Morayo Abbey-Bada

Fulbright/Newcastle University Award

Morayo Abbey-Bada graduated with distinction from Duke University with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry on the pre-medical track. Originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, Morayo’s academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, mental health, and sports medicine—particularly as they relate to female athletes. Her passion for research was sparked during an undergraduate course on exercise and mental health and deepened through work in the Psychology of Sport Injury Lab with Dr. Shelby Baez. There, she completed a senior thesis examining the relationship between trait mindfulness and brain activity in individuals after ACL reconstruction. Professional experiences as a certified personal trainer further strengthened her interest in the psychological side of injury recovery.

At Newcastle University, Morayo will pursue an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, where she aims to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and ACL injury risk in women's football.

During her Fulbright year, she looks forward to engaging in research, collaborating across disciplines, and immersing herself in the UK’s cultural and scientific commitment to women’s sport. She hopes to contribute to more holistic injury prevention strategies and lay the groundwork for culturally responsive interventions as a future physician-scientist supporting female athletes’ health and well-being.