Nationally recruited staff (NRS) — Kenya

 Christine Mutisya was appointed research assistant in the Animal and Human Health program in April 2018. She is responsible for providing laboratory technical support for the Rift Valley fever vaccine trial in Kapiti and ILRI. She previously worked as a junior consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Program and as graduate research intern at ILRI working for the malignant catarrhal fever virus trial. She has also worked in different capacities at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and in One Health projects. She holds a BSc in crop production and horticulture science.

Jessica Onyango joined ILRI Finance department as accountant attached to the Biosciences/CGIAR research programs unit in May 2018. She was previously working with World Vision Kenya as a project financial analyst (similar to grants accountant). Prior to that, she had served in a similar position with Malteser International. Owing to her wide experience in non-governmental organizations, she is highly skilled in financial accounting, subrecipients management, grant monitoring and budgeting. Onyango holds a BA in Economics from Moi University Eldoret and is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya.

Nelson Kipchirchir joined ILRI in April 2018 as research assistant–Kapiti in the Animal Biosciences program. Prior to this, he worked as a graduate intern in the Zoonoses in Livestock in Kenya (ZooLinK) project, based in Western Kenya, whose aim is to develop an effective surveillance program for infectious diseases that are shared between livestock and humans. In this new position, he will be assisting in a field study on Rift Valley fever virus being conducted at the Kapiti Plains ranch. Kipchirchir holds a bachelor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Nairobi.

John Juma was appointed research associate–Bioinformatics at the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA)-ILRI Hub. Prior to this appointment, Juma was a bioinformatician/Linux systems administrator at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Previously, he was a bioinformatician at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nairobi, Kenya. He has a life science background in biochemistry and molecular biology and an interest in next-generation sequencing (NGS). In this position, his main role will be to provide high-quality ‘-omics’ data analyses and interpretation of results cutting across various projects and supporting bioinformatics capacity building at the BecA-ILRI Hub.

Sarah Kasyoka joined ILRI in June 2018 as communications and knowledge management specialist for the Sustainable Livestock Systems (SLS) program. She brings on board a decade-long career in the areas of communications, advocacy, knowledge management, capacity building and program coordination. She has previously worked for Save the Children International, Helen Keller International, Safaricom and the International Potato Center. She has a BA in psychology and marketing from United States International University (USIU-Africa) and a MA in public relations (strategic communications) from Ball State University in the United States.

Judy Kimani joined ILRI in July 2018 as communications and knowledge management specialist in the Policies, Institutions and Livelihoods program. She has over 10 years work experience in various capacities in development communications, corporate communications as well as media. Her skills and experience span across developing and implementing communication strategies, article writing and editing, website content generation and maintenance, branding, social media campaigns, graphic design, video and photography as well as organizing stakeholder events. Prior to joining ILRI, she worked in various capacities in both the county and national government sectors of Kenya. She holds a MSc in organizational development from United States International University Africa (USIU) and a BA Communications from Daystar University.

Josiah Njeru joined the Animal and Human Health program as research assistant in the Rift Valley fever project. He has extensive industry experience in clinical diagnostics and has most recently been working as molecular applications specialist at Caroga Diagnostics/Cepheid EU and previously at Pathcare Medical Laboratories. He holds a BSc in biomedical science and technology (Egerton University) and is currently pursuing an MSc in molecular biology and bioinformatics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. His research interests are in infectious diseases; diagnostic biomarkers discovery, and development and evaluation of rapid diagnostic tools.

Benedict Karani has joined the ILRI Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) team in the Livestock Genetics program as research assistant where he is responsible for processing livestock samples for genetic analysis and diagnostics and preparation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) libraries. He previously worked as research trainee at the US Army Medical Research Directorate in the viral haemorrhagic fever laboratories for two years, where he gained vast knowledge and experience in both molecular and serological diagnostics. He holds a BSc in microbiology from the University of Kabianga.

Catherine Nyokabi has joined ILRI in the Animal Bioscience program as housekeeper–Kapiti. She was previously working at the International Organization for Immigration (IOM) as a chef. Catherine is a diploma holder in catering and accommodation management from the Technical University of Kenya.

 

Nationally recruited staff (NRS)— Ethiopia

Tariku Yohannes has been appointed as program accountant in Sustainable Livestock Systems (SLS) Program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) effective  April 2018.  He holds MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from Addis Ababa University in 2017, BA degree in Accounting and Finance from Alpha University College in 2011 and Diploma in Human Resources Management from Addis Ababa University School of Commerce in 2004. Before joining ILRI, he was working as Accountant in ICARDA Ethiopia.

Meaza Wudeneh has been appointed as accountant in Finance unit, ILRI effective May 2018.  She holds BA degree in Accounting from Addis Ababa University in 2013 and Bachelor of Education in Chemistry from Dilla University in 2005. Before joining ILRI, she was working as Accountant at British Embassy.

 

 

Andarg Assefa has been appointed as technical assistant in Livestock Genetics Program effective  June 2018.  He holds Diploma in General Electronics from Debre Markos Technical Skill School in 2012.  Before he was appointed, he was working as a temporary Technical Assistant in the Poultry Farm at ILRI.

 

Tsion Issayas has been appointed as publishing services manager in Communications and Knowledge Management effective July 2018.  She holds MSc degree in Journalism and Communication and BA degree in English from Addis Ababa University.  Before joining ILRI, she was working as Country Communications Manager at Management Sciences for Health (MSH).

 

Getachew Beyoro has been appointed as program manager in Feed and Forage Development Program effective July 2018.  He holds MSc degree in Strategic Management from United States International University-Africa in 2006, Certified International Project Manager (CIPM),  from American Academy of Project Management Institute in 2015, completed four Masters level courses in Leadership and Organizational Development offered by Azusa Pacific University in 2002 and 2003, BSc degree  in Chemistry with combined minor in Mathematics and Physics in 1995.  Before joining ILRI, he was working as Youth Livelihoods and Self Employment Specialist at Education Development Center, USAID Projects.

Tariku Tsegaye has been appointed as web systems specialist in Communications and Knowledge Management effective July 2018.  He holds MSc degree in Information Science from Addis Ababa University in 2014 and BSc degree in Computer Science from Hawassa University in 2007.  Before joining ILRI, he was working as Freelancer at Android Developer Company.

 

Eskedar Tilahun has been appointed as administrative officer in Administration effective July 2018.  She holds Project Management Certificate as a Certified Development Project Manager from Institute of Project Management for Development, USA in 2016, Master of Business Administration degree from Central University, New Mexico in 2015, BSc degree in Library & Information Science from Addis Ababa University in 2006 and Diploma in Secretarial Science and Office Management from Addis Ababa University Commercial School in 1999.  Before she was appointed, she was working as a temporary Administrative Officer in Administration.

Mahlet Kassahun has been appointed as CKM support services assistant in Communications and Knowledge Management effective July 2018.  She holds Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, Advertisement and Accounting from University of Mysore, India in 2007, Business Statistics and Business Legislation Certificate from University of Mysore, India in 2006 and Industrial Resource Certificate from University of Mysore, India in 2004.  Before joining ILRI, she was working as a temporary Administrative Assistant in ILRI.

Internationally recruited staff (IRS)

Albin Hübscher joined ILRI in July 2018 as interim director–Corporate Services.

He has broad international experience in both the private and the non-profit sectors. Hübscher previously worked for the CGIAR System Organization/System Management Office (former Consortium Office–CGIAR Secretariat) as the chief finance officer / head of finance from 2015 until May 2018 in France. He worked for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) as deputy director general, Corporate Services from 2007–2015. He started his international career in 1978 in Nairobi with Ciba, and before he joined CIAT in 2007, he was responsible for seed business development in Asia including merger and acquisitions (M&A) in China. Hübscher is from Switzerland.

Lillian Wambua was appointed postdoctoral fellow–diagnostic assays in July 2018 in the Animal and Human Health program. Her research focus is development of innovative low-cost, field-deployable diagnostic interventions for surveillance and control of diseases. She will contribute towards diagnosis of zoonotic infections and development of a platform for the detection of multiple zoonoses in the ZooLink project. Most recently, Wambua worked in icipe, leading a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project on diagnostic approaches for surveillance of illegal bushmeat and zoonotic diseases. She was also previously involved in developing penside diagnostic assays for Napier stunt and Napier smut diseases. She holds PhD in genetics and management of biological resources (Universita’ degli Studi della Tuscia, Italy), MRes in advanced genetic analysis (Leeds University, United Kingdom) and a BSc in biomedical science and technology (Egerton University, Kenya). She is a fellow of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and is Kenyan.

Kibrom Abay joined the Sustainable Livestock Systems (SLS) program as postdoctoral fellow in July 2018. He will be working with the Index-based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) team. Kibrom’s research interest lies at the intersection of agricultural, behavioural and development economics. Most of his research involves applied econometrics and policy evaluation methods. He is an expert in impact evaluation methods and has recently worked on measurements in household surveys and related data collection tools. He holds Msc and PhD degrees in economics from the University of Copenhagen. Kibrom has published papers in field and general economics journals and he is from Ethiopia.