Zampela Pittaki is a soil scientist at ICRAF Kenya, specializing in soil spectroscopy. She earned her Ph.D. in Soil Physics from Aarhus University, where she made significant contributions to advancing visible−near-infrared spectroscopy (vis−NIRS) for predicting soil properties, particularly those related to hydraulic behavior. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA, she worked on developing spectral transfer models across instruments and laboratories to ensure robust calibration and validation—crucial for the large-scale application of soil spectroscopy. Her vision is to further enhance soil spectral methods to enable rapid, reliable, and cost-effective predictions of soil properties. Zampela’s work also integrates remote sensing with spectroscopy to support scalable soil health assessments and decision-making tools. She is actively involved in capacity building efforts with governments and research institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa, India, and other regions, focusing on restoring soil health through advanced spectral techniques. As a woman scientist, Zampela is deeply committed to promoting gender equity in research and advancing the role of women in science and community development.