Ms. Maringa completed her Master’s degree with a distinction in 2021, working under Prof. Martin Nyaga’s (Head of the Next Generation Sequencing unit at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State) supervision. Her study focused on the Whole genome analysis of rare and/or novel rotavirus strains post-Rotarix® introduction in Zambia. This research was a subset of a bigger project funded by the World Health Organization (WHO), which aimed to perform whole genome sequencing of rotavirus strains from the WHO – Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) rotavirus surveillance network. In a nutshell, the study analysed the whole genome constellations of rare and/or novel reassortant rotavirus strains that were identified after Rotarix® rotavirus vaccine was introduced in Zambia. The phylogenetic evolutionary trends of these rare and/or novel strains were also investigated. Additional funding for Ms. Maringa’s research was awarded by the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF). She gained experience working as a laboratory assistant and later as a research assistant at the Next Generation Sequencing unit, where she acquired critical training from Prof. Martin Nyaga in both technical laboratory skills and soft skills. Additionally, she disseminated her research findings at the 13th African Rotavirus symposium (3rd-4th November 2021), the Research forum conducted at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa (26th-27th August 2021) and Virology Africa 2020 in Cape Town (10th-14th February 2020). Ms. Maringa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Genomic Sciences at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya. Links to personal profiles and scientific work (1) Wairimu Maringa (she/her) | LinkedIn https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8532-0016
