Tell us about your background.

I am from Shiru Village in Hamisi Constituency, Vihiga County, with a background in animal ecology and evolution. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms that maintain ecological patterns and species assemblages, spanning population, community, evolutionary, and conservation ecology. I use molecular biology, field experiments, and long-term demographic datasets to explore the drivers of ecological community dynamics.

I first visited Mpala Conservancy in August 2016 for a mammalogy field course, organized by Dr. Jacob Goheen (then a professor at the University of Wyoming) and Dr. Simon Musila, head of the Mammalogy Section at the National Museums of Kenya. The course was interactive and immersive, providing a hands-on approach to biological concepts while fostering critical thinking and curiosity. It was here that my interest in exploring ecological theories through data from the Ungulate Herbivory Under Rainfall Uncertainties (UHURU) experiment was sparked.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management from Egerton University, where I worked with scientists from the Mammalogy Section at the National Museums of Kenya on the taxonomy and biology of Kenya’s small mammals. Later, I joined a collaborative project involving Helsinki University, the National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Wildlife Service, University of Nairobi, University of Maasai Mara, Mpala Research Center, Turkana Basin Institute, and the Museum of Natural History of Berlin. As a research assistant, I contributed to exploring social-ecological changes in Sibiloi National Park and its surroundings.

I then joined the Mpala research community, initially as a research technician and coordinator of the UHURU experiment’s small mammal project, later becoming the project manager. During this time, I pursued a master’s degree in Biology of Conservation at the University of Nairobi, completing a thesis on the implications of dietary variation for the commonness and rarity of small mammals at Mpala Conservancy.

What projects are you currently working on at Mpala? What are your goals?

Currently, I am a collaborator and PhD student in the Ecology and Evolution program at the University of Wyoming (USA), working on the Ungulate Herbivory Under Rainfall Uncertainty (UHURU) experiment at Mpala Conservancy. My research aims to understand the processes and mechanisms that maintain savanna small mammal communities. Broadly, I investigate the population and community dynamics of small mammals at Mpala Conservancy, focusing on the factors that explain variations in their abundance and distribution, as well as their responses to seasonal and extreme environmental changes. Specifically, I use DNA metabarcoding and population genetics to examine the roles of resource selection and dispersal in explaining why some species are common and widespread, while others are rare and restricted. Additionally, I explore how the life histories of these small mammals interact with their population dynamics, particularly in relation to environmental variability such as rainfall uncertainties and prolonged droughts. To achieve these goals, my work involves bi-monthly monitoring of small mammal populations through live trapping and tagging, collecting fecal samples for DNA analysis, and gathering climatic and vegetation data.

This project was initiated with a grant from the USA National Science Foundation and has received significant additional funding from the Rufford Foundation (Rufford Small Grants for Conservation of Nature), the British Ecological Society (Ecologists in Africa Award), and the University of Wyoming (Biodiversity Graduate Student Research Enhancement Grant, Dr. George Menkens Memorial Scholarship, Lymna and Margie McDonald Research Award for Quantitative Analysis in Wildlife, L. Floyd Clarke Graduate Scholar Award, and Dick and Lynne Cheney Graduate Fellowship for Excellence in Study Abroad).

My research goals are focused on understanding the intersection of life history theory and demography in dynamic environments, with the aim of predicting how species will respond to environmental fluctuations through their effects on vital rates and population growth. In the long term, I hope my work will contribute to a deeper understanding of community ecology and conservation biology, especially in the context of arid and semi-arid environments like those surrounding Mpala.

What is one of your favourite things about working at Mpala?

Mpala is a unique hub that brings together a diverse group of researchers, from early-career scientists to seasoned professors, conducting multidisciplinary research across different taxa. It serves as a dynamic field laboratory where you can ask questions, collect data, and find answers through studies that can range from just a few days to a lifetime. Whether you are a visiting student for a short period or a researcher building a long-term study, Mpala offers opportunities for everyone. I’ve seen publications from Mpala that span a wide range—ranging from research conducted over a few days by visiting students to studies that span a decade. Mpala provides aspiring biologists with not only a place to begin their careers but also the environment in which to grow and thrive as research scientists. There’s no limit to what you can learn here or how far you can go as a biologist.

I know both Kenyan and international scientists who started at Mpala as undergraduates or recent graduates with nothing but curiosity and passion, and they have since become accomplished scientists and professors leading groundbreaking research. My own career as a biologist would not have been possible without Mpala. I first came here as an undergraduate, just three months away from graduation, with little hands-on field experience. But in an environment that fostered learning and curiosity, my passion for ecology eventually paid off. Through my time at Mpala, I’ve expanded my knowledge and skills, earned a master’s degree, contributed to the capacity development of local and international students, and by the end of this year, I will be completing my PhD.

What impact do you believe your time at Mpala will have on your professional career?

My time at Mpala has significantly impacted my career by providing hands-on field experience, a solid understanding of ecological research, and opportunities to collaborate with experts. Exposure to diverse research projects, from population and community ecology to molecular biology, has broadened my skills and strengthened my ability to conduct both field and lab-based research. The collaborative environment at Mpala has also allowed me to build valuable professional relationships.

Working on the UHURU experiment and managing my own projects has honed my skills in project management, data analysis, and scientific communication. These abilities will be essential as I continue my career in ecology and conservation, particularly in community ecology.

Overall, Mpala has shaped my career by offering technical expertise and a strong professional network. It has reinforced my commitment to ecology and conservation biology, and I’m confident that the knowledge I’ve gained will guide my future research.