Dr. Shaphan Yong Chia is a Research Scientist – Edible Insect Farming for Livestock Feed Production and Other Uses (INSEFF) under the Environmental Health Theme and is based at Duduville. 

He holds a PhD in Entomology from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, funded through icipe's Dissertation Research Internship Programme (DRIP) and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) scholarship in 2019. He also holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) degree in Entomology from the University of Ghana through the African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) and DAAD scholarship.

Prior to joining icipe, Dr. Chia was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, where he investigated how insects and their production can contribute to a sustainable food system in the context of a circular economy.  His research integrated insect production, crop production, and host plant resistance to below- and above-ground insect herbivores.   

His research interests are as varied as they are impactful, spanning edible insects and their nutritional potential in diets, livestock feed production, valorization of residual streams from insect production, insect-plant interactions, biological control of insect pests, and soil health and microbial ecology. This diverse expertise is a valuable asset in driving efforts to harness the potential of insects for a sustainable and resilient future.

He has over 20 scholarly publications including 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and 4 community-contributed articles. He has mentored several MSc, BSc, and internship students. He is a member of the Netherlands Entomological Society (NEV).