Alumni

Ph.D students

Dr. Julius Tumusiime Julius Tumusiime was a PhD candidate funded by ATRAP from 2019 to 2024. His research focused on the dynamics of host snail species and their associated Schistosoma and Fasciola infections, with an emphasis on evaluating the citizen science model in Uganda’s Lake Albert region. He currently serves as an assistant lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and is also a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP.

Dr. Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho was a PhD candidate funded by ATRAP from 2019 to 2024. His work focused on community-led approaches to the prevention and control of schistosomiasis, providing a sociological analysis of the citizen science model in selected communities of western Uganda. He currently serves as the head of the department (community health) and a lecturer at Lira University. He is also a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP.

Dr. Mercy Gloria Ashepet Mercy Gloria Ashepet was a PhD candidate funded by ATRAP from 2019 to 2024. Her work focused on the factors shaping the implementation of citizen science in low and middle-income countries. She currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP and works with the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis as a consultant.

Dr.  Jean Debéthel Bitumba Jean Debéthel Bitumba obtained his doctoraat in anthropology at the University of Kinshasa, in partnership with KU Leuven and the Royal Museum for Central Africa. His thesis focused on interspecies cohabitation and the fight against schistosomiasis. His focus is on the collaboration between medical knowledge and local (endogenous) knowledge in the fight against epidemics.

MSc students

Ms. Daisy Namirembe Daisy Namirembe was an MSc student funded by ATRAP from 2019 to 2021. Her research focused on assessing the risk of cross-infection with liver flukes and schistosomes between livestock and wild mammals in Western Uganda. after completing her MSc, she served as the administrative assistant for the ATRAP project at Mbarara University of Science and Technology from 2021 to 2023, supporting project coordination and implementation activities.

Ms. Faith Mugabi Faith Mugabi was an MSc candidate funded by ATRAP from 2019 to 2022. Her research explored community perceptions of gender roles as a predisposing factor for schistosomiasis infection in Southwestern Uganda. She is currently working as...¨

Ms.Chantal Makoko

 Chantal Mokoko was a master's student at the Catholic University of Congo (UCC), with funding from the ATRAP project between 2021 and 2024. Her thesis focused on exploring participatory communication strategies in the fight against schistosomiasis, with a particular emphasis on the citizen science approach in the Kimpese health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is currently continuing her studies as a pre-doctoral student in the second phase of the ATRAP project.

Ms. Mavie

Ms. Jay Mulmi

 Jay Mulmi collaborated with the ATRAP project for her Master’s thesis, conducting anthropological research on ATRAP citizen scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her thesis, titled "Collecting Snails and Producing Data?", examined the adaptations required to effectively implement citizen science within the specific sociocultural and logistical context of the DRC. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven.

Mr. Chan Kin Ho

Ms. Bente Wigerinck

Ms. Larissa Bonifacio

 Larissa Bonifacio was an MSc candidate funded by ATRAP from 2022 to 2023, graduating with a Master in Sustainable Development (Ecology) from KU Leuven. Her master's research focused on modelling the spatial distribution of aquatic snail vectors of schistosomiasis and fascioliasis in the DRC. She is currently affiliated with the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), where she applies geospatial techniques to analyze aquatic plastic pollution.