Dr. Vimbai Samukange

Senior Research Scientist

Vimbai has a broad-based background in the field of Biology. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master of Science and a Doctorate degree in Agricultural Science from Kyoto University, in Japan. For her Ph.D she majored in Enzyme Chemistry. From 08/2015 ~ 08/2018 she was a Postdoctoral researcher at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Japan where she carried out research on the role of the nmr-1 gene in memory and learning in C. elegans. And from 03/2019 ~ 08/2020   she worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Biochemistry in Romania, were she carried out research on ageing in C. elegans. She has also been affiliated with the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe and has worked on the potential development of local vaccines. Her area of interests include: enzymology, ageing, nematology, generation of genetically modified plants and the identification and isolation of biologically active compounds (drug discovery) and microorganisms for commercial applications.