Étudiants PhD et MSc
Ph.D students
Ms. Noelia Valderram
Noelia Valderrama is an aquatic biologist with a master’s degree in Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management from an inter-university program, jointly offered by Ghent University, Antwerp University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. Currently, she is an FWO PhD fellow, and her research focuses on the spatial and temporal distribution of snail hosts of parasitic diseases in Uganda, DRC, and Chad.
Topic: The spatial and temporal distribution of snail hosts of parasitic diseases in Uganda, DRC, and Chad to control and prevent poverty-related diseases like schistosomiasis and fasciolosis using citizen science data.
Institution: KU Leuven and the Royal Museum for Central Africa
Start: 2023 | Expected Graduation: 2026
Mr. Germain Kapour
Germain Kapour is a medical doctor with a master's degree in Ecosystems, Contaminants and Health from the University of Franche-Comté in France, followed by another master's degree in Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Risk Management and Natural Hazards from the University of Kinshasa in DR Congo. He received a grant from the ATRAP DRC project and the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
Topic: The genetic diversity of schistosomiasis host snails and their implications for vector control in DR Congo.
Institution: Université de Kinshasa
Start: 2019 | Expected Graduation: 2025Ms. Wangari Cecilia Wambui
Cecilia Wangari Wambui earned a B.Tech in Science Laboratory Technology in 2016. She worked in Kenya’s leather and food industries before pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Development at KU Leuven, supported by a VLIR-UOS scholarship. Her thesis focused on female genital schistosomiasis in DR Congo. She later joined the Africa Museum in Belgium as a researcher on parasitic diseases. In 2023, she began a PhD at KU Leuven, studying environmental DNA for tracking disease vectors in freshwater ecosystems.
Topic: Developing point-of-care molecular tools for environmental monitoring of Schistosoma, mosquito vectors and Plasmodium
Institution: KU Leuven & Africa Musuem collaborating with the Belgian Military Biology Laboratories (DLD)
Start: 2023 | Expected Graduation: 2027
Mr. Francis Ssenkuba
Francis Ssenkuba is an aquatic macroinvertebrate conservationist and a malacologist with a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Ecology and Conservation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda (MUST). Currently, he is a PhD student funded by ATRAP at MUST. His research focuses on developing and optimising the Point-of-care environmental DNA tools for schistosomiasis and fascioliasis surveillance in the Lake Albert region, Southwestern Uganda.
Topic: Point-of-care monitoring of schistosomiasis parasites in Lake Albert, southwestern Uganda: Optimising the environmental DNA lamp assay
Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Start: 2024 | Expected Graduation: 2029Mr. Felix Okello
Okello Felix is a PhD candidate in Development Studies at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda, funded by the ATRAP II project. His academic and professional focus lies in community-led development, with particular emphasis on he co-design of sustainable, locally relevant water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for the prevention and control of neglected tropical diseases.
Topic: Anthropological Perspectives on Community-Led Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Interventions to Control and Prevent Schistosomiasis in Kagadi District, Western Uganda
Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Start: 2024 | Expected Graduation: 2029Mr. Fred Besigye
Fred Besigye was a Research Officer with the Vector Control Division, Ministry of Health, working on various projects of Vector-Borne Diseases, particularly Schistosomiasis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Leishmaniasis, and Onchocerciasis. With over 12 years of experience, Fred has built his expertise around the epidemiology and vector biology of schistosomiasis. He is currently pursuing a PhD, supported by ATRAP funding, focused on the development of a plant-based molluscicide aimed at controlling the intermediate snail hosts of schistosomiasis.
Topic: Optimizing the use of Phytolacca dodecandra for Sustainable Schistosomiasis Vector Control in Uganda
Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Start: 2024 | Expected Graduation: 2029MSc students
Ms. Sarah Nahaboona
Sarah Nahaboona is pursuing a Master of Science in Biology, with a specialization in Natural Resources Management and Conservation, funded by the ATRAP project. Her research investigates how effective the removal of freshwater snails and surrounding aquatic vegetation is in reducing the transmission of schistosomiasis at common water access points in Kagadi District.
Topic: Efficiency of snail-host and vegetation removal in schistosomiasis control at selected sites in kagadi district, western uganda
Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Start: 2024 | Expected Graduation: 2026
Ms. Sandra Kabarissa
Sandra Kabrissa is a social scientist with a Bachelor's Degree in planning and community Development. She is currently pursuing a master's in Development Studies at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) with funds from the ATRAP project. Her research aims to identify gaps and opportunities for improving community engagement and participation in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs to effectively control and prevent schistosomiasis in kagadi district.
Topic: Community perceptions and attitudes towards the uptake of locally applied water, sanitation and hygiene (wash) interventions in the control of schistosomiasis . a case study of kagadi district western uganda
Institution: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Start: 2024 | Expected Graduation: 2026
