Researcher of the Year 2024

Prof Dr Romano Mwirichia Kachiuru winner of the Researcher of Year Award 2024 is an Associate Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Embu. https://biologicalsciences.embuni.ac.ke/index.php/faculty/academic-staff/9-profile/14-dr-romano-mwirichia-kachiuru-profile

Google Scholar Profile – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bvWx_-IAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Prof Mwirichia  is recognized for his work on the Soda Lakes in Kenya including Lake Magadi and Lake Elmentaita. He holds the following degrees:

• PhD (Biotechnology), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, 2009.
• MSc. (Microbiology), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, 2005.
• Bachelor of Science (Upper 2nd) Hons Botany and Zoology, University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1998

Prof Mwirichia has been a Postdoctoral Fellow at the following:

• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany
• Yale University                                        

Research Interests

• Bioprospecting for novel microorganisms from the environment.
• Metagenomics of extreme environments.
• Microbial systematics.
• Extremophiles diversity and Ecology

Prof Mwirichia has widely published in high impact journals including those by Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, Oxford University Press and Nature. Recognized for excellence in publications and grant mobilization.