The University of Nairobi Research Week highlighted the journey of Gloria Katunge , a PhD student in Physics at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), whose academic achievements and international research experience demonstrate the value of initiative, mentorship and access to opportunity. Speaking during the opening ceremony, Gloria challenged students to actively pursue research opportunities while calling for stronger research infrastructure to support emerging scientists.
Gloria joined the University of Nairobi in 2016 and graduated in 2020 with First Class Honours. A scholarship enabled her to pursue her master’s studies, opening the way for further academic and research opportunities.
One defining moment came when she applied to attend the African School of Physics. Initially selected to participate online, she received support from the University to attend the programme in person in South Africa. There, she approached Professor Ketevi after a presentation, initiating a conversation that led to a six-month internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the United States, alongside three other students.
During the internship, Gloria developed a Python script for data analysis that she says continues to be used by the research team. The experience reinforced her belief that students must take an active role in pursuing opportunities.
“The University is going to open the doors for you, but you must walk through them,” she told fellow students, encouraging them to apply for programmes, ask questions and build professional relationships.
Since then, Gloria has participated in international programmes, including the Next Generation Digital Action Programme in Denmark, which led to a DANIDA fellowship workshop. She has also benefited from training and mentorship opportunities through the University’s research and innovation structures.
She now collaborates with researchers in the United States, Switzerland, Denmark, South Africa and Ghana, among other countries. Her doctoral research focuses on engineering materials for improved solar cells. Using computer simulations and machine learning, she predicts how materials will behave before they are produced and tested in the laboratory.
Gloria emphasised that artificial intelligence can support research across disciplines and is not limited to computer science. She encouraged researchers to explore how these tools can advance scientific inquiry and help address practical challenges.
However, she noted that limited research funding, inadequate access to computing facilities and fewer opportunities to attend conferences remain challenges for many students. Some of her simulations rely on supercomputers in South Africa and the United States. She welcomed the high-performance computing facilities provided through the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) as an important step towards strengthening research capacity in Kenya.
She called on university leaders and research stakeholders to continue investing in research infrastructure, travel grants, mentorship and training programmes to enable more students to participate in international collaborations and contribute to scientific advancement.
Addressing fellow students, Gloria urged them to check their university email accounts regularly for opportunities, submit applications even when success is uncertain, and give their best when selected.
She also acknowledged the role of the University, her department, supervisor and mentors in supporting her academic journey, noting that the University's support for her first international trip helped set subsequent opportunities in motion.
“Science is a global team sport, and Africa must be on the field, not on the bench,” she said, urging students to collaborate across borders and disciplines, learn from other researchers and apply their knowledge to transform society.
Gloria’s experience highlights the importance of combining academic excellence with initiative and sustained institutional support. It also points to the need for research environments where emerging scientists have the resources, mentorship and opportunities to develop their ideas and contribute to solutions for local and global challenges.
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