Postgraduate Diploma

Brian Kigen

Brian is currently enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods at Pwani University, Kenya, jointly offered in partnership with the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL), the KEMRI–Wellcome Trust Research Programme, and the African Leadership in Measuring Brain Health for Children and Adolescents (ALMA). He is working under the supervision of Professor Amina Abubakar and Dr. Patrick Mwangala.

His research focuses on patterns and longitudinal predictors of health risk behaviours among adolescents in rural Kenya, using a machine learning approach.

With this project, he aims to generate data-driven insights into the factors influencing adolescent health risk behaviours, thereby contributing to the development of targeted interventions and policies that promote healthier developmental outcomes among young people in Kenya.

Juma Karisa

Juma Karisa is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods at Pwani University (Kenya) in collaboration with (IDEAL) Programme at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and ALMA at Aga Khan University, as a Research Intern he is based at Aga Khan University, Institute for Human Development, under the supervision of Dr. Ronald Kipkirui.

His research focuses on the validation of the computerized Swahili version of the Battery for Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children (BENCI) among school-aged children exposed to nutritional and climatic vulnerabilities in Kenya. Specifically, the study seeks to assess the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the adapted Swahili BENCI, compare children’s performance with existing normative benchmarks, and evaluate differences in cognitive performance and measurement properties between vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups.

Through this project, Juma aims to contribute evidence towards culturally appropriate and contextually valid neuropsychological assessment tools for children in low – resource settings advancing early detection and support for cognitive and developmental challenges.

Valarie Achieng

Valarie Achieng Ochieng is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods at Pwani University, in collaboration with the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme. She is also an intern at the Aga Khan University, Institute for Human Development, under the supervision of Prof. Amina Abubakar. Her research focuses on the NeuroDev project, specifically aiming to validate the Social and Communication Disorders Checklist (SCDC) tool within the African context to assess neurodevelopmental disorders. Through this project, Valarie hopes to contribute to the development of culturally appropriate and psychometrically sound screening tools that enhance early identification and support for children with neurodevelopmental challenges in Africa.

Basil Masinza

Basil is a graduate of the Pwani University (Kenya) Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research. During his attachment at the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development, he was under the supervision of Prof Amina Abubakar and Dr Patrick Mwangala. His research focused on gender differences in the prevalence of anxiety and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the experience and knowledge he gathered during the fellowship, he hopes to build on the growing evidence of gender differences in mental health and to support targeted research and programs by providing researchers, practitioners and policy makers information on gender-specific burden of anxiety and PTSD.

Joy Mukubuyi

Joy is a graduate of Pwani University (Kenya) Postgraduate diploma in Health Research Methods. During her attachment at the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development, she was supervised by Prof Amina Abubakar and Dr Patrick Mwangala. Her research project focused on examining the validity and reliability of the Swahili version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, a screening tool, among adolescents in Kilifi County.  With this project and the knowledge she gained during the fellowship, she aims to promote adolescents’ mental health through early screening in low-resource settings.

Samlee Nyambu

Samlee is a graduate of Pwani University (Kenya) Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods. During his fellowship, he interned at the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development under the supervision of Prof. Amina Abubakar and Dr. Vibian Angwenyi.

His research focused on evaluating the impact of the Supporting African communities to Increase Resilience and Mental Health of Kids with Developmental Disabilities (SPARK) project on health service delivery in the facilities where it was implemented. Specifically, he examined trends, documentation practices, and reporting of facility-based mental health and disability-related indicators within the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) in selected catchment facilities in Nairobi and Kilifi Counties.

Susan Macharia

Susan is a graduate of Pwani University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Methods program. She interned at the Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, under the supervision of Prof. Amina Abubakar and Dr. Bilha Chepchirchir.

Her project focused on understanding the knowledge and perceptions of climate change among key stakeholders in early childhood development (ECD) centres.

Her academic interests lie in mental health and its intersection with climate change, particularly how environmental and climatic stressors affect individual and community psychological well-being. Through her research and the knowledge she gathered during her fellowship, she hopes to contribute to advancing evidence that supports sustainable, climate-sensitive mental health strategies.

Aalaynah Nathoo

Aalaynah was a Research Assistant Intern at the Institute of Human Development under the supervision of Professor Amina Abubakar. Her internship was aimed at gaining a new perspective on the research and healthcare system through supporting co-workers on their projects and implementing her unique skill set, gained from her experiences as a graduate from the University of Michigan.