Work on the Laikipia Plateau
Since 2012, I've been working at Mpala Research Centre on the Laikipia Plateau. Through collaboration with Hillary Young and local communities, I have set up a longitudinal study that examines The exposure that villagers have with rodents in their homes. I also examine what disease risks these animals might pose to humans by combing the rodents for fleas and ticks, and by drawing blood.
Most of my work occurs in recently settled agricultural and pastoralist villages of the Maasai, Turkana, and Kikuyu tribes around Mt. Kenya. Through engagement with local communities and NGOs, I hope to make my research findings into actionable public health policies and to reduce human exposure to potentially devastating emerging zoonotic diseases.