Graduates

Antipa Sigilai

Antipa graduated with a Master of Public Health-Global Health from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK under the supervision of Prof Amina Abubakar and Dr Bilha Chepchirchir. His research project focused on understanding the impact of different air pollutants on the neurocognitive development in children and adolescents residing in low-income settings. Through this study, he sought to provide invaluable insights into complex interaction between air pollutants and brain functions and explore mechanisms through which these pollutants exert their effects on overall brain health.

Dorothy Chepkoech

Dorothy pursued a Masters in Data Science and Statistics at the Hasselt University, under the supervision of Professor Amina Abubakar and Dr Asiya Ayoob. Dorothy holds a Bachelor of Science in statistics and programming from Kenyatta University. She has experience in machine learning, data management and analysis. Her research project focused on using behavioural predictive models to enhance early identification of disorders of childhood development and interventions. Her research interest is in using data science methodology and machine learning to develop predictive models to identify sources of risk and resilience among at-risk children and adolescents.

Eunice Njoroge

Master of Public Health Nutrition
Stellenbosch University
Funded by the Hilton Foundation affiliated to the ALMA programme

The Master of Public Health Nutrition (MPH Nutrition) programme is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of nutrition-related public health challenges and effective strategies to address them. The programme emphasises on nutrition’s critical role in maternal and child well-being and policy advocacy. Through the programme, Eunice gained the necessary skills, knowledge and practical experiences that have enabled her to advance research, contribute to effective interventions, and improve the health and well-being of children in the communities we serve.

Jae Eun Park

Jae was an Intercalated Honours student in Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Cape Town with a background in 3 years of medicine. As a future clinician scientist, her interests are in paediatrics and neuroscience. Her research focused on investigating the effects of early exposure to intimate partner violence on the grey matter volume of the visual cortex, specifically looking at MRI scans of infants at 12 months old. Her supervisors were Prof Kirsty Donald and Dr Marlie Miles.

Mia Lombard

Mia graduated with an MSc Med Neuroscience degree at the University of Cape Town, South Africa under the supervision of Associate Professor Nastassja Koen (UCT) and Assistant Professor Anke Hüls (Emory University, USA). Her project is nested within the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS) focused on the association between exposure to maternal psychological distress during the prenatal period and DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures in the index of newborns. Additionally, she investigated whether these measurable DNAm changes could be associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infancy.

Sylvia Omoke

Sylvia pursued an Msc. Public Health (Global Health) at the University of wolverhampton, under the supervision of Professor Amina Abubakar and Ass. Professor Dr Vibian Angwenyi. Sylvia has a background training in Bsc Nursing from the University of Nairobi, and a postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods from Pwani University. With her project, she aimed to understand the experiences and challenges of parents with children with ASD and Neurodevelopmental disorders in accessing care (care-seeking pathways). Her research interests lie in maternal and child health.

Thelma Mulimbika

Thelma pursued a master’s degree at the University of Zambia, Department of Educational Psychology, Sociology and Special Education in the School of Education. She was supervised by Professor Beatrice Matafwali and Dr. Simalalo Magdalene. Her research focus was on Assessing teachers’ perceptions and attitudes towards Dyslexia and how these influence their classroom practices in Zambian schools. The goal of her research was to help teachers improve ways of identifying early indicators of dyslexia among school going children in classroom environment, improve teaching strategies and support for leaners with dyslexia.

Sandra Wanda

Sandra pursued her master’s degree at the University of Zambia, department of educational psychology, sociology and special education, under the supervision of Professor Beatrice Matafwali and Dr Paul Ravi. Her Project focused on Awareness and Action: A prevalence analysis of autism spectrum disorders among school aged children in Zambia. With this project, she assessed the prevalence rate of Autism Spectrum Disorders among school aged children in Zambia.