Maryanne Betsy Usagi is a microbiologist, Horn Sandpit fellow and part time lecturer at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology. Maryanne has passion for science and developed great interest in microbiology, a field that has had and will continue to have great impact on other areas of biology and general human welfare. Maryanne studied her BSc. (Botany/Zoology/chemistry) at Egerton University and latter a post graduate Diploma in Education at Kenyatta University. Her MSc. Microbiology (2017) focused on Identification and Determination of Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in HIV Positive Patients in Kisumu County and was written at Kenyatta University under the supervision of Dr. Maingi and Dr. Kebira.
Maryanne is currently pursuing a PhD in Microbiology at Jaramogi Odinga Odinga University of Science and Technology and writing a thesis on Effectiveness of Solar Powered Milk Cooling System in Preserving Milk Quality and Enhancing Farmers’ Earnings. Her main objective in this study is to identify and characterize microorganisms that contaminate milk causing human disease. Through this research she hopes to clearly define the fact that the health and well-being of people is linked to the health of their animals and the environment, ‘One Health’.
Maryanne has keen interest in knowledge acquisition and dissemination. Thus she acquired a diploma in education (2006) and training in pedagogical skills (2019) in order to effectively handle her classes. Besides, Maryanne has attended HORN One Health masterclasses and undergone training on microbial DNA extraction and thermocycling (2019).
Maryanne attended the HORN project sandpit event in 2018 and together with her team members produced a very strong proposal that earned them research funding.
Publications
Usagi, B.M., Onyango, B., Muok, B. and Abura, G. O. (2020). Assessment of the Effect of Solar Powered Milk Cooling Technology on Small Holder Dairy Farmer Earnings, Siaya County, Kenya IAR J Agri Res Life Sci, 2020; 1(3): | Volume:1 Issue:3 (Aug. 30, 2020) : 76-83.
Usagi, B.M. & Abura, G.O. (2017). Determination of Tuberculosis Prevalence by Gender and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Isolates from HIV positive Patients in Kisumu County, Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Ressearch and Development 6(9):81-86.
Usagi, B.M., Abura, G. O., Maingi, M. J., Kebira, A. (2016). Isolation, Identification and Determination of the Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex among People Living with HIV in Kisumu County, Kenya, Science Journal of Public Health. Vol. 4, No. 4, 2016, pp. 359-365. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20160404.24.