Team Bio

This project includes two additional team members: Dr. Sammy Wambua, a lecturer and principal investigator at Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, and Dr. Ewuot Knoester from Wageningen University, also a principal investigator at the REEFolution Foundation. Dr. Wambua's expertise in conservation genomics and metagenomics makes him a valuable asset. Dr. Knoester, a marine ecologist, leads coral restoration projects, bringing crucial expertise to our initiative.

Salome Chemutai

My name is Salome Chemutai, and I am a second-year master's student in Microbiology at Pwani University in Kenya. I also work as a research assistant at the Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre, where I work on conservation genomics projects involving sea turtles, elephants, monkeys, and corals. In addition to my research, I am a trained Biology teacher and occasionally assist in teaching genetics courses to undergraduate students as a way of mentoring young aspiring scientists. My passion for nature conservation, combined with the guidance of my supervisor, the principal investigator at the research center, has deeply influenced my interest in this field. I am particularly interested in conservation biology, marine microbiology, and population genetics. This fascination began during my volunteer work as a research assistant, where I observed the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the vital role of microorganisms in maintaining coral health. The urgent need to address the global decline of coral reefs resonates strongly with me. I believe that preserving these ecosystems is crucial for the biodiversity and health of our oceans. Currently, I am involved in a project focusing on the symbiomes of corals under restoration in the Southern Coast of Kenya. My commitment to conservation has led me to apply for this grant to implement a project aimed at identifying microbial indicators of coral health. By developing a rapid and efficient method for coral monitoring, my goal is to enable immediate responses to threats such as bleaching, helping to preserve these vital ecosystems before irreversible damage occurs. My dedication to this work is driven by a desire to contribute to sustainable solutions that can protect and restore coral reefs for future generations.

Sammy Wambua

I have employed molecular biology in biomedical research for over 20 years. I have recently switched to utilizing genomics to explore and protect tropical species of conservation concern. Ongoing research includes population genomics for East African corals, sea cucumber and cichlids, immunogenetics of sea turtles, and microbiome analysis of corals, seagrass, and mangroves.

Ewout Knoester

Performing research for Wageningen University in collaboration with the REEFolution Foundation in Kenya on how to improve the efficiency of coral reef restoration, with a focus on 1) Improving restoration efficiency by integrating ecological processes, 2) Making restoration future proof by exploring heat resilience of restored corals and 3) Enabling upscaling of restoration efforts by improving the cost-efficiency of applied techniques.