Dr. Samuel K Mutiga

Samuel Kilonzo Mutiga received his PhD in Plant Pathology from Cornell University in 2014, focusing on the genetics for aflatoxin  resistance in maize. As a graduate student, he participated in a sandwich program that allowed him to assess aflatoxin prevalence in Kenya, investigate aflatoxin resistance in tropical maize, and establish a Mycotoxin and Nutritional Laboratory at BecA-ILRI, Nairobi. From 2014 to 2018, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Arkansas, where he worked on  blast resistance in African rice germplasm. In 2019, Dr. Mutiga took a joint appointment at the University of Arkansas and BecA-ILRI, co-leading the Durable Rice Blast Resistance for sub-Saharan Africa project, focusing on marker-assisted gene introgression in African rice cultivars. He also worked as a Consultant Plant Scientist in CGIAR's Accelerated Breeding Initiative until 2024. His research interests are in the application of modern breeding methods to improve crop resilience and food security.