DRIP PhD scholar

Charlene Naomie Tedto Mgangnia

Research project title: Applying System Dynamics to develop an integrated model for the spread of plasmodium transmission blocking symbionts and the effects on the incidence of malaria.  Naomie is a D  RIP PhD scholar being supervised by Dr. Henri Tonnang, Dr. Jeremy herren (ICIPE) and Prof. Berge Tsanou (University of Dschang).  Her research aim is to predict the effects of the spread of Plasmodium transmission blocking symbionts within the mosquito population on the incidence of malaria.  She holds an MSc. in Mathematics and a BSc. in Mathematics and Computer sciences from the University of Dschang in Cameroon.  She graduated and obtained her bachelor’s degree Sciences in 2019. Two years later, in 2021, she obtained her master’s degree. She joined ICIPE three months later in 2021 as a DRIP PhD student to work on malaria. The aim is to predict the effects of the spread of Plasmodium transmission blocking symbionts within the mosquito population on the incidence of malaria.

Steeven Belvinos Affognon

Research project: Applying Individual (agent) Based Modelling to develop an integrated model for spread of Plasmodium transmission blocking symbionts and effects on malaria incidence Steeven is a DRIP PhD scholar being supervised by Drs Henri Tonnang and Dr. Jeremy Herren (icipe).  He obtained his MSc in Mathematics (Financial option) at Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI)-Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya and his bachelor’s degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics from University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech (Morocco)

Margaret Orengo Kababu

Research Project:  Optimizing Mass Rearing Conditions of the Edible Long Horned Grasshopper, Ruspolia differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) Margaret Kababu is a DRIP PhD scholar supervised by Dr. Chrysantus Tanga (icipe) and Dr. Collins Mweresa (Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, JOUST).   She is interested in the use of insects as food and feed. Currently, she is looking at optimizing the production and utilization of the edible long horned grasshoper as an alternative source of protein to enhance food security Margaret completed her BSc in Zoology and MSc in Agricultural Entomology from Kenya University, Kenya.  She is currently registered for her PhD in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, JOUST.

Maysoon A. A. Osman

Research Project: Impact of Climate and Land Use / Land Cover Changes on Smallholder Crop Farming System in Gedaref State, Sudan Maysoon Osman is a DRIP PhD scholar supervised by Dr. Elfatih M. Abdel- Rahman (icipe), Dr. Joshua Orungo Onono, and Dr. Lydia Olaka (University of Nairobi, Kenya), and Dr. Muna Mohamed Elhag (University of Gezira, Sudan). Her research interest is in climatology, specifically agrometeorology, climate-smart agriculture and food security. She is currently researching on how climate variability and change affect crop yields and Land Use / Land Cover changes in rainfed farming of Gedaref state, Sudan. Her research also aimed to look at the perception of the smallholder farmers to climate change and the adaptation measures they used to minimize the risk. Maysoon completed her undergraduate studies in Agricultural Sciences at University of Gezira, Sudan, and obtained her MSc in Agrometeorology and Natural Risk Management from Haramaya University, Ethiopia. She is currently registered for a PhD at Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Nairobi, Kenya, and is supported by a scholarship from The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture ( RUFORUM).

Yohane Chimbalanga

Research Project: Alien invasive fruit flies in Southern Africa: Implementation of a sustainable IPM program to combat their menaces Yohane is a DRIP PhD Scholar supervised by Drs. Beatrice Muriithi, Monica Fischer (icipe) and Professor Charles Machethe and Dr. Melissa Van Der Merwe (University of Pretoria). His research interest is in Agricultural Technologies that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. He is interested in issues that affect adoption of agricultural technologies and the effects of adopting such technologies by small holder farmers. Yohane is currently working on a project that is assessing the socioeconomic and gender impacts of the IPM interventions in the mango production and value chain. Yohane completed his undergraduate studies in Agribusiness Management at University of Malawi- Bunda College of Agriculture, Malawi and obtained a MSc in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University, USA. He is currently registered for a PhD at University of Pretoria and is supported by a scholarship from icipe.

Abneel Kaur Matharu

Research Project: Ecology in Tunga penetrans (Jiggers) in East Africa. Abneel is a DRIP PhD Scholar supervised by Dr. Ulrike Fillinger (icipe) and Dr. Lynne Elson (KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme). Her research interest is in neglected tropical diseases that affect human health. Abneel is currently researching on Tungiasis - a neglected tropical skin disease, caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans, across Kwale and Siaya counties. Abneel completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology at Bangalore University, India, and obtained an MSc. in Biotechnology from the University of Nairobi.

Godfrey Nattoh Indinda

Research Project: Native Mycobiomes of Anopheles: Their role on the Host Fitness, Transmission to progeny and Interactions with Plasmodium Parasite. Nattoh is a DRIP PhD scholar supervised by Drs. Jeremy Herren and Joel Bargul (icipe), and Prof. Gabriel Magoma (PAUSTI/JKUAT). His research goal is to bioprospect and identify mosquito eukaryotic symbionts (mycobiomes) that stably associate with Anopheles spp while conferring minimal fitness cost and elucidate their association with plasmodium. Nattoh is currently establishing novel candidate mycobiomes that could be exploited in paratransgenesis to deliver antiplasmodium molecules to control Malaria. Nattoh completed his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Science from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and MSc in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology from PAUSTI/JKUAT where he registered and obtained two Patents on utilization of fungi mycelium. He is currently registered for a PhD at Pan African University, Institute for Basic Sciences Technology & Innovation (PAUSTI, Kenya) and is supported by scholarship from PAU.

Brian Chisanga

Research Project: The Economic Impact of Screening Rural Houses as an Additional Vector Control against Malaria Transmission in Zambia Brian is a DRIP PhD Scholar supervised by Dr. Menale Kassie and Prof. Clifford Mutero (icipe) and Prof. Erwin, Bulte (Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands).  His research interests is to determine the effects of house screening as an additional malaria vector control method on averting malaria cases and associated economic and social outcomes. The study also seeks to determine the incremental cost effectiveness of house screening as well as assessing the behaviour of households towards house screens given prices paid, subsidy levels and the effects of incentives. Brian graduated with Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Agricultural Economics) from the University of Zambia in 2007 and Master of Science (Agricultural Economics) from the University of Pretoria in 2012. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands in Development Economics supported by AFRO-II Project funded by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO-AFRO) through icipe.

Solomon Balew Deffersha

Research project: Interventions to increase adoption and impact of integrated pest management on rural livelihoods: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Ethiopia  Solomon is a DRIP PhD Scholar supervised by Dr. Menale Kassie(icipe) and Prof. Erwin, Bulte (Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands). His research interest is in integrated pest management strategies. He is currently researching on the pest potential of rural areas of Ethiopia. Solomon completed his undergraduate studies in political science and international relations at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and obtained a MSc in Environmental Policy from University of Nairobi, Kenya. He is currently registered for a PhD at Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands, and is supported by a scholarship from ICIPE.

Ayaovi Agbessenou

Research project: Integrated management of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on solanaceous crops using entomopathogenic fungal and endophytic-based biopesticides Ayaovi is a DRIP PhD scholar supervised by Drs. Fathiya M. Khamis and Komivi S. Akutse (icipe) and Dr. Abdullahi A. Yusuf (University of Pretoria, South Africa). His research is aimed at assessing the efficacy of the candidate entomopathogenic- and endophytic- fungi, in the scope of integrating these fungal and endophytic-based biopesticides into sustainable management of T. absoluta. He is funded by African Union (AU) (Tuta-IPM Project), UK Aid from the Government of the United Kingdom (DFID Biopesticide Project), and BioInnovate Africa Phase I project "Promoting smallholder access to fungal biopesticides through Public Private Partnerships in East Africa Ayaovi completed his BSc and MSc in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Lomé, Togo. He also holds an MPhil in Entomology from the University of Ghana, Legon. Ayaovi is a member of the icipe Scholars Association (IScA).

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