Divinefavour Osuji (Photo Provided).
BHM Move Makers: Black Chicagoans Doing Big Things – Stories highlighting individuals in our city who are driving change.
Chicago high school senior Divinefavour Osuji made a vow that not only fuels his life’s purpose but has also propelled him to win one of the nation’s most prestigious academic awards.
“I made a promise to myself to be a part of engineering solutions or even create solutions for these problems to ensure that another family out there does not go through the same pain as mine,” said Osuji, a student at Lane Tech College Prep High School.
Osuji was recently named the 2025 National STEM Champion for developing a cost-effective hand prosthetic controlled by muscle contractions. He worked on a project for seven to nine months that began in March of his sophomore year and continued through December 2023 as part of Lane Tech’s science fair initiative.
Osuji said he learned of the honor while checking his email in class. Yet, he kept refreshing his email because he wasn’t sure it went to the right person.
But it went to the right person indeed. His STEM project, born out of compassion for his family and community, earned him an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to showcase his innovation at EXPLR’s National STEM Festival in March.
A Lifelong Passion for STEM
Osuji, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, cites three people who helped him cultivate an interest in academics, particularly mathematics, technology and science. When he was younger, his grandfather would check behind him to ensure his math homework was correct.
“We would have a lot of arguments about how accurate my homework was since back then, I was a little bit of a know-it-all,” said Osuji, “But I’m glad that he would sacrifice time just to help me.”
His uncle, a computer science enthusiast, also sparked his curiosity. Whenever a technical issue arose, Osuji peppered him with questions. But his love for science came from his fourth-grade teacher at Brennemann Elementary School, Mr. Akindele, whose dynamic science demonstrations—like the classic Coke and Mentos experiment—made the subject engaging and accessible.
However, his decision to develop a prosthetic hand stemmed from personal experience. Seeing his grandparents struggle with health complications, including knee surgeries, he became acutely aware of how expensive and inaccessible medical assistive technology can be.
“So due to these circumstances,” Osuji said, “my goal was to create a prosthetic that is not only functional but also a cheaper alternative to others.”
Engineering a Solution
Images of Divinefavour Osuji’s preliminary prosthetic design (L) and computer-aided design image (R) (Provided by Divinefavour Osuji).
The project was far from simple. His first prototype used a muscle sensor to detect contractions and control the prosthetic. However, the technology proved inconsistent. “We contract our muscles instantaneously, sometimes without realizing it, and getting an electronic sensor to track that accurately was difficult,” he explained.
Undeterred, Osuji pivoted to a second design, replacing the muscle sensor with a webcam-based computer vision algorithm that tracked hand movements to control the prosthetic. While more reliable, it required users to have a functional hand, presenting a new limitation.
His breakthrough came when he researched biological adhesion and found inspiration in an unlikely source: geckos.
“Geckos have unique adhesion on their toe pads that help them grip surfaces,” Osuji said. “I studied why that was the case and mimicked those ridges on the fingertips of my prosthetic design.”
This innovation significantly improved the prosthetic’s grip, allowing it to grasp objects of varying sizes and weights with greater ease.
His project was further influenced when he discovered an octopus-inspired prosthetic design that appeared at the International Science and Engineering Fair. That prosthetic used suction cups for improved grip.
A Bright Future in STEM
Osuji’s achievements have reaffirmed his belief that STEM is his calling. With plans to study biomedical engineering in college, he hopes to advance medical assistive devices, potentially working with soft robotics—materials designed to be more flexible and comfortable for patients.
He has applied to 23 universities, with Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania topping his list. “I had an interview with Penn recently, and I think it went well,” he said. “But I’m still waiting on decisions from other schools.”
As for what comes next, he remains open to possibilities. “I know for sure I want to be in biomedical engineering,” he said. “But whether I go into the technology aspect or medical school, that’s something I’ll decide in college.”
Advice for Future Innovators
For younger students interested in STEM, Osuji emphasizes curiosity and perseverance.
“What really helped me a lot was not being afraid to ask questions, especially if you’re confused. I think it also takes another aspect of being understanding when you don’t know something and being humble enough to ask someone who has already experienced it or is teaching the course content,” he said. “Then I would also say that just looking for opportunities to explore your interest, no matter what it really is. In Chicago, there are a lot of STEM opportunities out there. It’s just a matter of you just applying for them.”
His journey has been shaped by seizing opportunities, from Northwestern University’s Robotic Matter Lab to Lane Tech’s research programs. “If I decided not to do those things, maybe I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” said Osuji. “I’m just glad I was confident enough to believe in myself and work towards that opportunity.”
He added, “From what I learned, especially as an immigrant in the U.S., that almost anything is possible as long as you’re willing to put in the effort and work towards the goal.”
Beyond STEM
When he’s not engineering solutions, Osuji enjoys solving Rubik’s Cubes, riding his bike along the lakefront, and playing basketball with friends. He recently took up rugby and is an active member of Lane Tech’s Black Student Association.
As he prepares to present his prosthetic design at the National STEM Festival, he looks forward to meeting other young innovators.
“Because I understand how driven and passionate a person must be to work on these projects, I just want to hear about other people’s experiences and be able to network and communicate with others who are just really passionate about STEM.”
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