Luna Kamau
Luna Kamau is a Kenyan public health scientist who works in malaria management. An executive at the Kenya Medical Research Institute's Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, she is a 2018 Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences and 2021 Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.
Biography
[edit]Kamau was born in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia County.[1] She studied at Kenyatta University, where she obtained her bachelor of education degree in science in 1991, her Master of Science degree in immunology in 1995, and her doctor of philosophy degree in molecular entomology in 1998,[2] the last one of which was under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/World Health Organization joint fellowship.[3]
Kamau joined the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), where she has worked as senior principal scientist and deputy director for the Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development;[1][2] she was promoted to chief research officer in 2019.[4] She served at TWAS as a Young Affiliate from 2008 to 2012.[5] Kamau said that as a woman scientist she had "to become resilient [and] face environments that were not gender sensitive" amidst gender inequality in Africa.[4]
Kamau studies molecular entomology, molecular vector biology, and ecology as a scientist.[2][3] Her research includes work for global implementation of mosquito net policy and indoor insecticide spraying.[3] In 2006, she received a Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency grant to study mosquito transmission of malaria.[4]
In 2018, Kamau was elected a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences and a member of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences.[1][3] She received the 2019 PAMCA Merit Award for Significant Contribution in Capacity Building and Research Support in Africa.[3] She was elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2021.[3] KEMRI also awarded her their Gold (Nelion) Excellence/Merit Award in 2015 and Global Research Excellence Award in 2020.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Kamau, Luna". The World Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Dr. Luna Kamau". KEMRI Graduate School. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Luna Kamau". African Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Women in science: time to take the front seat". The World Academy of Sciences. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "TWAS elects 55 new Fellows". TWAS East and South-East Asia and the Pacific Regional Partner. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
