Story

My name is Marilyn M. Murindahabi, I am always fascinated by any human health related subject. I did my Bachelor degree in Biology and I worked on the proviral DNA extraction from dried blood spot as an alternative PCR technique in HIV diagnostic of new-borns in Rwanda. Later on, I did my master's degree in Medical biotechnology. I worked on gene expression in C. elegans under different diets in order to highlight genes involved in Immune responses. In addition, I also worked on drug resistance profiles of HIV Type 1 of infected patients under antiretroviral treatments in Rwanda using HIV Genotyping.

Currently, I am focusing on Anopheles gambiae s.l. – the deadly mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Malaria is a public threat in Rwanda. Since 2016, I am enrolled as a PhD student in the Environmental Virtual Observatories for Connective Action program that encompasses six cases including malaria. The aim of the research is to investigate the feasibility of implementing a citizen science project for malaria vector surveillance in Ruhuha, Rwanda. Ruhuha is known as an historical malaria endemic area in Bugesera district in the Eastern province of Rwanda.

In my free time, I love painting especially abstract masterpieces.

Collaborators

From Wageningen University and research, I have a great opportunity to be supervised by Professor Willem Takken as the promotor of the Research, Sander Koenraadt as daily supervisor. Giving the involvement of citizens in my research, the communication, and the ecology nature, Marijn Poortvliet, Arnold van Vliet are also among the supervision team. From the University of Rwanda - CMHS, Leon Mutesa the Principal Investigator of the EVOCA – malaria project and Emmanuel Hakizimana, the director general of the Vector Unit from the Malaria division of the Rwanda Biomedical Center constitute the supervision team in Rwanda. I also collaborate closely with Domina Asingizwe, from the Knowlegde Technology and Inovation department at the WUR.