Aklilu is an ARPPIS PhD scholar supervised by Dr. David Tchouassi; Prof Clifford Mutero; Dr. Abebe Asale; Prof. Baldwin Torto (icipe). His aim is to develop a low-cost strategy for monitoring densities and transmission activity of residual vector populations that perpetuate malaria transmission in communities where existing or new measures are being implemented, to improve targeting of interventions towards elimination. Aklilu completed his BSc in Biology and MSc in Biomedical Sciences from Addis Ababa University.