I am a nutrition and food systems researcher, academic, consultant, and mentor at Egerton University. My academic training in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences at Egerton University, followed by a PhD in Food, Nutrition and Safety from Jiangnan University in China, gave me a strong foundation in molecular and applied nutrition. Since completing my PhD, my work has expanded into multidisciplinary research, grant writing and resource mobilization, project leadership, consultancy and policy engagement.<\/p>\n
My engagement with AERC has been an important part of this journey, particularly through my role as the Nutrition Expert for the Policy Analysis for Sustainable and Healthy Foods in African Retail Markets (PASHFARM) project. In this role, I provided technical leadership and strategic support across the research portfolio, strengthening the integration of nutrition and food systems perspectives into multidisciplinary research and supporting the quality and policy relevance of research outputs. My work included providing technical guidance on nutrition-sensitive food systems research, supporting study design and analytical approaches, reviewing research outputs, integrating nutrition into economic and gender analysis, and supporting knowledge translation and stakeholder engagement. I also provided mentorship, technical support and coordination across 20 multidisciplinary research teams working in different African countries. The PASHFARM experience exposed me to a diverse network of African researchers and strengthened my understanding of how evidence can respond to Africa\u2019s food systems and policy priorities. It deepened my appreciation of multidisciplinary collaboration, policy engagement, knowledge translation and the importance of connecting evidence with practice. We also convened Learning Labs through the Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy, strengthening the capacity of researchers, policymakers and practitioners to integrate nutrition and gender into food environment research and translate research findings into policy-relevant messages for programmes, policy and practice.<\/p>\n
My inspiration to pursue research began during my undergraduate training at Egerton University, when I undertook a student research project on food and nutrition security in the Kerio Valley, my home area in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. At the time, communities were facing significant challenges in accessing food, partly due to internal displacement associated with cattle rustling. Seeing how insecurity and disruption of livelihoods could affect food and nutrition security deeply affected me. I began to ask myself how I could contribute to finding solutions to the problems facing my own community. That experience challenged me to become a researcher, not simply to generate knowledge, but to develop evidence that could help communities like mine address malnutrition and improve their food and nutrition security. That desire to connect research with real-life problems and solutions has remained a strong motivation throughout my career.<\/p>\n
My research interests include nutrition and food systems, food environments and consumer behaviour, maternal and child nutrition, nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, and the links between nutrition, gender and policy. I increasingly view nutrition as a systems issue. Africa\u2019s nutrition challenges cannot be addressed by focusing only on individual behaviour; we also need to consider whether healthy foods are available, affordable, accessible and safe, how they are produced and marketed, and how economic, gender, agricultural and policy factors shape food choices. These issues are critical to Africa\u2019s development because nutrition is closely linked to human capital, productivity, learning, health and economic development. Addressing them requires collaboration across disciplines and stronger connections between research, policy and practice.<\/p>\n
I am particularly proud of my progression in research, leadership and mentorship, and of the partnerships, collaborations and research opportunities I have helped build along the way. Since completing my PhD in 2014, I have progressed from developing my scientific expertise to developing research ideas, writing grant proposals, mobilising resources, building multidisciplinary consortia, leading projects, and undertaking research and consultancy assignments. The Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) project was my first major breakthrough in research grant leadership and an important milestone in my career. Through subsequent projects, including the Accelerated Value Chain Development Programme (AVCD), Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture projects (KCSAP) and mycotoxin mitigation project, I expanded my experience across agriculture, nutrition, value chains, climate resilience, food systems and food safety. The African Food Systems Transformation Collective (AFSTC) further broadened my experience of working with African researchers to develop evidence-based issue briefs for philanthropic funders, strengthening my skills in knowledge synthesis, collaboration and communicating research for decision-making. My engagement with PASHFARM was another important milestone, giving me the opportunity to contribute to a large, continental, multidisciplinary research portfolio and work alongside researchers across different countries and disciplines. These experiences have taught me that research impact is not only about publications; it is also about building partnerships; strengthening capacity; creating opportunities and contributing evidence that can inform policy and practice.<\/p>\n
My journey as a woman in research has been shaped by opportunities, challenges, resilience and the importance of support systems. Opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary research, lead funded projects, develop grant proposals, build partnerships and networks, undertake nutrition leadership training such as African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP), and contribute to continental initiatives such as PASHFARM have significantly shaped my professional growth. Mentorship has also been important in helping me develop confidence, expand my networks and take on new responsibilities. At the same time, balancing family responsibilities with professional ambitions has been a challenge. During my PhD in China, I was away from my family while adapting to a new country, language and demanding laboratory work. There were difficult moments when I almost gave up, but I remained determined to complete the journey. This experience taught me that family responsibilities should not automatically mean giving up professional aspirations. Women researchers may need support, adjust their pace or take different paths at different stages, but where circumstances allow, they should not abandon their dreams. Career progression has also been a challenge. At Egerton University, my responsibilities and contributions have continued to grow, but formal promotion has not happened at the same pace. The principle \u201clead from where you stand,\u201d which I learned through the ANLP, has helped me remain focused on contribution and impact rather than title. I hope this experience can encourage young women not to allow challenges or delays in formal recognition to define their potential or stop them from contributing, growing and pursuing their aspirations. I also believe women researchers need to be intentional about visibility, networking and mentorship, while creating space for other women to grow.<\/p>\n
I have been fortunate to have mentors who influenced different stages of my career, including Prof. Prisca Tuitoek of Egerton University, Dr. Moses Siambi of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Prof. Paul Kimurto of Egerton University, and Dr. Namukolo Covic of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). They supported my growth in different ways through mentorship, encouragement, exposure to research networks, guidance in developing research ideas and proposals, and opportunities to engage with broader nutrition and food systems research. My engagement with the AERC further expanded my professional networks and exposed me to researchers and development professionals from across Africa. I have also learned from my research collaborators, students and younger colleagues, particularly through multidisciplinary work and the exchange of ideas. One lesson I have learned from my mentors, research consortium members and collaborators is that as we progress, we should not only receive opportunities; we should also create opportunities for others and support one another along the way.<\/p>\n
My first message is: believe that you belong. Research and academia need women across many fields, including nutrition, health, science and technology, engineering, agriculture, economics, social sciences, climate, policy, data and business. My own career has not been a straight line. I began in nutrition and dietetics, moved into molecular and applied nutrition, and subsequently expanded into agriculture, food systems, policy, grant writing, resource mobilization, consultancy and multidisciplinary research. I would therefore encourage young women to build a strong foundation while remaining curious and open to new opportunities. Develop skills beyond your technical discipline. Learn to write, communicate, develop research ideas, write grants, mobilize resources, build partnerships, manage projects, and work across disciplines. These skills can transform a researcher into a research leader. Do not be discouraged by difficult beginnings.<\/p>\n
During my PhD, I had to learn unfamiliar laboratory techniques, adapt to a new environment and overcome a language barrier. There were times when I felt I could not continue. That experience taught me that difficulty does not necessarily mean failure; sometimes it means you are learning and growing. I would also encourage young researchers to be patient with publishing. Good research takes time to analyze, write, review and publish. There will be revisions and sometimes rejection. Patience, persistence and resilience are part of a research career. Build networks early. Find mentors and role models, but also develop relationships with peers and researchers from other disciplines. Participate in conferences and learning platforms, present your work, ask questions and engage in policy and professional spaces. Most importantly, lead from where you stand. Do not wait for the perfect title or position before you contribute. Lead through your knowledge, ideas, research, relationships and willingness to take responsibility. As you advance, take others with you by sharing opportunities, mentoring others and creating space for another woman to grow.<\/p>\n
I would like my legacy to extend beyond publications and positions. I hope my work contributes to a stronger understanding of the connections between nutrition, public health, food systems, food environments, gender and policy, and supports efforts to improve diets and reduce malnutrition and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. I also hope that the evidence generated is useful to policymakers, practitioners, communities and researchers. My experience has taught me that some of the greatest research impact happens at the intersections between disciplines, between researchers and policymakers, and between evidence and practice. I hope to continue contributing to multidisciplinary research, building partnerships, strengthening research capacity and creating opportunities for emerging researchers. However, the legacy that matters most to me is people. If the students, early-career researchers and colleagues I work with become more confident, develop their own research ideas, win grants, lead projects, influence policy and mentor others, then my contribution continues beyond me. If I can contribute to stronger research, stronger networks, better-informed policy and a generation of African researchers, particularly young women, who believe they can lead and create opportunities for others, then that, would be a meaningful legacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-16433","women_in_research","type-women_in_research","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/women_in_research\/16433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/women_in_research"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/women_in_research"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}