Dr. Cecilia Mweu has been appointed the Director of the Institute of Biotechnology Research (IBR). She succeeds Prof. Justus Onguso whose tenure came to an end after serving for over four years since 2020. Dr. Mweu, an expert in Biotechnology, brings a wealth of experience and academic excellence to her new role
Her impressive academic background includes, a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from JKUAT, a Master of Science in Natural Products and Biotechnology from MAICh in Greece, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Mweu has worked as a Molecular Genetics research scientist at the National Museum of Kenya before joining JKUAT as an assistant research fellow in 2007. Her significant contributions to research and departmental initiatives at IBR, has seen her steady rise through the ranks to become a Senior Research Fellow, since 2019.
During the handover ceremony, Prof. Onguso expressed strong confidence in Dr. Mweu’s ability to lead the Institute. He highlighted that her experience, regularly stepping in during his absence, had adequately prepared her for the role. Prof. Onguso emphasized that her successor’s familiarity with the responsibilities of the position would ensure a seamless transition in leadership.
Prof. Onguso reflected on his tenure with satisfaction, highlighting key achievements such as consistent graduate output at every graduation ceremony, and successful oversight of various funded projects, including the Sweet Sorghum Project, the Encete Project, the Bioinformatics Project, and the Microbial Culture Collection Project. These initiatives were realized through collaborations with both industry and academic institutions.
Additionally, under Prof. Onguso’s leadership, IBR established international partnerships with universities worldwide, enabling staff and students to secure scholarships and participate in academic exchange programs, thereby broadening their academic and professional horizons.
Prof. Onguso’s tenure began during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when students in Biotechnology and related fields struggled to secure attachment opportunities in external laboratories across the country.
In response, he ensured IBR accommodated these students, including those from other academic institutions, providing them with the necessary skills and support to graduate on time. Despite the significant achievements, his tenure was not without challenges.
“The constant change in technology has often rendered much of the lab equipment obsolete, and the declining funding model for public universities has made it challenging to equip IBR with modern tools. However, thanks to the various funded projects secured by our researchers, we have managed to refurbish the labs and acquire greenhouses, significantly enhancing our research capabilities and providing essential support to our students,” Prof. Onguso explained.
Dr. Mweu is deeply committed to using biotechnology tools in crop improvement, bioprospecting, and conservation of plants and animals.
An expert in plant biotechnology, plant tissue culture, plant genetics, plant molecular biology, and plant physiology, she is driven by the belief that biotechnology holds the key to safeguarding endangered species, enhancing traits for survival and production, and ultimately contributing to food security, ethnopharmacy, and environmental protection.
She has a great passion for the arid, and semi-arid communities and has worked on several orphaned crops found in these regions towards improved livelihoods including finger millet, cassava, and doum palm.
Dr. Mweu envisions building upon the strong foundation laid by her predecessors, with a focus on new product development and value addition to existing ones to boost income generation to stakeholders.
She is particularly interested in enhancing the marketing strategies for the existing products at IBR such as tissue culture banana and aloe, mushroom spawns, vermin culture, and biopesticides to reduce losses and maximize their market potential.
Furthermore, Dr. Mweu is committed to advocating the formulation of new policies in biotechnology, addressing the current gaps that hinder commercialization.
She plans to introduce regular Bioinformatics training sessions covering plants, animals, and microorganisms. These initiatives will provide students with valuable mentorship opportunities for the launch of students’ careers in the field. “IBR should serve as a Centre of Excellence and we are looking forward to supporting all departments in the University. This will ensure that we continue strengthening rapport in the building capacity of our students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level,” said Dr. Mweu as she took up the mantle of leadership at IBR.
