CURRICULUM VITAE
Name and contacts: Alakonya Amos Emitati, Tel: +254722272854, Email: [email protected].
Area of specialization: Plant Molecular Geneticist/Plant Pathologist
Research interests: My projects employ forward and reverse genetic tools in understanding and improvement of key African food
crops (maize, sorghum cassava and groundnuts) against Striga hermonthica, mycotoxins, Maize Lethal
Necrosis (MLN) and cassava viruses.
Education Background:
April 2007 – to May 2011: Doctor of Philosophy (Plant Biotechnology).
Kenyatta University &
University of California
Davis split program.
Sep. 2001 – Dec 2004:
Kenyatta University.
Master of Science (Plant Pathology).
Sep. 1998 – April 2001:
Kenyatta University.
BED SCI (Botany and Zoology).
Positions held:
Research Fellow: Institute for Biotechnology Research JKUAT, conducting research and teaching
Sep 2011 to Date Plant molecular geneticist /Plant pathologist.
Ass Research Fellow: Institute for Biotechnology Research JKUAT, conducting research and teaching
Sep 2010 to Sep 2011 Plant molecular geneticist /Plant pathologist
Visiting Academic: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, SA.
June –Sep 2012
Junior Specialist: Nelima Laboratory, Plant Biology Division, UC-Davis.
Oct 2007-April 2009
PhD Student:
Project title, Use of RNA interference and over expression of Purple Acid Phosphatase
Oct 2007- May 2011: genes in management of parasitic plants (Striga and Orobanchea)
KU and UC-Davis
Plant Health Officer:
Jan 2005 – Aug 2010
Head Molecular Biology lab, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service.
Research Assistant:
Ethno-veterinary medicinal plants of the Lake Victoria basin, funded by
August 2006-April 2004: Inter University Council for East Africa, Kenyatta University.
Research Assistant
June 2004 – Dec 2004:
Bean rust management using natural plant products. ICAD funded.
Kenyatta University
MSc Student:
Sep 2001– Dec 2004:
Kenyatta University
Ear rot fungi and levels of aflatoxins B1 and fumonisins B1 in Western
Kenya. Rockefeller Foundation funded project
List of publications:
2014. Julius Kinuthia , Cindy Harper , Shadrack Muya, Charles Kimwele, Amos Alakonya , Anne Muigai, Francis Gakuya, Mercy
Mwaniki, Erastus Gatebe. The selection of a standard STR panel for DNA profiling of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) in
Kenya. Conservation Genet Resour. DOI 10.1007/s12686-014-0366-6.
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2014: Kiswii, TM. Monda, EO. Okemo, P. O. Bii, C. Alakonya AE. Efficacy of Selected Fifteen Medicinal Plants from Eastern Kenya
against Aspergillus flavus. Journal of Plant Sciences, 2 (5) 226-231. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20140205.22
2014: Mary C. Kirui, Amos E. Alakonya, Keith K. Talam, Gonoi Tohru, Christine C. Bii. Total aflatoxin, fumonisin and
Deoxynivalenol contamination of busaa in Bomet County, Kenya. African Journal of Biotechnology, 13(26), 2675-2678.
2014: Lubabali AH, Alakonya AE., Gichuru EK, Kahia JW, Mayoli R. In vitro propagation of the new disease resistant Coffea arabica
variety- Batian. African Journal of Biotechnology. 13(24), 2414-2419
2014: Kirigia KD, Runo SM and Alakonya EA. A virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system for functional genomics in the parasitic
plant Striga hermonthica. Plant methods.10: 16 doi:10.1186/1746-4811-10-16.
2014: AE Alakonya, SM Runo, EO. Monda, N. Sinha J. Machuka. Reaction of maize and sorghum cultivars to varied phosphorus
regimes, arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal isolates and lupin intercropping. Agricultural Research Journal. 4(1): 1-9. ISSN 2026-6332.
2013: Joel Masanga, Sheila Ommeh, Remy Kasili and Amos Alakonya. An optimized protocol for high frequency regeneration of
selected groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) varieties from East Africa using cotyledons. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop
Sciences. 6(20):1421-1425.
2013: Mercy Liharaka Kidaha , Amos Emitati Alakonya, Aggrey Benard Nyende Bioactivity determination of methanol and water
extracts for roots and leaves of Kenyan Psidium guajava L landraces against pathogenic bacteria. Springer Plus 2013, 2:670
doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-670.
2013: Jonathan M Matheka, Sylvester Anami, James Gethi, Rasha A Omer, Amos Alakonya, Jesse Machuka and Steven Runo. A new
double right border binary vector for producing marker-free transgenic plants. BMC Research Notes 2013, 6:448
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/6/448
2013: Cherotich Leonida, Samson M. Kamunya, Amos Alakonya, Solomon W. Msomba, Marie A. Uwimanna, Phillip O. Okinda.
Characterization of 20 clones of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) using ISSR and SSR markers. Agriculural Science Research Journal.
3 (9):292-302.
2013: L. Cherotich, S. Kamunya, A. Alakonya, S. Msomba, M. Uwimana, J. Wanyoko and P. Owuor, Variation in Catechin Composition
of Popularly Cultivated Tea Clones in East Africa (Kenya). American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 3, 2013, pp. 628-640. doi:
10.4236/ajps.2013.43081.
2013. AE Alakonya and E.O. Monda . Invited Book chapter. Aflatoxins - Recent Advances and Future Prospects Chapter tittled . The
hope to aflatoxin management in developing countries: a review of current status, progress in management and a new thinking approach
targeting the silencing of the aflatoxin and sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in Aspergillus species. In tech publishers ISBN 980-953-307566-7.
20l2: Amos Alakonya, Ravi Kumar, Daniel Koenig, Seisuke Kimura, Brad Townsley, Steven Runo, Helena M. Garces, Julie Kang,
Andrea Yanez, Rakefet David-Schwartz, Jesse Machuka,and Neelima Sinha. Interspecific RNA Interference of SHOOT
MERISTEMLESS-Like Disrupts Cuscuta pentagona Plant Parasitism. The Plant Cell 2012, 24: 3153–3166
2012. Francis Addy, Amos Alakonya, Njeri Wamae, Japhet Magambo , Cecilia Mbae, Erastus Mulinge, Eberhard Zeyhle, Marion
Wassermann, Peter Kern , Thomas Romig, Prevalence and diversity of cystic Echinococcosis in livestock in Maasailand, Kenya. Journal
of Parasitology Research, Springer Netherlands. DOI 10.1007/s00436-012-3082-8
2012: Steven Runo, Sarah Macharia, Amos Alakonya, Jesse Machuka, Neelima Sinha, Julie Scholes. Striga parasitizes transgenic hairy
roots of Zea mays and provides a tool for studying plant-plant interactions. Plant Methods 2012, 8:20.
2012: John O. Muoma, Dennis M.W. Ochieno and Amos E. Alakonya. Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa cry for tightly closed ear
drooping
maize
phenotypes.
Maize
Genetics
Cooperation
Newsletter
vol
86
2012.
http://www.agron.missouri.edu/mnl/86/html/16muoma.htm
2011: Runo S.M., Alakonya A Machuka J.S, Sinha N.R. RNA Interference as a Resistance Mechanism against Crop Parasites in Africa: A
‘Trojan Horse’ Approach. Pest Management Science. 67(2) 129-136.
2010: Alakonya A , Dan Koenig, Runo S.M., Machuka J.S, Sinha N.R. Lack of GFP trafficking from transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana (L )
to parasitizing Cuscuta pentagonia (Engelmann). Global Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry. 5 (4): 237-242.ISSN 2078-466X
2009: A. E. Alakonya, Monda, E. O. and Ajanga, S. Fumonisin B1 and Aflatoxin B1 levels in Kenyan maize. Journal of Plant Pathology,
91 (2):459-469.
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2008: A.E. Alakonya, E.O. Monda and S. Ajanga, Management of Fusarium moniliforme root infection court in maize using organic soil
amendments. World Applied Sciences Journal, 5 (2): 161-170
2008: A.E. Alakonya, E.O. Monda and S. Ajanga, Variation in in vitro fumonisin B1 production by different Fusarium verticillioides isolates
in Kenya. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, 4 (3): 368-371, 2008.
2008: A.E. Alakonya, E.O. Monda and S. Ajanga, Effect of delayed harvesting on maize ear rot in western Kenya, American-Eurasian
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 4 (3): 372-380, 2008.
2008:Speranza N, Alakonya E. A. Ejobi F. and Resto M. Antibacterial activity of extracts from plants growing in the Lake Victoria
basin. African Journal of Environmental Studies and Development, 1: 63-69.
2004: Alakonya E. A., Monda, E.O., Owino, O.P., Ajanga, S., Incidence of maize ear rot fungi in selected maize varieties at different
harvest intervals in Tongaren and Malava divisions of Western Kenya. Proceedings of the 2nd Regional Microbiology Conference in
Nairobi, Kenya. Pp 131-134.
2003: Alakonya, A. E. Monda, E., Owino P. O. & Ajanga, S. Use of Organic Soil Amendments in Management of Fusarium Moniliforme.
African Crop Science Conference Proceedings. 6:277-281.
Grants and scholarship awards
• 2012 to date. Enhancing Cassava productivity through host plant resistance breeding against Cassava Mosaic Disease and
Cassava Brown Streak Disease. Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity Project (EAAPP), multi-institutional collaboration
between JKUAT, UON, KU, and KARI.
• 2012 to 2014 Jomo Kenyatta RPE competitive grants of enhancement of P access in maize for Striga hermonthica
management and increased grain yield.
• 2012 to April 2014 – Round 9 Grand Challenges initiative Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on protection of plants from
injurious pests and diseases (Project title: Aflatoxin management via silencing key Aflatoxin biosynthesis genes).
• 2012- to 2014 -International Funding for Science (IFS) Young scientists 1st application grant award (on exploring VIGs
and agrodrech aided RNAi in Striga hermonthica management.
• 2012-to 2014-National Council for Science and Technology Post doctorate grant award on molecular characterization and
bioactivity assaying of wild quava accessions in Kenya.
• 2007-2011-Rockefeller RUFORUM Scholarship to study PhD at Kenyatta University/University of California-Davis.
• 2001-2004-Rockefeller RUFORUM Scholarship to study MSc at Kenyatta University.
Courses that I teach
Genetic Engineering and Risk Assessment, Genetic Engineering and Crop Improvement, Plant cell, Tissue, and Organ culture,
Molecular Plant Breeding, Plant Virology, Plant Mycology, Research Methods, Scientific Writing and communication.
Administrative experience
• 2011 to date IBR Postgraduate Co-ordinator.
• 2011-to date: PI of assorted research projects and postgraduate student supervisor at JKUAT IBR (listed above).
• 2010- 2012: IBR JKUAT Institutional time tabler.
• KEPHIS 2005 to 2007: Head Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Professional Body memberships/affiliations
• African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum.
• Kenya Society of Microbiologists.
• The International Parasitic Plant Society.
• Kenya Standing Committee on Imports and Exports (KSTCIE) member.
• International Foundation for Science Alumni –Kenya chapter.
• RUFORUM alumni.
• Kenyatta University Alumini.
Referees:
1.
Prof Ester Kahangi, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Production and Extension, JKUAT, P.O. Box 6200-00200 Nairobi, Email
[email protected]
2.
Prof. Ethel O. Monda, Department of Plant Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya. Email
[email protected]., Mobile +254 0722- 474704.
3.
Prof. Neelima Sinha, Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, LSA Building, 95616,
Davis CA USA. Email [email protected] +1530-754-8692.
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