Researcher of the month – March 2023

Dr. John Gichimu Mbaka is a Lecturer of Environmental Sciences at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Machakos University, Kenya. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Science from Koblenz-Landau University, Germany, a Master of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Applied Aquatic Science from Egerton University and International Post-graduate training certificate in Limnology from Egerton University and Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Prior to his appointment at Machakos University, Dr. Mbaka was a lecturer at the University of Embu. He has wide experience in teaching environmental courses at the university level and has extensive research experience. He has been involved in a number of research projects and his most recent research project focused on the effects of artisanal gold mining on heavy metals in environmental media and biota in Kuria west Subcounty, Migori county, Kenya. Another research project that is about to begin focuses on application of citizen science in biomonitoring of selected riverine ecosystems in Kenya. Out of the research work, he has successfully supervised four MSc students to completion and other MSc students are currently ongoing with their research work.

Dr. Mbaka has published in national and international peer reviewed journals and is also an adhoc peer reviewer for several national and international refereed journals. He has presented his work at conferences and workshops and he is a beneficiary of research grants from organizations such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the International Foundation for Science (IFS).

Dr. Mbaka is a member of European Society for Ecological Economics, Kenya Wetlands Forum and the International Association for Ecology.