Curriculum vitae

Since 07/04/2025	Graduate fellow at the International Livestock Research Institute
Since 03/10/2024	Doctoral student at the Chair of Restoration Ecology, Technical University Munich. Freising
10/2018–03/2021	M.Sc. Biology, University of Siena, Italy Thesis: Silvicultural management of Black pine plantations, assessing the success and surrogacy.
01/2020-01/2021	Research Assistant, Department of life sciences. University of Siena
10/2015–08/2018	B.Sc. Natural Resources, University of Eldoret, Kenya
08/2011-10/2015	B.S.c.

Research topic: Restoration of the Savanna grasslands, utilising cattle grazing management.

Supervisors: Prof. Dr J. Kollmann (TUM), Prof. John Quinton (Lancaster University, Dr Sonja Leinter (ILRI).

Tropical grasslands are key ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, support local livelihoods, and play a crucial role in global climate regulation. In Kenya, these grasslands are fundamental to both communities and wildlife; however, overgrazing, agricultural expansion and climate change are leading to the degradation of these ecosystems, compromising their ecological integrity and reducing their ability to deliver essential ecosystem services. Degraded grasslands produce less biomass, tend to have less soil organic matter, and increase soil erosion rates, causing lower soil productivity and affecting biodiversity. Effective management and restoration of these degraded grasslands is vital to ensure their sustainability for future generations.

The three-year research project will investigate the influence of grazing management on soil health and plant species biodiversity, as well as the resilience of grasslands to extreme stressors such as drought and grazing. First, we will investigate the current state of grassland degradation caused by grazing using plant cover and diversity, and soil health indicators such as the physical, chemical, and biological properties. Secondly, the impact of grazing intensity on soil and plant community composition will be evaluated through simulated grazing experiments. Lastly, we will examine the resilience of grasslands against climate stressors, such as drought. Ultimately, the findings will contribute to understanding grasslands' ecological dynamics and help inform conservation efforts to enhance soil quality, promote species diversity, and restore ecosystem functionality in these grasslands.

The Research project is funded by DAAD Research Grant scholarship.