I am a Darwin Trust funded PhD student investigating the impact of microbial rhythms on the development of malaria parasites and mosquitoes' ability to spread diseases.
Mosquitoes are crucial in spreading malaria and other harmful microorganisms. The microbes that live inside the mosquitoes impact their ability to transmit malaria. My research explores whether these microbes' daily routines (rhythms) affect parasite development and the mosquitoes' capacity to transmit malaria successfully. With mosquitoes changing their biting times, understanding these routines is crucial for interventions against malaria. Solving this puzzle could pave the way for new and innovative approaches to control the spread of diseases.
Publications
Otieno, B., Elson, L., Matharu, A.K., Riithi, N., Chongwo, E., Katana, K., Nasambu, C., Mutebi, F., Feldmeier, H., Krücken, J. and Fillinger, U. (2023). Neurocognitive and mental health outcomes in children with tungiasis: a cross-sectional study in rural Kenya and Uganda. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 12, 100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-023-01154-4
Elson, L., Matharu, A.K., Riithi, N., Ouma, P., Mutebi, F., Feldmeier, H., Krücken, J. and Fillinger, U. (2023). Characterization of tungiasis infection and morbidity using thermography in Kenya revealed higher disease burden during COVID-19 school closures. Infectious Diseases of Poverty 12, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-023-01080-5
Positions/experience
2023- present: PhD Evolutionary Biology, Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
2020-2022: Research Assistant: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya.
Investigating the ecological risk factors contributing to Tungiasis infection in children in Kwale county, Kenya.
Catte-targeted interventions to control vectors of human and veterinary importance in Kwale county, Kenya.
2016-2020: Masters of Science: Applied Medical Entomology, Kenyatta University, Kenya.
2011-2015: Bachelor of Science: Biology, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Grants
2019: The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) / National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) small grant (£ 5000). https://www.rstmh.org/grants/grant-awardees-2019/nihr-grants-2019
Blogs
https://www.rstmh.org/news-blog/blog/my-journey-with-rstmh-towards-the-effective-control-of-sleeping-sickness-vectors https://www.rstmh.org/news-blog/blogs/iwd-2022-%E2%80%98gender-bias-is-a-galling-word-in-a-world-where-women-seek-to-be-heard-and
Funding
Studentship funded by The Darwin Trust of Edinburgh