Improving lives through
sustainable bioinnovations

Cohort 1

Nadege Mugisha, Burundi



Nadege is currently a researcher and assistant lecturer at the University of Burundi, in the faculty of engineering, departments of information and communication technology, and electromechanics. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electromechanics; Civil Engineering, and a Master of Science degree in Electronics; Embedded Systems. She is a member of a research centre for the didactics of disciplines for the promotion of science, and is part of a committee in charge of the creation of a Burundi National Chapter of Organisation of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), as well as an affiliate member of Burundi Council of Young Scientists (BCYS).


Gloria Kuhumba, Tanzania



Gloria is a researcher in the food and biotechnology division at the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania, and a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida.


Rosine Ahishakiye, Burundi



Rosine is an assistant lecturer at the University of Burundi. She was recently appointed in the team of stakeholders of development of the East African regional policy for sciences, technology, and innovation by the ministry of education through the national commission of Science, technology, and innovation in Burundi. Her professional interests and research areas are reaction engineering and catalysis, renewable energy, wastewater treatment, and conversion of biowaste to energy. During her BioInnovate Africa fellowship, she developed a method of improving biogas yield for Mwanza abattoir wastewater treatment plant by using rice straw, showing that the biogas yield can be improved up to six times more. She holds two master’s degrees in Environmental Sciences from University of Burundi, and Chemical Engineering from Tianjin University where she is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Engineering.


Dr Sayuni Nasari, Tanzania



Sayuni is an expert in pedagogy and works as an assistant lecturer at the Stefano Moshi Memorial University College, and is also the deputy director for research, postgraduate studies, and consultancy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education (biology & geography) from St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Mwenge Catholic University, a Master of Education degree from Tumaini University, Makumira, and a Ph.D in Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania.


Dorothy Murugu, Kenya



Dorothy is a registered nutritionist and dietitian with the Kenya Nutritionist and Dietitians Institute (KNDI), and a qualified food scientist, nutritionist and public health specialist. She has cumulative work experience of over 18 years in various fields including food systems, research, training, health, nutrition, and dietetics. Her fellowship goals include developing and characterising food products, incorporating processed insects that contribute significantly to the Recommended Daily Intakes (RDIs) for nutrients of public health concern for women of reproductive age and children aged five years and below. Dorothy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from Egerton University in Kenya and a Master of Science degree in Public Health (MPH) from the Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (ITROMID) of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya. She is currently finalizing her Ph.D research in Food Science and Nutrition with a focus on edible insects as a means of dietary diversity in human diets.


Mehader Getachew, Ethiopia



Mehader is an environmental biotechnologist at Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBTi), in Ethiopia. Prior to joining EBTi, she worked as a researcher in the department of biotechnology at Pukyong National University and published research articles in scientific journals. She has participated in various environmental biotechnology research and development projects such as the production of biodegradable packaging materials, wastewater treatment, and building construction materials using bagasse ash, among others. She holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Biotechnology from Pukyong National University, Korea, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.


Genet Tsegaye, Ethiopia



Genet is a researcher at the Ethiopian BioTechnology Institute in the environmental biotechnology directorate. She previously worked as a bioenergy technology development design expert at the Oromia Water Mineral Energy Bureau. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Bahir Dar University, and a master’s degree in Energy Technology from Addis Ababa University, and is pursuing her doctorate degree in Environmental Engineering at Addis Ababa University. During her master’s degree research work, she investigated the optimal production of methane from the optimal composition of slaughterhouse waste with the application of boiler and electricity from biogas and developed an anaerobic wastewater treatment mechanism for an industrial abattoir. Her research interests are wastewater treatment and the generation of bioenergy from organic waste. This was put into practice when she assisted in producing energy-efficient charcoal briquettes from sugar industry solid waste at Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute.


Zainah Nampijja, Uganda



Zainah is an insectary supervisor for the Insect for Food Project at Makerere University. She joined the Project as a fellow and researched on developing rations for mass rearing of crickets and grasshoppers. She is also a research associate at Marula Agribusiness, a company that is producing black soldier fly larvae for animal feed. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, and a Master of Science degree in Animal Science, both from Makerere University. She is a member of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) and Makerere University Journal club.


Sharon Ochieng, Kenya



Sharon is a teaching assistant at the department of chemistry and biochemistry in Auburn University, Alabama. She previously has done research in the areas of drug development, and environmental and innovations that involved the use of enzymes for the decomposition of certain bio-wastes. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Nairobi and is a Master of Science finalist at the University of Nairobi, majoring in Industrial Chemistry. She is also a student at Auburn University where she is pursuing her doctoral degree in theoretical chemistry.




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