Team Member

Samwel Muiruri a Visiting Scientist at IITA holds a PhD in Genetics, a Master of Science in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and Bachelors of Science (Botany and Zoology) from The University of Nairobi. Samwel has worked extensively in plant genomics, genetic engineering and molecular biology leveraging the wide array of tools to improve tropical crops. Some of the key highlights of his research include development of haploid inducers in bananas for accelerated banana breeding, genome editing to knockout banana genome integrant and use of viral vectors for gene delivery in tomato and cassava. Currently, his research focuses on application of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in the improvement of banana against biotic stress.