Mpala Research Centre is one of the world’s premier field-based research centers, located on 48,000 acres in Laikipia County, Kenya. Established as a Kenyan–U.S. partnership, Mpala was created to advance scientific research, conservation, and education in one of the most ecologically important landscapes in Africa. Today, Mpala supports research and training across conservation, climate change, biodiversity, ecology, genomics, agriculture, public health, and human-wildlife interactions, hosting scholars and students from more than 65 institutions around the world.
Mpala’s story is closely tied to Kenya’s history and the history of Laikipia. The land on which Mpala sits was taken from local communities and allocated to British settlers during the colonial era. Mpala recognizes this history and the responsibility that comes with stewarding this landscape today.
The property was acquired by Sam Small in the mid-20th century and later inherited by his brother, George Small, in 1969. In 1989, George Small established Mpala as a wildlife sanctuary with a vision of protecting the region’s biodiversity while creating opportunities for scientific discovery and learning. That vision expanded in 1994 with the establishment of Mpala Research Centre as a formal Kenyan–U.S. collaboration. The founding institutional partners were the Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Museums of Kenya, the Smithsonian Institution, and Princeton University. In 2023, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute of Kenya joined as a fifth anchor institution, further strengthening Mpala’s commitment to Kenyan-led research, training, and conservation.
Collaboration remains at the heart of Mpala’s mission. Through its anchor institutions and an international network of researchers, educators, students, and community partners, Mpala has become a globally recognized hub for field-based research and teaching. The Centre is home to substantial scientific infrastructure, including one of the few field-based genomics laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa.
Acting Executive Director
Chief Operating Officer
nelly.palmeris@mpala.org
Acting Chief Research Officer
cosmas.nzomo@mpala.org
IT Manager
joseph.irura@mpala.org
Logistics Manager
sheila.njoroge@mpala.org
Princeton University.
Princeton University (Director)
Mpala is jointly operated by Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Museums of Kenya and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute. Mpala provides interdisciplinary research and training programmes in ecology, evolution, geology, and resource management to scientists from Kenya and around the world. Researchers, representing all our partners, are drawn to Mpala to study the centre’s remarkable ecosystem,
Princeton University: Princeton University serves as the managing partner for Mpala. Through Princeton University, Mpala has been awarded several National Science Foundation grants to improve facilities and completely rebuild the campsite. Most recently the grants were used to construct a long-term field genomics and stable isotope laboratory. Throughout the year, Princeton faculty, researchers, and graduate and undergraduate students visit the property to expand on their knowledge of the African landscape and to undertake research.
Open roles, tenders and expressions of interest at Mpala Research Centre.
Mpala employs more than 230 people across research support, conservation, hospitality, finance, security and infrastructure, and publishes tenders and expressions of interest here as they are issued.
To be considered when something opens, send a CV and a short note to recruitment@mpala.org.
All research at Mpala must adhere to the highest ethical standards for animal welfare, environmental protection, and community engagement following international best practices and Kenyan regulations.
Research involving animals must be approved by appropriate institutional animal care and use committees (IACUC) and comply with Kenyan wildlife regulations.
Full Research Policies & Guidelines
