AFRICA MICROSCOPY
INITIATIVE

I am an imaging scientist trained at the Advanced Imaging Center (AIC), Janelia Research Campus (HHMI). My journey into microscopy began the moment I saw dynamic cellular ruffles moving under the microscope—an experience that sparked a deep curiosity and a lasting love for imaging. With a background in molecular biology, I now work in advanced quantitative microscopy, image analysis, and microscopy training. I am passionate about train-the-trainer approaches, mentorship, and making microscopy accessible. Through AMI PiTCH, I aim to share what I have I learnt in microscopy and bioimaging across Africa, highlighting the power of microscopy to drive discovery and build sustainable scientific communities in complex imaging technologies.

I am a Research Fellow in the Infectious Diseases and One Health Department at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), where I serve as a parasitologist supporting research on neglected tropical diseases including Malaria. I have been trained extensively through the Africa Microscopy Initiative openScopes Fellowship, Molecules to Human Imaging Bootcamp, and Spatial MultiOmics Workshop. As a master's student studying Microbiology and Parasitology, I am passionate about building sustainable microscopy capacity in East Africa. Additionally, I am co-developing the Kenyan Bioimaging Consortium to expand imaging training and resources across the East Africa region

I am an Analyst Scientist at the Laboratory for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Pretoria, with prior experience at the Centre for Microscopy, University of the Free State. I specialise in advanced microscopy, including optical, electron, and confocal laser scanning techniques, and excel in preparing complex biological samples. With over six years of experience, I provide training and guidance to students and researchers, develop innovative sample preparation methods, and support reproducible, high-impact research. Passionate about scientific excellence and knowledge sharing, I am committed to advancing skills, fostering collaboration, and contributing to the international microscopy research community

I am biotechnology engineer and PhD student affiliated with the National Higher School of Biotechnology and the Biotechnology Research Center (C.R.Bt), where I work as an R&D engineer contributing to the development of a bioengineering platform and its bioimaging unit. My research focuses on CRISPR-based genetic engineering, molecular delivery, microfluidics & micropatterning, and 3D bioprinting. I am a co-founder of MIMIC-AL, an Algerian biochips startup developing innovative biotech solutions. 

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I hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (production/industrial engineering) from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Atlantic Technological University, Ireland, and have held research positions at the University of Ghana, NEERI India, the University of Birmingham, and MIT, where I earned a Kaufmann Teaching Certificate. My research interests include musculoskeletal bioengineering, advanced materials, and condensed matter physics. I am currently a faculty member at Ahmadu Bello University, coordinating two NRF TETFund projects and serving as Outreach Officer for the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE).

I am the Principal Investigator of the NeuroPhyVitality Research Hub, where I lead a team investigating the neuroprotective and anticancer properties of bioactive compounds derived from indigenous phytomedicinal plants and functional foods, with a central focus on mechanistic research into autophagy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cancer. During my doctoral training, I played an integral role in establishing a correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) workflow at Stellenbosch University’s CAF Facility to characterise APP overexpression in one of the first stably expressing APP transgenic in-vitro models of AD in South Africa. This work integrated fluorescence imaging with ultrastructural validation.

I am a biomedical researcher from Australia specialising in high content imaging and quantitative image analysis. I am also an associated with Griffith University and currently reside in Switzerland. I have over 10 years’ experience with academic research and hands-on microscopy training. I am excited to be selected as a Global partner in the PiTCH Fellowship initiative and hope to gain valuable skills in guided mentorship, international collaborations, curriculum design and teaching. 

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With experience in cell biology, histology and biomaterials, I am used to handling a wide variety of samples for microscopy. After my PhD in cell signaling at the University of Birmingham, UK, I had two post-doc positions using live single cell imaging at the University of Liverpool, then moved to the University of Oslo (UiO) NorMIC imaging platform at the Institute of Biosciences. I currently work at the Institute of Clinical Dentistry, UiO, developing imaging strategies for tissue engineering. My interests also include optimal approaches for microscopy training and I am a member of QUAREP-LiMi working group 8 – Education, training and outreach.

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I am a Researcher and Project Leader at University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have experience in basic cell biology research, with a strong use of confocal microscopy applied to visualize subcellular processes. My recent projects focus on the regulation of the secretory pathway in health and neurodegenerative diseases using cellular models. I teach Genetics and Fundamentals of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Buenos Aires and Institute of Technology of Buenos Aires. I am excited to collaborate in the PiTCH Program, and believe that together we can inspire the future generations to explore the microscopic world.​​

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I am Dr Samira Benadda, an imaging scientist. I obtained my PhD in immunology at the University Paris Cité, France. My doctoral project focused on the trafficking of the Fc receptor to understand new therapeutic targets in the field of monoclonal antibodies. I currently manage the core imaging facility at the Institute of Biology of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS) in Paris. I also support researchers in the implementation and optimization of advanced light microscopy techniques and actively collaborate on multidisciplinary research projects. My expertise span core facility management, users training, and the development of imaging workflows, with a strong commitment to capacity building and the dissemination of bioimaging expertise, particularly in Africa.

My name is Mariana De Niz. I was born in Mexico City, where my interest in microscopy and infectious diseases first arose. I studied my undergraduate and postgraduate studies and postdoctoral work in institutions across Europe. With a great interest in parasites and their interactions with the host vasculature, imaging at all scales has been essential to my research. Currently, I am the Nikon Center Manager at the Center for Advanced Microscopy at Northwestern University, where my role is multifaceted and includes research, teaching, and a great involvement in international efforts to ensure global access to microscopy infrastructure and expertise. 

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I am a Histopathology and Imaging Specialist, Chartered Scientist, and Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences. I apply Histopathology, Spatial Genomics, and immuno-oncology multiplex microscopy to human and non-human tissues. My expertise include tissue examination, preparation, staining, and high-resolution imaging to investigate cellular and molecular features. During my postdoctoral work, I led the installation, optimisation, and validation of the RareCyte Orion multiplex immunofluorescence microscope. In my current role, I provide specialist technical leadership in advanced light, fluorescence, confocal, and multiplex imaging, deliver microscopy training, and motivated by emerging AI-driven Histopathological analysis tools.