PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry

About Me

Holder of a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry and presently endeavor to develop a career in the field of plant and human science geared towards improving human health, food and nutritional security and solving climate change challenges. I am dedicated and committed with a passion for solving challenging problems in biological science and interested in international collaboration.

Career Objectives

To understand how biodiversity offers solutions to significant environmental, health and food and nutritional insecurity challenges. I wish to fully utilize, develop and learn new teaching and research skills, where I can grow from one level to another and eventually lead a team.

Career Journey

PhD Nutritional Biochemistry, JKUAT

Thesis title: “Application of Metabolomics in assessment of functional diversity, quality traits and antidiabetic potential of selected African solanaceae accessions subjected to drought stress”.

M.SC. Biochemistry, JKUAT

Thesis title: “Nutritional, phytochemical and in vitro antimicrobial screening of some Indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs)”.

Career Development

Recent Fellowships and Training Attended

2021, 5th – 9th July: Participated in Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory Training Workshop organized by JR Biotek Foundation in collaboration with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). The Workshop is part of the foundation’s “Reach & Teach Science in Africa” flagship programme supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund through their partnership with the University of Cambridge, UK.

2020, 5th– 20th November: Co-facilitator, Innovation for Nutrition Outcomes, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation learning session.

2020 – 2023: One Planet Laureate Candidate for the One Planet Fellowship initiative (https://awardfellowships.org/one_planet_community/mibei-elias-kibiwot/?id=8148) led by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) in Nairobi, Kenya and Agropolis Fondation in Montpellier, France. The fellowship offers nonresidential three-year career-development program that seeks to build a vibrant, highly connected, and inter-generational network of scientist leaders to bolster the African and European research community working on the development of innovative research projects; relevant, gender-responsive interventions towards climate change adaptation for Africa’s smallholder farmers. The program is articulated around:

Building mentoring and networking skills;
Enhancing leadership skills;
Accessing cutting-edge research, group projects and other scientific opportunities;
Fostering policy dialogue and implementation while also maximizing mutual collaboration and with the broader climate research community.

2019, 3rd – 16th April: Participated in the AfriPlantSci Plant Health course at hosted by Pwani University, Kenya in collaboration with John Innes Centre, UK. The course covered plant health science, combined with practical hands-on experience of the latest techniques important to advance plant health research in Africa.

2019, 28th January – 1st February: Participated in The Agriculture for Food Security 2030 (AgriFoSe2030) training course on “How to enhance capacity to transform science into policy and practice in the field of food security’ hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, Africa Centre, Nairobi in collaboration with The Gothenburg Center for Environment and Sustainability (GMV) at University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. The course equipped me with hands-on tools and skills for effective research-to-policy

Practical Experience and Competence

Metabolomic analysis and phytochemistry

Extraction, isolation and characterization of plant metabolites;
Nutritional and chemical analysis of natural products by use of spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques;
Good laboratory practice, quality control processes and First Aid skills.

Microbiology and molecular techniques

Antimicrobial bioassay, diagnosis and management of plant pests and diseases;
Molecular biology techniques;
Plant genetics, phytopathology, next-generation sequencing;
Bioinformatics.

Personal attributes

Good leadership and communication skills;
Organized and service oriented team player, with strong interpersonal as well as analytical skills;
Hardworking and self-motivated with ability to work under minimal supervision to achieve set goals.

Research methodology and data analysis

Writing of a research proposal, carry out or supervise research, analyze data and prepare reports;
Organization, processing, management and analysis of data using scientific methods e.g. MetaboAnalyst tools, GenStat and SPSS.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse