Medical Entomologist, KEMRI Wellcome Trust
Youtube link 1: Prof. Marta Maia on juggling single motherhood with a science career (Part 1)
Youtube link 2: Prof. Marta Maia on shattering stereotypes and embodying the change we strive for (Part 2)
I am a medical entomologist permanently based at the KEMRI Wellcome
Trust Programme in Kilifi, Kenya. My primary focus lies in exploring
the bionomics, control, and surveillance of malaria vectors.
Originally trained in veterinary medicine, I obtained my PhD from
the Free University of Berlin, evaluating insecticide-treated fences
to protect cattle from disease vectors. Following this, I pursued a
post-doctoral fellowship at LSHTM, where I researched spatial
repellents for malaria vector control, based at the Ifakara Health
Institute in Tanzania. Later, I joined the Swiss Tropical and Public
Health Institute (Swiss TPH) as a scientific collaborator, dedicated
to the development and testing of innovative malaria vector control
methodologies, including plant-based mosquito repellents, spatial
repellents, attractive-toxic sugar baits, and mosquito attractants.
I am interested in vector control approaches targeting
outdoor-biting mosquitoes, aiming to mitigate residual malaria
transmission. Particularly, I am interested in exploring the role of
endectocides for vector control and reduction of malaria
transmission.
Additionally, I am committed to developing novel vector surveillance
tools capable of offering efficient and cost-effective alternatives
to conventional molecular methods. Currently, I am working on
furthering MALDI-TOF MS for analyzing multiple entomological traits
including species, blood source, infection and age of Anopheline
mosquitoes.