fair. "I want people to know that the beauty industry is an option for chemical engineering majors, mechanical engineering majors, all of us," she says.

Dibong, a chemical engineering major with an additional major in biomedical engineering, got an inside view of L'Oréal through a nine-month fellowship with the company. She learned how the company operates in the industry and was paired with a mentor.

With career interests spanning skincare, cosmetics, and dermatology, Dibong wants to develop accessible and inclusive skin-care products, as well as treat patients with various skin conditions. Last summer, she participated in a career preparation program through the American Academy of Dermatology. The exposure to medical students, residents, and practicing dermatologists confirmed her path toward medical school.

Chemical engineering courses are preparing her with an understanding of formulation and process engineering, along with critical thinking skills. She's connecting the dots back to her interest in skincare through undergraduate research. With Tagbo Niepa, Dibong researches the skin microbiome. "Bacteria have a huge role in our skin. Some are protective. Others are harmful," she says. In her research, she cultures skin bacteria to study biofilm formation and microbial adaptation to interfacial stress.

As she returns to the lab this year, Dibong brings new skills from a summer internship at Unilever, where she did lots of benchwork for skincare brands. She was a research and development formulation intern, helping to develop new skincare technology for lotions.

"Ensuring stability over time is a challenge. We don't want the oil in a lotion to separate or the consistency to become too liquid. Because Unilever is a global company, we have to account for different weather conditions where these products will be transported, sold, and used," she says. Dibong conducted stability testing for each new product formulation.

Working on skincare technology for a global company, we have to account for different weather conditions where these products will be used.

Naomi Dibong, Undergraduate student, Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Her job required her to understand the biological and physical chemistry of the products. She also collaborated with design, formulations, fragrance, and consumer technical insights teams. "Working with cross-functional teams taught me a lot because people communicate in different ways. I learned how to present my technical work in a way that my whole audience, both technical and non-technical, could understand," says Dibong.

Whether designing products or talking with people, Dibong is inspired to think from different points of view. She grew up in Cameroon, then attended high school in Paris before moving to Pittsburgh for college. "My background makes me open. It gives me more perspectives," she says.

As a member of the Engineering Student Council, Dibong sees herself as a conduit bringing student voices, ideas, and opinions to leadership in the College of Engineering. She helps plan events to foster a sense of community within the college.

Dibong also serves as vice president of the Young African Leaders Association (YALA) and secretary of Ignite, a Black Christian ministry. These groups have helped her build a support system on campus.

Her chemical engineering cohort is another key part of her campus network. "Everyone is willing to go the extra mile," she says, describing how they work together on homework assignments and support each other in other ways. Dibong has also found that her professors are understanding and get to know her and her classmates. "I've made real connections, real friendships that I'm going to carry with me after CMU," she says.