Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Publications
Languages
Professional Improvement
Social networks
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Evelyn Night Okello

Summary

Field ecologist with 6 years of experience in entomological research, specializing in studying insect host-antagonist interactions in the Neotropical forest lowlands of North-Western Ecuador. Currently focused on analyzing Afro-tropical chemical data to enhance biodiversity understanding for ecosystem conservation efforts.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Doctoral Researcher in Animal Ecology

University of Bonn
09.2023 - Current
  • To conduct sample collections of solitary bee and wasp species in the Choco tropical forest in the Rio Canande Reserve, Ecuador
  • To conduct morphological, molecular, and chemical analyses on solitary wasp and bee samples from the Rio Canande Reserve, Ecuador
  • To perform in depth statistical data analyses, accurate and exhaustive literature reviews to output high quality and impactful scientific publications.
  • To support research and instruction at the University of Bonn by co-supervising bachelor's and master's projects and theses
  • To provide technical knowledge assistance in practical workshops and delivering theoretical courses that will be assigned by the University of Bonn

Business Support Officer

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
02.2021 - 08.2023
  • Conducted comprehensive literature searches and systematic reviews of research papers and products for organization into coherent dissemination material to aid in the design of print, audio,and video scripts for use in icipe training and workshops
  • Supported the rollout of icipe technologies to stakeholders through field initiation and validation activities and technical backstopping
  • Managed relationships between the icipe Technology Transfer Unit (TTU) and its stakeholders and partners by managing feedback systems and maintaining live interactions between both parties for sustainable adaptation of the disseminated innovations
  • Provided technical assistance to students attached to the Unit by reviewing manuscripts and providing editorial support
  • Supported the icipe TTU Team in compiling relevant field data and statements into comprehensive back-to-office reports.

Masters Research Fellow

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
07.2018 - 12.2020
  • Established the species diversity of the Diptera and Honeybee pollinators across the smallholder and large-scale production systems using wing geometric morphometrics and DNA COI barcoding
  • Quantified the genetic diversity, population differentiation and population structure of the honeybee pollinator communities across the smallholder and large-scale production systems by Microsatellite DNA markers
  • Reported on the occurrence and level of fluctuating asymmetry on the members of the honeybee populations from the smallholder and large-scale production systems for the quantification of developmental instability.

Graduate Research Intern

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
07.2017 - 05.2018
  • Established the gut microbial community of the Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera L) and its impact on honeybee physiology.
  • Assisted in identifying the pertinent gut microbiome of the Western honeybee caught across various apiaries in Kenya through culture and molecular techniques.
  • Characterized the resident endosymbionts in the honeybee (Arsenophonus, Spiroplasma, Wolbachia) using molecular markers.
  • Provided one Master's and one Ph.D student with assistance in DNA extraction, amplification and amplicon assessment and clean up.

Graduate Research Intern

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
02.2017 - 05.2017
  • Assisted with the collection of water and hyacinth samples from fishing sites on the Lake Victoria
  • Performed spectrophotometric and phytochemical assays of the Lake Victoria water nd water hyacinths obtained from the lake.
  • Cleaned and prepared fish samples for specific downstream analyses
  • Assisted in drafting reports on experiments

Bachelors Intern

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
07.2016 - 08.2016
  • Trained in molecular and physical laboratory procedures to partially fulfill requirements to a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
  • Analysis of nutritional content of animal feeds by PROXIMATE techniques
  • Banana Tissue culture and propagation methods
  • Rearing and maintenance of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella)
  • Laboratory rearing of parasitoid wasps for the biological control of the macadamia stinkbug (Nezara viridula).

Education

Master of Science in Genetics -

University of Nairobi
Nairobi, KENYA
09.2022

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry And Molecular Biology -

South Eastern Kenya University
Kitui, KENYA
03.2017

High School Certificate -

Kenya High School
Nairobi, KENYA
2011

Skills

  • Experience in tropical field research methods and data collection procedures
  • Robust command of the Microsoft Office Tools, BioEdit, Geneious, MorphoJ, the TPS suite, STRUCTURE and R Statistical Tool
  • Confident in programming using Jupyter Notebooks, Git and Github and the Commandline
  • Excellent at written and oral communication
  • Proficient at conducting pieces of training, moderating and giving presentations
  • Open minded, flexible, and astute in leadership and organization

Publications

Okello, E.N., Amugune, N.O., Mukiama, T.K. et al. Abundance and community composition of flower-visiting insects of avocado (Persea Americana Mill) in the East African region. Int J Trop Insect Sci (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-021-00463-1

Languages

English
Proficient
C2
Spanish
Intermediate (B1)
German
Elementary
A2
Swahili
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Luo
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)

Professional Improvement

  • SciComm FOCUS | Increase the Impact of Your Research: Writing Good Policy Briefs - University of Bonn Graduate Center - 27th May 2025
  • AI Tools for Writing and Research - Wiley Research Training (DEAL) - 6th Feb 2025
  • Current and Emerging Threats to Crops: A Practical Course - Michigan State University (USA) - 1st to 4th Nov 2022

Social networks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-night-okello-msc-975484143/

Accomplishments

  • 01/08/2020
    Frictionless Data Fellowship on Open Science – Open Knowledge Foundation (OKFN)
    The Fellowship encompassed learning and understanding the role of open science and the need of it in the current research landscape. The course detailed challenges to adoption of openness and the strategies required to ensure the availability and reproducibility of scientific
    research. https://fellows.frictionlessdata.io/
  • 01/07/2018
    Dissertation Research Internship Program (DRIP) Masters Fellowship - International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
    The DRIP Fellowship provided funding to facilitate my Masters research at the Afican Reference Laboratory for Bee Health at ICIPE

Timeline

Doctoral Researcher in Animal Ecology

University of Bonn
09.2023 - Current

Business Support Officer

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
02.2021 - 08.2023

Masters Research Fellow

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
07.2018 - 12.2020

Graduate Research Intern

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)
07.2017 - 05.2018

Graduate Research Intern

Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI)
02.2017 - 05.2017

Bachelors Intern

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
07.2016 - 08.2016

Master of Science in Genetics -

University of Nairobi

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry And Molecular Biology -

South Eastern Kenya University

High School Certificate -

Kenya High School

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