Meet Our Team
Our diverse and dedicated team of scientists and leaders working together to advance innovative vector control and malaria research across Africa.
Our Leadership & Scientists
Prof. Samson Kiware
Principal Investigator
Oversees project operations, study design, and research management.
Dr. Eric Ochomo
Co-PI & Country Lead Kenya
Prof. Fitsum G. Tadesse
Co-PI & Country Lead Ethiopia
Dr. Adedapo Adeogun
Co-PI & Country Lead Nigeria
Dr. Bouh Abdi
Co-PI & Country Lead Djibouti
Janice Maige
Scientific Coordinator
Doreen Philemon
Accountant
Sheikha Salum
Partnership Manager
Felix Brown
Administrator
James Michael
VBDs360 Platform Developer
Gerald Kiwelu
VBDs360 Platform Developer
Hendry Lyamuya
VBDs360 Platform Developer
Dr. Yeromin Mlacha
Technical entomological Support, WP5 Co-lead
Dr. Andrea Kipingu
Mathematical Modeler, WP1 Co-lead
Victoria Githu
Mathematical Modeler, WP2
Dr. Dickson Lweitojira
Dr. Sangoro Onyango
Margaret Muchoki
Data Team Lead
Brian Polo
Coordinator - Kenya
Charmake elmi Guelleh
Social Science - djibouti
CMoustapha omar hared
Data Clerk - djibouti
Hawa Hamid Omar
Admin & Finance Manager - djibouti
Dr. Assalif Demissew
Postdoc Researcher, Project Coordinator, Asst. Co-PI. WP3 Co-Lead - Ethiopia
Tesfaye Tsega
Project Manager: Admin & Finance - Ethiopia
Dr. Dejene Getachew
Entomology field coordinator - Ethiopia
Girma Yutura
Entomology field coordinator - Ethiopia
Lemma Regassa
Entomology field staff - Ethiopia
Melat Abdo
Lab coordinator - Ethiopia
Tigist Atele
Molecular & genomic lab coordinator - Ethiopia
Getinet Habtamu
Molecular & genomic lab staff - Ethiopia
Saron Fikadu
Molecular & genomic lab staff - Ethiopia
Dr. Sagni Chali
Social Science Coordinator - Ethiopia
Fikregabrail Aberra
Data Management Lead - Ethiopia
Dagim Hailegebriel
Data Manager - Ethiopia
Mulugeta Demissie
GIS Expert - Ethiopia
Daniel Tadele
Asst. Project Manager - Ethiopia
Monsuru .A. Adeleke
Entomologist - Nigeria
Olabanji Surakat
Data Manager - Nigeria
Babatunde Taiwo
Data Clerk - Nigeria
Babalola Ayodele
GIS/Modelling/expert - Nigeria
Busari Lateef
Research Scientist- ARO - Nigeria
Adekunle Olanrewaju
Field Technician - Nigeria
Kamil Ayo Fasasi
Field Technician - Nigeria
Akintayo Ogunwalei
Social Scientist (lead) - Nigeria
Ige Grace
Data Collector (lead) - Nigeria
Jokanola Glory
Data Collector (Asst.) - Nigeria
Luigi Sedda
Bayesian data analysis and modelling to inform on the sites to be sampled for An. stephensi detection. WP1 Co-Lead
Xiaoxi Pang
Post-doc researcher – Assisting with the Bayesian data analysis and modelling
Heather Ferguson
Technical support to the entomological and ecological aspects of the study. WP2 Co-Lead
Fredros Okumu
Technical support to the study across entomological, social science and ecological aspects
Mara Lawniczak
Support the genomics aspects of the study, including capacity building for CO1 barcoding and support for whole-genome sequencing, including bioinformatics analysis
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board provides strategic guidance, oversight, and expert insight to support the mission of AnoSTEP-Afrika.
Prof Gerry Killen
AXA Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology
Prof Killeen is a leading expert in malaria transmission and vector control, with strengths in quantitative ecology, modelling, and capacity building. He founded the Dar es Salaam Urban Malaria Control Programme, now a national model for larval source management, and has contributed to global policies on insecticidal bednets. His work also extends to controlling Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya, and his recent research focuses on mosquito behaviour and improving the effectiveness of modern vector control strategies.
Prof Delenasaw Yewhalaw
Public Health Entomology
Professor Delenasaw Yewhalaw is a professor of Public Health Entomology at the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, and Founding Director of Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC) at Jimma University, Ethiopia. Apart from teaching, he has been highly engaged in research and community service. His research to date has been highly relevant to health policy, practice and the program. His work mainly focuses on malaria and other vector-borne infectious diseases epidemiology, surveillance and control.
Prof Nick Golding
University of Western Australia
Professor Golding is an infectious disease modeller specializing in globally important pathogens. His work integrates mathematical modelling, ecology, and public health. Since completing his PhD at the University of Oxford on mosquito-borne disease modelling, he has collaborated internationally to develop models and risk maps for major diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Ebola.
Dr. Seth Irish
World Health Organization
Dr. Seth Irish is a Technical Officer at the World Health Organization (Malaria & NTD Department). He previously spent nine years with PMI at the U.S. CDC. With 20 years of experience in entomological monitoring and vector control, he has worked across the U.S., Benin, and Tanzania on vector surveillance, product evaluation, and implementation of control strategies
Dr El Hadji Amadou NIANG
Senior medical entomologist and Deputy Director at the (LEVP)
Dr. Tamar Carter is a postdoctoral fellow specializing in parasite and human genetic diversity and its impact on population health. She holds a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences, an MPH in Epidemiology, and a PhD in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on malaria, with her doctoral work centered on antimalarial resistance and inherited red blood cell disorders in Haitian populations.
Dr. Sarah Zohdy
Ecologist and global health
Dr. Sarah Zohdy is a disease ecologist with nearly 20 years of experience in public health and biodiversity work. She previously led the Vector Monitoring and Control Team at PMI/CDC and co-led global initiatives on Anopheles stephensi. Before joining CDC, she was an Associate Professor at Auburn University, focusing on vector-borne disease transmission and strategies to improve human and ecological health.
Dr Tamar Carter
Associate Professor of Biology Baylor University
Dr. Tamar Carter is a postdoctoral fellow specializing in parasite and human genetic diversity and its impact on population health. She holds a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences, an MPH in Epidemiology, and a PhD in Genetics and Genomics from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on malaria, with her doctoral work centered on antimalarial resistance and inherited red blood cell disorders in Haitian populations.