Student Researcher Award – 2023

Ms Billiah Kemunto Bwana who graduated from the University of Embu in September 2023 with the degree of Master of Science in Genetics was awarded the 2023 Student Researcher Award at a University Ceremony held on 21st December 2023. Ms Bwana had the highest ranked publication among postgraduate students who graduated from the University in September 2023.

Her thesis entitled “Putative functions of novel antennae chemosensory gene repertoire of male tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans” and was jointly supervised by Dr Julius Mugweru and Dr Franklin Nyabuga of the University of Embu, and Dr Paul Mireji of Biotechnology Research Institute at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.

Billiah published her findings under the title ‘Annotations of novel antennae-expressed genes in male Glossina morsitans morsitans tsetse flies’ in the journal PLoS One https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0273543

Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes, the causative agents of sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle, thus the published work is important to society.

For additional publications by Ms Bwana follow the links

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.831618/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fitd.2023.1145993/full

Ms Billiah Kemunto Bwana winner of the 2023 Student Researcher of Year Award receiving a Certificate of Recognition from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Embu on 21st December 2023