Nicholas
Mogoi

Nicholas Mogoi (Nick) is an African STARS fellow currently enrolled for MSc in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases at CERI, Stellenbosch University, a molecular microbiologist and an emerging bioinformatician from Kenya, specialising in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and pathogen genomics. He holds a master’s degree in Molecular Biology from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), where his research focused on pathogen evolution dynamics of multi-drug resistant pathogens in clinical settings in Western Kenya. His early involvement in the Cambridge–Kakamega AMR partnership sparked his interest to applying big-data and genomic avenues to combat infectious diseases in Africa.

He has developed strong capabilities at the intersection of molecular microbiology and bioinformatics, working across both laboratory and computational environments. His experience spans pathogen genomics to surveillance of AMR. This is supported by his expertise in high-performance computing, statistical programming in R, workflow development, and large-scale genomic data handling with Python. He has contributed to collaborative research projects, peer-reviewed publications, and scientific conferences and workshops. He has further advanced his bioinformatics training through specialised programs, including at the University of Pretoria.

Nicholas is driven by a vision to harness Africa’s growing genomic data resources to elicit their hidden nugget. He aims to develop new biostatistical algorithms and computational tools for AMR and genomics programs. He envisions a future where Africa leads the global fight against epidemics through big-data, collaboration, and innovative approaches. This vision aligns closely with CERI’s vision and the broader goals of Sustainable Development Goal 3.