Mary Mwangi

Dr. Mary Mwangi is a PhD Fellow, Lecturer and researcher in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology at Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya. She holds an MSc in Botany (Genetics) and BEd (Science) Honours, both of Kenyatta University. She has over 20 years’ experience in Plant biotechnology, specifically banana breeding and tissue culture technology transfer.

She has successfully implemented several multidisciplinary projects focusing on plant biotechnology for poverty alleviation, food/nutritional security, and climate change. They include: SIDA/VICRES grant 2007: “Banana tissue culture and nutrient enhancement for food security and income generation among people living with AIDS in the Lake Victoria basin. (Collaborator); Developing capacity for participatory and marker assisted plant breeding to mitigate low crop productivity and food security (EU-ACP -CAPACITATE East Africa S&T Project FED /2009/218788 (Kenyatta University Project Leader); National Council for Science and Technology Grant 2011- Establishment of Integrated on Farm Nurseries of Tissue Culture (TC) Bananas and Multipurpose Trees (MTPs) For Sustainable Food Security and Wealth Creation in Kenya (Principal Investigator).

Currently, Mary is a collaborator in two projects, the CLISMABAN project funded by the Long-term EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (LEAP-Agri) 2017 and a project titled “Bioprospecting cellulases for bioethanol production on organic wastes in Kenya” funded by the National Research Fund (NRF), Kenya. She has also published in plant biotechnology and made presentations in international conferences. She is also a recipient of several training fellowships for Science communication, Stakeholder mapping, leadership, negotiation, research management and participatory plant breeding among others. Mary is a member of several professional bodies including the Association of African Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE) where she serves as secretary, the African Women for Biosciences Network (AWfB-Kenya), and the International association of Women in Science and Engineering (INWES).

She is also actively involved in Biotechnology outreach activities through the International service for Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) and the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB).  She has participated in curriculum development initiatives key among them, the mainstreaming of HIV AIDS in African Universities. Mary has experience in organizing international Conferences including 3 INWES/AWSE regional meetings in Africa (2004 and 2013 in Kenya and 2015 in Uganda).