Hi, I’m
Catherine Wanjiku Machungo
Scientist/Researcher
Nairobi
Summary
Catherine brings over 13 years' experience gained in research. Since 2007, she has been involved in application of research to improving people's livelihood. She has taken special interest in development and dissemination of sustainable improved technologies. Her major professional interest is to generate and communicate scientific knowledge to inform policy to enhance implementation of science-based technologies for development. Presently, Catherine is heading a research department where she has a span of control of 5 professional staff working with her. She has collaborated with local National Research organizations e.g. Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Organization (KARLO), International Research organizations e.g. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIROAustralia), Bioscience eastern and central Africa (BecA-ILRI Hub), International Co-operation Centre for Agriculture Education (ICCAE) - Nagoya University Japan, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), International Fertilizer Development Co-operation (IFDC) , International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) as well as local and international Universities to undertake research projects. She has also developed and implemented winning funding proposals within these collaborations. Catherine's ambition is to fully exploit her potential in development of modern technologies to ensure environmental sustainability, food security, food safety and human well-being. This will be achieved through undertaking research projects, development of novel technological applications and enabling transfer of technologies through capacity building.
Overview
20
years of professional experience
18
years of post-secondary education
Work History
National Irrigation Authority and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO-Australia)
Research Scientist/ Head Researcher
10.2010 - Current
Job overview
- Company Overview: The National Irrigation Authority exists to provide and coordinate sustainable development and management of irrigation services in Kenya
- The authority collaborates with like-minded research institutions
- Management and coordination of internal and external research projects across the organization and giving specialist guidance and advice to the organization
- Defining the scope of the projects & development of research methodologies
- Identification and sourcing the most appropriate external research agencies for specific research projects, using outsourced researchers where appropriate and ensuring effective and timely delivery of expected outputs
- Collating and analysing data to provide evidence-based recommendations which is used to contribute to the delivery of the organizations strategic goals
- Development of a framework for research for new frontiers in irrigation development and management and oversee its implementation that includes forging partnerships and collaboration
- Monitoring and analysing organization performance through a range of measures, internal and external and communicating the same back with appropriate recommendations
- Reviewing all research reports, internal and external, to ensure a high-level view of significant findings and trends, originating value therefrom and report back to the organization
- Advising and guiding colleagues planning to conduct their own research with regard to the findings of previous research undertaken and on methodologies for prospective research projects
- Liaison with other departments and divisions to enhance understanding and use of new knowledge and information across the organization
- Capacity building and training of farmers, staff, students, and other stakeholders in the irrigation sector
- Preparation and presentation of project progress reports and publication of key findings
- General co-ordination of the research department: Preparation of budgets, work plans and supervision and appraisal of employees in the department
- The National Irrigation Authority exists to provide and coordinate sustainable development and management of irrigation services in Kenya
- The authority collaborates with like-minded research institutions
- Key liaisons - National Irrigation Authority and University of Nairobi collaborative project on Climate change adaptations for sustainable beef production in Tana River County (TARIBE)
- Capacity development for farmers on use of aflasafe for management of aflatoxin contamination in Tana River County in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture
- Initiated a memorandum of understanding between National Irrigation Authority and World Food Programme (WFP) on implementation of irrigation projects to enhance livelihoods for vulnerable communities in arid and semi-arid areas
- Key liaisons - National Irrigation Authority and Kenya Seed Company and Bayer Monsanto international collaborative project on evaluation and introduction of new seed maize varieties for Tana River County
- Revival and operationalization of Ahero Irrigation Research Station to offer advisory and research services to irrigation schemes and projects in Western, Nyanza and Rift valley regions
- Evaluation of effective pest control and plant nutrition products in collaboration with Agrochemical companies and Pest Control Products Board (PCPB)
- Evaluation and dissemination of Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology in collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
- Evaluation and dissemination of Urea Deep Placement (UDP) technology in collaboration with International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC)
- Fabrication and testing of a manual rice transplanter in collaboration with JKUAT
- Acquisition and evaluation of new rice germplasm in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
- Initiated seed maize production in Western Kenya Schemes in collaboration with Kenya Seed Company
- Principal investigator, Nagoya University/Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) project on Rice blast management
- Counterpart researcher, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) - Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) project
- Co-ordination of National Performance Trials (NPT) and Durability, Uniformity and Stability trials for registration and commercialization of National Irrigation Authority (NIA) rice varieties and New Rice for Africa (NERICA)
- Successful delivery of a consultancy assignment to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on: Appraisal and perspectives of the technical systems of rice processing in Kenya in collaboration with JKUAT
- Supervision and capacity building of staff and general co-ordination of the research department
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO-Australia)
Doctoral Researcher
01.2014 - 01.2018
Job overview
- Company Overview: Bioscience eastern and central Africa (BecA-ILRI Hub) partnership
- Review of relevant literature to define the scope of the project
- Development of research methodology and data collection tools
- Artificial infection maize cobs (Australian variety and Kenyan varieties) with Aspergillus flavus (Australian and Kenyan strains), under laboratory conditions and analysing the headspace volatiles in maize flour prepared from those cob
- Immunochemical quantification of the aflatoxin content of the flour, using commercial Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Conduct farmer survey and collection of field samples of maize that had been naturally infected with Aspergillus flavus under Kenyan conditions for validation of the techniques
- Headspace analysis of the samples, using state of the art GasChromatography Mass Spectroscopy and three different electronic nose instruments
- Use of digital techniques to extract information from these analyses followed by automated feature extraction and classification using principal components analysis and a variety of sophisticated machine learning techniques
- General coordination of the project including development of work plans and budgets for funding and progress reports
- Participation in other CSIRO health and Biosecurity flagship /BecA research projects and activities including meetings and conferences
- Bioscience eastern and central Africa (BecA-ILRI Hub) partnership
- Identification of volatile chemicals diagnostic for aflatoxin contamination, not done before using whole maize cobs
- Demonstrated successful classification of the aflatoxin status of maize flour from headspace with Gas chromatography and electronic nose instruments, at levels well above statistical significance and potentially approaching levels that could be practically useful in protecting the food chain
- Publication of findings in international refereed journals (On going)
International Co-operation Centre for Agriculture Education (ICCAE) - Nagoya University Japan
Visiting Researcher (Short-term appointment)
04.2011 - 10.2011
Job overview
- Collection and characterization of Kenya local varieties to Identify useful traits
- Selection of pure lines for each variety
- QTL mapping for rice blast resistance and other agronomic traits
- Screening of Basmati 370 x Habataki lines for resistance to rice blast and other agronomic traits under field conditions in Kenya
- Agronomic characterization of Kenyan local varieties and selection of varieties with superior agronomic traits
- Identification of QTLs associated with rice blast resistance from the cross between Habataki and Basmati 370
- Selection of breeding lines from Basmati 370 x Habataki cross that were used by Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) project for development of rice blast resistant varieties
JKUAT- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
MSc Student/ Researcher
01.2005 - 07.2007
Job overview
- Company Overview: Banana Endophyte Project
- Field sampling and isolation of potential beneficial microorganisms
- Identification and characterization of isolated micro-organisms
- In vitro and in vivo screening of selected isolates for biological control of banana lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus goodeyi)
- Development of efficient methods for inoculation of tissue culture bananas with beneficial microorganisms
- Evaluation of the effect of selected microorganisms on growth of tissue culture bananas and for of banana nematodes
- Liaison with the project donors
- General co-ordination of the project including preparation of budgets and work plans, preparation and presentation of project progress reports
- Banana Endophyte Project
- Identification of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum isolates that could potentially be inoculated into tissue culture banana plants for enhancement of growth and control of nematodes
Education
University of Canberra
Doctor of Philosophy from Applied Science
01.2014 - 01.2019
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Master of Science from Horticulture
01.2005 - 01.2008
University of Nairobi
Bachelor of Science from Agriculture
01.2000 - 01.2004
Mary Leaky Girls' High School
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
01.1995 - 01.1998
St Mary's Primary School Karen
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
01.1994 - 01.1997
Skills
Project management
Affiliations
- Member, Kenya Rice Researchers Forum
- Member, University of Nairobi Agriculture Students Alumni
- Member Australia Awards Global Alumni
- Member Kenya Australia Alumni Association
Professional Highlights
Catherine brings over 13 years' experience gained in research. Since 2007, she has been involved in application of research to improving people's livelihood. She has taken special interest in development and dissemination of sustainable improved technologies. Her major professional interest is to generate and communicate scientific knowledge to inform policy to enhance implementation of science-based technologies for development.
Research Grants
National Council of Science and Technology (NCST) and Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) joint grant for the project 'Development of rice blast disease control technology through characterization of rice blast fungus and rice cultivars in Kenya', KES 2,000,000, 2013, Principal Investigator
Personal Information
- Profession: Scientist/Researcher
- Nationality: Kenyan
Awards
- Australia Awards PhD (Agriculture) Scholarship, 2014
- German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Scholarship, 2005
Publications
- Aflatoxin Contamination of maize in Kenya: Current and emerging diagnostic techniques., Food Research International, under Review, 2021
- Electronic Nose as a Screening Tool for Detection of Aflatoxin Contamination of Maize., International Food Safety Conference., 2019
- Pathogenicities of rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae Cavara) isolates from Kenya., Plant disease, 103, 2, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-19-0870-RE, 2019
- Effect of endophytic Fusarium oxysporum on growth of tissue cultured banana plants., Africa Journal of Horticultural Sciences, 2, 160-167, 2009
- Use of endophytic fungi for control of nematodes in tissue culture bananas., Banana and Plantain in Africa., 2008
- Appraisal and perspectives of the technical systems of rice processing in Kenya., Consultancy report submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)., 2012
- Combating rice blast disease in Kenya., Collaborative research on breeding resistant varieties and biological control., 2011
- Evaluation of the Urea Deep Placement (UDP) technology in irrigated lowland rice in Kenya., Kenya Rice Researchers Forum Symposium., 2012
- Rice Blast: The most devastating fungal disease in rice- management guidelines for farmers., National Irrigation Board (NIB)., 2008
Training
- 03/01/19, Project design thinking for social impact training offered by Australia Awards - Women in Leadership Network.
- 08/01/17, Matlab training for data processing and visualization offered by MathWorks Academy.
- 01/01/18, Machine Learning with Matlab training offered by MathWorks Academy.
- 10/01/15, Leadership and communication training offered by Australian Technology Network (ATN).
- 06/01/14, Research Commercialization training offered by Australian Technology Network (ATN).
- 05/01/14, SPSS for data analysis training offered by University of Canberra.
- 11/01/13, Women in Leadership: Breaking the Gordian Knot training offered by Kenya Institute of Management.
- 10/01/13, Performance Management and Appraisal training offered by MaxWorth Associates.
- 06/01/05, GenStat training on data analysis offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Additional Information
Invited Conferences/Presentations
Timeline
Doctoral Researcher
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO-Australia)
01.2014 - 01.2018
University of Canberra
Doctor of Philosophy from Applied Science
01.2014 - 01.2019
Visiting Researcher (Short-term appointment)
International Co-operation Centre for Agriculture Education (ICCAE) - Nagoya University Japan
04.2011 - 10.2011
Research Scientist/ Head Researcher
National Irrigation Authority and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO-Australia)
10.2010 - Current
MSc Student/ Researcher
JKUAT- International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
01.2005 - 07.2007
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Master of Science from Horticulture
01.2005 - 01.2008
University of Nairobi
Bachelor of Science from Agriculture
01.2000 - 01.2004
Mary Leaky Girls' High School
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
01.1995 - 01.1998
St Mary's Primary School Karen
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
01.1994 - 01.1997
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