Experienced Food and Nutrition Scientist with 10+ years in nutrition research, sustainable agriculture, and food value addition. Skilled in mixed-methods research, consumer behavior analysis, and healthy diet promotion. Expertise includes project management, stakeholder engagement, scientific writing, and policy advocacy. Proven ability in product development, sensory evaluation, and enhancing farmer livelihoods. Committed to advancing affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant nutrition-rich diets through evidence-based, inclusive approaches.
Hi, I’m
Dr. MILCAH WAMBUA
Nakuru,Rift Valley
Summary
Overview
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Egerton University
Research Officer
02.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Company Overview: Project: Food Safety for Africa
- Coordinating field activities, including groundnut sample collection and farmer training on postharvest handling, food safety, and value addition practices.
- Developed standardized protocols for aflatoxin detection and nutritional composition analysis of groundnuts.
- Conducting sample preparation and analytical procedures for aflatoxins and nutrient profiling using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and other laboratory techniques.
- Contributing to developing a farmer training manual and preparing scientific manuscripts for publication.
- Project: Food Safety for Africa
Mawazo Institute
Network Group Coordinator – Agriculture & Food Security
05.2024 - 05.2025
Job overview
- Monitored progress towards established goals throughout the duration of projects, adjusting timelines or reallocating resources when necessary to stay on track for success.
- Coordinated and facilitated food systems research and innovation across the thematic group through regular meetings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
- Supported interdisciplinary partnerships and resource mobilization, including grant applications and research proposal and abstract reviews.
- Monitored progress in PhD research, publications, and policy engagement activities to ensure alignment with sustainability goals.
- Successfully led the group as Principal Investigator in securing a Community of Practice (CoP) grant focused on promoting cassava in Kenya as both a food security and income-generating crop. Activities included conducting a baseline surveys, focus group discussions, Key informant Interviews, organizing policy engagement forums, and delivering farmer training sessions on good agricultural practices, cassava processing, and marketing.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to execute grant activities, train team members, and coordinate stakeholder engagements.
- Served as liaison to Mawazo Institute leadership to advocate for researchers' needs and strengthen internal communication.
Happy Cow LTD
Agriculture Extension Officer/Quality Assurance Coordinator
08.2024 - 01.2025
Job overview
- Designed and delivered training programs for dairy farmers, youth, and milk transporters on sustainable, climate-smart, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- Promoted adoption of modern agricultural technologies to improve productivity, food security, and resilience to climate change.
- Supported improved post-harvest handling and storage techniques to minimize food losses and enhance market returns.
- Facilitated stakeholder collaboration in feed formulation, artificial insemination, and fodder commercialization to strengthen the dairy value chain.
- Provided technical assistance to farmers, improving milk yields, farm profitability, and supply chain sustainability.
- Conducted supplier audits, quality assurance reviews, and supported policy development aligned with international food safety standards.
- Conducted regular field visits to monitor farmer progress and provide practical, timely guidance.
- Trained employees on:
Hygienic handling of dairy products (e.g., yoghurt, cheese)
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
HACCP principles
ISO 22000 food safety management systems
CEESAM – Egerton University
Food Value Addition and Food Safety Trainer
02.2022 - 08.2024
Job overview
- Delivered specialized training programs to farmer groups, youth, and women on agricultural value addition as a pathway to enhance food security, improve nutrition, and increase household income.
- Conducted live, hands-on demonstrations in value addition of diverse agricultural commodities, including dairy, meat, cereals, and root crops, emphasizing innovation, product diversification, and market competitiveness.
- Designed and implemented training modules for Trainers of Trainers (ToTs), incorporating adult learning principles, localized needs assessments, and outcome-based evaluations to ensure effective knowledge transfer and capacity development.
- Facilitated sessions on food safety management practices across dairy and meat value chains, including hygienic handling, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), thereby enhancing product quality and regulatory compliance.
- Participated in local agricultural exhibitions and shows to showcase value addition technologies and raise awareness of innovative, nutrition-sensitive agri-food solutions.
- Provided technical advisory services on appropriate processing techniques, storage, and packaging to reduce post-harvest losses and improve shelf-life and consumer safety of agri-food products.
- Coordinated and managed workshops, conferences, and field demonstrations, ensuring optimal use of training resources and stakeholder engagement.
Egerton University
PhD Research Fellow – Cassava CARP+ (RUFORUM)
09.2018 - 01.2023
Job overview
- Led field trials and applied mixed research methods to assess drought-tolerant cassava varieties, optimize agronomic practices, and evaluate adoption and impact in farming communities.
- Conducted laboratory analyses of cassava roots and leaves for macro- and micronutrient content, contributing to the development of nutritious, value-added cassava products targeting food and nutrition security.
- Designed food-safe, standardized processing protocols and conducted consumer acceptability studies for fortified cassava products, enhancing their market potential and supporting income generation.
- Facilitated farmer and stakeholder capacity-building through training workshops and outreach on cassava cultivation, post-harvest handling, processing, storage, and pest control.
- Managed research budgets and timelines, ensured ethical compliance (IRB), implemented rigorous data quality controls, published peer-reviewed articles, secured grants, and mentored junior researchers.
Egerton University
Part-time Lecturer, Dept. of Dairy and Food Science and Technology
01.2017 - 12.2021
Job overview
- Delivered undergraduate courses including Fruit and Vegetable Technology, Cereals and Tuber Crops, Food Entrepreneurship, Sensory and Consumer Evaluation, and New Product Development, with a strong emphasis on both theory and practical application.
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans, aligned with academic objectives, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.
- Created and designed quizzes, tests, assignments, and project-based assessments to effectively measure student comprehension and skill development.
- Applied a variety of teaching methodologies including case studies, group work, and practical demonstrations to accommodate diverse learning styles and enhance student engagement.
- Coordinated syllabus development, course scheduling, and reading lists across multiple subjects, ensuring students had adequate time to grasp complex concepts and complete assignments.
- Led students in innovation-oriented projects, particularly in new product development and consumer studies, encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship in food systems.
Egerton University
Research Assistant, RELOAD Project
01.2012 - 12.2017
Job overview
Education
Egerton UniversityNakuru County
Ph.D. from Food Science
11-2025
University Overview
Egerton UniversityNakuru County
Master of Science from Food Science
05.2017
University Overview
Egerton University
Bachelor of Science from Food Science and Technology
12-2013
University Overview
- Degree Awarded with [Honors]
Skills
- Mixed-Methods Research
- Research Methodology and Scientific Writing
- Data Collection, Management, and Analysis
- Project Management & Resource Optimization
- Research Publication & Peer-reviewed Writing
- Teamwork and Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication
- Public Health Nutrition and Food Safety
- Consumer Behavior
- Adaptability and Flexibility in Multinational Settings
- Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building
- Excellent Spoken and Written Communication
Languages
English
Swahili
Selected Publications
Selected Publications
- Nutritional, Safety, and Starch Properties of Flour from Selected Sweet Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Varieties Grown in Nakuru County, Kenya, Wambua, M., et al., 2024, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Elsevier
- Evaluation of Popular Cassava Varieties for Yield and Cyanide Content under ASAL Conditions in Kenya, Wambua, M., et al., 2020, African Crop Science Journal
- Effect of Different Cassava Varieties and Substitution Levels in the Baking of Wheat-Cassava Composite Bread, Wambua, M., et al., 2016, Journal of Food Science and Technology
Software Skills
Software Skills
- MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- R
- SAS
- SPSS
- Kobo Toolbox
Training and Certificates
Training and Certificates
- Training of Farmers and Extension Agents, 02/01/24
- Food Safety Management Systems (HACCP, FSSC 22000), 01/01/21
- Mawazo Learning Exchange Fellowship PhD Programme, 02/01/18
Additional Information
Additional Information
Graduate Mentor (USA Students)- Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU) Project
Egerton University: Jun 2019 - Aug 2024 · 5 yrs
- Supervised U.S. undergraduate students in research projects focused on indigenous and underutilized vegetables, including African nightshade (Solanum scabrum), amaranth, cassava leaves, and beetroots, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving household nutrition.
- Guided students in nutritional and phytochemical analyses, such as quantification of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds using methods including spectrophotometry and HPLC.
- Provided mentorship in research design, lab protocols, data analysis, and scientific communication.
- Coordinated field excursions and fostered cross-cultural learning experiences on traditional African food systems.
- Supported students in scientific presentations, poster development, and research reporting.
Hobbies
Hobbies
Travelling
Reading
Healthy cooking and eating
Projects
Projects
Project: Promoting Cassava Cultivation, Processing, and Commercialization in Eastern Kenya
Role: Principal Investigator | Funded by: Mawazo Institute | May 2025-September 2025
Led a mixed-methods research project to strengthen the cassava value chain in Eastern Kenya by identifying key constraints in cultivation, processing, and market access. Conducted a baseline survey to assess production practices, processing gaps, and commercialization challenges. Facilitated stakeholder policy engagement forums to align value chain actors and inform strategic interventions. Designing and implementing capacity-building programs targeting smallholder farmers, with the goal of improving productivity, food security, and income generation.
Referees
Referees
Referees Professor George Owuor
Director of Research and Extension, Egerton University
Email: g.owuor@egerton.ac.ke
Phone: +254 722831634
Professor Mary Omwamba
Chair of Department Dairy and Food Science and Technology, Egerton University
Email: momwamba@egerton.ac.ke
Phone: +254 711633247
Professor Paul Kimurto
PI, Food Safety for Africa Project, Egerton University
Email: pkimurto@egerton.ac.ke
Phone: +254 725309162
Date of Availability
Date of Availability
I will be available from September,2025
Timeline
Research Officer
Egerton University
02.2025 - Current
Agriculture Extension Officer/Quality Assurance Coordinator
Happy Cow LTD
08.2024 - 01.2025
Network Group Coordinator – Agriculture & Food Security
Mawazo Institute
05.2024 - 05.2025
Food Value Addition and Food Safety Trainer
CEESAM – Egerton University
02.2022 - 08.2024
PhD Research Fellow – Cassava CARP+ (RUFORUM)
Egerton University
09.2018 - 01.2023
Part-time Lecturer, Dept. of Dairy and Food Science and Technology
Egerton University
01.2017 - 12.2021
Research Assistant, RELOAD Project
Egerton University
01.2012 - 12.2017
Egerton University
Ph.D. from Food Science
Egerton University
Master of Science from Food Science
Egerton University
Bachelor of Science from Food Science and Technology
Similar Profiles
Prof. George Morara OgendiProf. George Morara Ogendi
Ag. Principal at Egerton UniversityAg. Principal at Egerton University
Nehemiah Koech KipkiruiNehemiah Koech Kipkirui
Teaching and Research Assistant at Egerton UniversityTeaching and Research Assistant at Egerton University
Kipkoech KemboiKipkoech Kemboi
Procurement officer at Egerton university investment companyProcurement officer at Egerton university investment company
DANIEL CHEGEDANIEL CHEGE
Correspondent- Editorial Department at Standard Media GroupCorrespondent- Editorial Department at Standard Media Group
WINNIE JEPKURUI KIBIWOTTWINNIE JEPKURUI KIBIWOTT
Office Assistant at Peesam LimitedOffice Assistant at Peesam Limited