DRIP MSc scholar

Jacqueline Wahura Waweru

Research Project:  Development and implementation of a transformative and sustainable strategy for malaria control in Africa using symbiont-based transmission blocking Jacqueline is a DRIP PhD Scholar in the Human Health theme supervised by Dr Jeremy Herren (icipe). Her PhD thesis is titled ‘Development and implementation of a transformative and sustainable strategy for malaria control in Africa using symbiont-based transmission blocking.’ The project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Her project seeks to unravel the mechanistic approaches used by Microsporidia MB (an endosymbiont recently discovered in Kenya) in blocking the transmission of Plasmodium. The findings from her project will be crucial in informing the sustainable Microsporidia MB intensities required in blocking Plasmodium transmission, the mechanisms by which Microsporidia MB blocks Plasmodium transmission and will contribute in developing strategies for scaled-up Microsporidia MB mosquito infection in the field, for effective malaria transmission blocking. Jacqueline’s previous trainings are in the fields of MSc. Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics and BSc. Biochemistry.

Clement Dastan Mlay

Research Project:  meta-transcriptomics analysis of coral mucus-associated microbiome in the Kenyan coast Clement Mlay is an EANBiT MSc scholar at Pwani University, pursuing MSc Bioinformatics under the supervision of Dr. Sammy Wambua, Dr. Hadrien Gourlé, and Dr. Cheryl Andisi. His MSc thesis is titled “meta-transcriptomics analysis of coral mucus-associated microbiome in the Kenyan coast” that focuses on determining the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the coral-mucus (Acropora digitifera) microbiome, by determining differential gene expression patterns, functions, and pathways expressed between three marine protected areas in coastal Kenya with varying anthropogenic impacts (including Malindi, Mombasa, and Kisite Mpunguti). His project aims to contribute knowledge to the Western Indian Ocean corals, purposely for coral restoration and management strategies. Clement holds BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Brenda Muthoni Karumbo

Research project: To identify diagnostic biomarkers for coma of unknown cause using the transcriptome of human plasma and CSF samples Brenda is an EANBiT fellow, pursuing a master’s in bioinformatics at Pwani university. Her Masters thesis is on identification of diagnostic biomarkers to elucidate etiology of coma of unknown cause in Kilifi, Kenya. The project is funded by East African network of bioinformatics training (EANBiT) and the initiative to develop African research leaders (IDeAL). Her research focuses on finding differentially expressed genes in patients with different aetiologies of coma using cell free RNA of human plasma and CSF samples. It also entails the use of machine learning to identify etymologies of coma of unknown cause. She holds a post graduate diploma in Health research methods from Pwani University and a degree in Biochemistry from Egerton university.

Pauline Wangeci Kingóri

Research Project:  Post-GWAS Fine-Mapping and Causal Variant Identification Pauline King’ori is an EANBiT Master’s fellow pursuing MSc. Bioinformatics at Pwani University. Her research project focuses on Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) and Post-GWAS Analysis to Identify Causal Variants Determining Vitamin D Status in Kenyan and Gambian Children. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science and Technology from Egerton University; and Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University.

Fredrick Kebaso Mariita

Mr Kebaso is a Masters scholar at Pwani University pursuing an MSc in Bioinformatics under the East Africa Network of Bioinformatics (EANBiT) hosted here at ICIPE. Kebaso holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Kenyatta University, Kenya. His research interest is in the human health theme more particularly, the application of Bioinformatics in cancer research. There are tons of omics data that have been made available to the scientific community but the knowledge and extraction of valuable information from these omics data is still a riddle which Mr.Kebaso seeks to answer. Through this training, he expects to gain deeper knowledge on Bioinformatics, big data analysis and the competency to harness this knowledge to improve research outcomes. He hopes to join a team of translational researchers in Africa who work to generate research evidence that informs policy in critical sectors, particularly health.

Gladys Jerono Rotich

Research Project: Modelling the transmission dynamics of African Trypanosomiasis: a case study of Shimba Hills, Kenya Gladys is a MSc scholar in animal health theme under Drs. Daniel Masiga, Caleb Kibet, Henry Tonnang (icipe) and Dr Leonard Kiti (Pwani University). Her master’s project is entitled modelling the transmission dynamics of African Trypanosomiasis: a case study of Shimba Hills, Kenya. Project funded by the Eastern Africa Network of Bioinformatics Training (EANBiT) and the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL). Her research focuses on developing a modified Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model that simulates the trypanosome vector-host transmission dynamics, determining the basic reproduction number(R0) and documenting the spatial distribution of transmission risk around Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kwale county. Gladys holds a degree in Microbiology from Pwani University.

Getie Kelemu Muluken

Research Project: Evaluating the deployment of integrated management of cereal stem borers for climate resilience maize production in southwestern Ethiopia Muluken Getie is a DRIP MSc scholar in plant health under Dr Henri Tonnang.   My thesis research is titled by Evaluating the deployment of integrated management of cereal stem borers for climate resilience maize production in southwestern Ethiopia funded by CLAMP-EA, icipe. My research focuses on Evaluating the efficacy of the push-pull technology in reducing stem borer pest densities and yield of maize in Southwestern Ethiopia and assess farmers’ perceptions of cereal stem borers and their farm management practices in Southwestern Ethiopia. He hold a BSc degree in Plant and Horticultural Science from Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

Eva Wavinya Kivuva

Research project title: Screening of Datura stramonium Endophytes and Extract for Potential to Confer Thaumatobia leucotreta Resistance in Capsicum annuum. Eva is a DRIP MSc Scholar in Plant Health theme under Drs Fathiya Khamis; John Bwire (icipe), Dr Adelaide Mutune (Kenyatta University) and Dr Vitalis Wekesa (Dudutech IPM Ltd).  Her MSc thesis is titled Screening of Datura stramonium Endophytes and Extract for Potential to Confer Thaumatotibia leucotreta Resistance in Capsicum annuum funded by the NORAD CAP-AFRICA.  Her research focusses on assessing assemblage and abundance of endophytes in Datura stramonium from different counties in Kenya, assessing the ability of the endophytes to colonize and confer pest resistance in Capsicum annum, assessing the potential of Datura stramonium extract toxicity against invasive pests and evaluating the general ability of the endophytes that colonize host plant successfully to promote growth in the host plant. Knowledge gained from this study will lead to reduced use of synthetic pesticides used to manage FCM, which are hazardous.  Eva holds a degree in BSc (science) (Biotechnology and Biosafety) from the University of Eldoret and is pursuing an MSc in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry from Kenyatta University.

Henry Ndugwa

Henry is a Ugandan and EANBiT Msc fellow under ICIPE. He is interested in virology, Computer-Aided Drug Design and tackles health challenges using a one health approach. He is currently registered as a Msc student at Pwani university pursuing Bioinformatics. He graduated with a Bsc. Biomedical Laboratory Technology from Makerere University.

Eunice Waithira Njuguna

Research Project: To develop a reusable pre-processing workflow for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry proteomics data Eunice is an EANBiT scholar undertaking Msc Bioinformatics in Pwani university. Currently, Eunice is working on her master’s project under ther supervision of Dr James Njunge and Dr. Charles Sande (KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Kilifi). She is developing a reusable pre-processing workflow for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry proteomics data. Her project aims to solve an existing challenge of irreproducibility in pre-processing proteomics data by developing a graphical user interface application using Shiny package in R programming. She holds a BSc degree in Genomics sciences from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology (JKUAT).

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