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At the start of Ruth L. Moirana’s fellowship, she shared her early reflections after completing her first month (click here to read). Three months later, when she had finished her fellowship, we caught up with her again to learn more about her full fellowship experience.
Over the course of her fellowship at the University of Nairobi, Ruth immersed herself in a learning experience that deepened her understanding of biofertilizer innovation and its potential to improve the livelihoods of East African smallholder farmers. Guided by her mentor, Prof. Richard N. Onwonga, Ruth’s fellowship focused on developing rhizobia-mycorrhizae-based biofertilizers, an emerging solution for soil fertility enhancement and sustainable crop production. Looking back, she describes the experience as “transformative, both technically and personally, expanding her confidence as a researcher.”
From the very first month, her fellowship research work was grounded in rigorous scientific inquiry. She began with a comprehensive literature review on mycorrhizal fungi, their discovery, symbiotic plant relationships, and contributions to rhizosphere health. She formulated a research questionnaire, developed a review protocol, crafted search strings, and screened published articles from scientific databases. This foundational work led to the development of a systematic review. “Understanding what has been done, and what remains unexplored, helped me appreciate both the progress made in biofertilizer research and how my work contributes to filling existing knowledge gaps,” says Ruth.
Alongside her desk research, Ruth also engaged in laboratory practice in isolating and propagating mycorrhizae. She collected soil samples, conducted preliminary treatments, isolated fungal strains using the wet sieving and decanting method, and germinated sorghum seeds for propagation trials. These hands-on sessions marked her first practical encounters with the organisms central to her research.
By the second month, Ruth had completed her systematic review titled “Rhizobia-Mycorrhizae Bio-Fertilizers for Soil Fertility and Crop Yield Improvement in East Africa: A Systematic Review”. Her laboratory work also grew more advanced by isolating pure rhizobia cultures, preparing biofertilizer formulations, and establishing greenhouse trials across multiple crops. She recalls this phase as one that strengthened her confidence. “Seeing theory translate into practical work was deeply fulfilling. It reminded me that research only matters when it leads to solutions people can use,” she says.
Her third month marked another milestone, as she deepened her understanding of real-world applications. A visit to the Resource Oriented Development Initiative (RODI) exposed her to community-driven organic waste conversion technologies and social enterprise models. She described this exposure as “eye-opening,” noting that it showed her the intersection between scientific innovation, community engagement, and entrepreneurship. During this period, she continued with data collection for greenhouse trials, monitoring plant responses such as root colonisation, growth parameters, and preliminary yield indicators. These findings inform the effectiveness and contribute to evaluating the performance of the formulated rhizobia-mycorrhizae biofertilizer.
By the end of her fellowship, Ruth had gained a robust set of competencies: conducting systematic reviews, isolating and propagating beneficial microbes, designing greenhouse trials, and understanding the entrepreneurial pathways for biofertilizer innovation. She also built professional networks and collaborative relationships that will support her future scientific endeavours.
Reflecting on her experience, she says, “This fellowship has shown me what is possible when science and mentorship come together. I feel prepared and motivated to continue contributing to sustainable agriculture in East Africa.”
