Dr. Mary Nelima

Dr. Nelima Ondiaka holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), a MSc. in Environmental and Biosystems Engineering (University of Nairobi, Kenya) and a BSc. in Agricultural Engineering (Egerton University, Kenya). She has six years’ experience working as a Lecturer in the Department of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering at Taita Taveta University (TTU), Voi, Kenya. At TTU, she is a trainer, researcher, mentor and supervisor, and served as the Chair of the Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering Department for four years.

She worked as a Research Assistant in the Applied Bioprospecting Programme, Environmental Health Division, icipe – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology for eleven years. At icipe, she participated in research for development, technology transfer, and implementation of nature-based non-food non-timber agro-material processing and product development enterprises in rural communities living around forests in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In addition, she participated in training project stakeholders as ToTs; fund raising, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and report writing.

She is enthusiastic about research for development, knowledge and technology transfer, clean technology, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable resource use and value addition. Her research focus is in areas of environmental remediation (air, soil and water quality), waste management and circularity, energy and sustainability, application of models (machine learning, life cycle and material flow analysis, QSAR) in problem solving and decision-making.