Bernard Gitura Kimani
Researcher
Bratislava
Summary
Results-driven researcher specializing in antimicrobial natural compounds and microbial physiology. Expertise in evaluating the efficacy and mechanisms of action of natural bioactive compounds, cold atmospheric plasma, and plasma-activated water through interdisciplinary approaches. Skilled in microscopy-based analysis, co-cultivation studies, and quantitative data analysis for microbial investigations. Proven record in scientific publication, international collaboration, and project leadership focused on innovative antifungal and antimicrobial discovery.
Overview
3
3
Languages
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Post Doctoral Researcher
Comenius University
03.2024 - 06.2026
- Conduct interdisciplinary research on yeast/bacteria physiology, biofilm formation, and antimicrobial response, investigating the combined activity of natural compounds, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), and plasma-activated water (PAW) against pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms.
- Perform a wide range of microbiological and biofilm assays, including microbial adhesion studies, biofilm inhibition/eradication assays, time-kill kinetics, viability analysis, and stress-response measurements.
- Investigate the mechanistic pathways of antimicrobial action.
- Apply advanced microscopy (fluorescence, SEM), spectroscopy, to examine structural changes, compound interactions, and phenotypic responses in treated yeasts and bacteria populations.
- Liaise with supervisor to review grants and manuscripts to develop potential publications.
- Provide constructive feedback on manuscripts submitted by peers for publication consideration or grant proposals under review process.
- Prepare peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and technical reports, ensuring rigorous data management and reproducibility to advance knowledge in microbial control.
- Collaborate with academic, industrial, and clinical partners in projects targeting microbial control and anti-biofilm interventions.
- Contribute to grant writing, experimental planning, and project development, aligning research objectives with funding priorities to secure support for antimicrobial research.
- Business or Sector Education | Department Astronomy, Earth Physics and Meteorology | Email kimani1@uniba.sk
- Present research findings at international conferences, fostering knowledge exchange among peers.
- Design effective experimental controls, ensuring robust conclusions from research studies.
- Establish productive collaborations with interdisciplinary teams to address pressing scientific questions.
- Design research projects and alternative approaches and discuss results with professor.
- Mentor junior researchers, enhancing their skills and supporting their career development.
- Pursue independent and complementary research interests.
- Contribute to and actively participated in research conception, design and execution to address defined problems.
- Secure grant funding for collaborative projects through persuasive proposal writing and networking efforts.
- Maintain accurate records of research findings and provided statistical analysis of data results.
- Manage laboratory safety protocols, maintaining a secure working environment for all personnel involved in research activities.
Doctoral Researcher
University of Szeged
09.2019 - 12.2023
- Investigated antimicrobial/antifungal properties of natural phenolics against pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi relevant to industrial, medical, and closed/indoor environments.
- Conducted microbiological assays, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC), biofilm inhibition, and time-kill kinetics studies.
- Characterized microbial responses to phenolic treatments using fluorescence microscopy to assess structural and metabolic changes.
- Performed synergistic combination studies of different phenolics to enhance microbial inactivation.
- Conducted in-silico molecular docking and dynamics simulations to predict phenolic interactions with microbial target proteins involved in cell wall integrity, enzyme inhibition, and biofilm formation pathways.
- Utilized bioinformatics tools and molecular modeling software such as AutoDock, PyMOL, Schrödinger, and SwissDock to understand the structural basis of phenolic bioactivity.
- Correlated computational predictions with in-vitro experimental results, validating antimicrobial action of phenolic compounds and enhancing understanding of their mechanisms.
- Prepared scientific manuscripts detailing research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
- Facilitated undergraduate students' microbiology experiments, providing training in sterile techniques, culture maintenance, and analytical assays to develop their research skills.
- Business or Sector Education | Department Microbiology
- Presented research findings at national and international conferences, showcasing expertise and fostering professional connections.
- Mentored junior researchers, providing guidance on study design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results.
Polytechnic Trainer
Meru National Polytechnic
07.2015 - 08.2019
- Developed and delivered engaging lectures tailored to diverse student learning styles.
- Facilitated hands-on laboratory sessions, reinforcing theoretical knowledge with practical experiments to enhance student comprehension.
- Assisted the Head of Department with strategic planning, policy implementation, and overall department administration.
- Mentored diploma students in academic and non-academic areas, promoting holistic development and student engagement.
- Designed and implemented the Applied Sciences teaching schedule, ensuring adequate coverage of core concepts.
- Contributed to curriculum reviews, assessment planning, and quality assurance initiatives to maintain high educational standards.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of training initiatives by tracking participant progress and gathering feedback for continuous improvement.
- Provided one-on-one mentoring to help individuals reach their full potential within the organization.
- Collaborated with subject matter experts to create accurate training content.
- Coached employees on best practices, providing constructive feedback to support their professional growth.
- Mentored new hires, resulting in stronger staff development and increased productivity.
- Conducted comprehensive needs assessments to identify gaps in knowledge and skills, informing future program development.
Adjunct Instructor
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
08.2015 - 09.2018
- Developed and delivered engaging lectures for biological science courses, aligning content with university curriculum to enhance student understanding.
- Integrated current research and real-world applications into microbiology lectures, enriching student knowledge and relevance of course material.
- Designed, administered, and graded exams to evaluate student comprehension and application of course material.
- Provided constructive feedback on students' performance, identifying areas for improvement and offering academic support where needed.
- Prepared and oversaw laboratory work, facilitating hands-on experience with key biological and microbiological techniques to reinforce theoretical concepts.
- Instructed students on proper laboratory protocols, safety procedures, and experimental techniques relevant to biological sciences.
- Collaborated with department head to create dynamic, ongoing curriculum development, and instruction improvement program.
- Business or Sector Education | Department Zoology
Biology and Chemistry Teacher Secondary School
Nduriri Secondary School
01.2009 - 06.2012
- Delivered engaging, curriculum-aligned lessons in biology and chemistry to secondary school students.
- Supervised hands-on experiments, ensuring safe lab practices and compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Developed and administered assessments to measure student understanding, offering tailored feedback to support learning.
- Guided and mentored students academically, fostering a supportive learning environment that encouraged growth.
- Collaborated with educators to integrate interdisciplinary teaching strategies, enhancing overall student engagement in science.
- Participated in science fairs and extracurricular activities.
- Mentored students individually, guiding them towards academic success and personal growth.
- Communicated frequently with parents, students, and faculty to provide feedback and discuss instructional strategies.
- Developed engaging lesson plans for diverse learners, resulting in improved comprehension and achievement.
- Incorporated exciting and engaging activities to achieve student participation and hands-on learning.
- Instructed students in lab by teaching safety protocols for proper use of chemicals and safe disposal of hazardous materials.
Biology and Chemistry Teacher Secondary School
Saint Anne's Girls Secondary School
01.2007 - 12.2008
- Delivered interactive biology and chemistry lessons that fostered student interest and understanding.
- Facilitated practical experiments to enhance learning.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning.
- Provided consistent feedback on assignments, empowering students to take ownership of their learning process and make improvements as necessary.
- Participated in department meetings to provide input to colleagues about student achievement and improvement.
- Incorporated innovative teaching methods such as flipped classrooms and project-based learning to boost student engagement.
- Designed and implemented assessments to evaluate and improve student comprehension and learning outcomes.
Education
Ph.D. Biological Sciences - Natural sciences
University of Szeged
Szeged, Hungary12-2023
Masters of Science - Microbiology
Jiangnan University
Wuxi, China06-2015
Bachelor of Education Science - Science Education (Biology And Chemistry)
Maseno University
Maseno, Kenya12-2006
Skills
Natural antimicrobial applications
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Antimicrobial action mechanisms
Combination antimicrobial studies
Bacterial-fungal interactions
Biofilm studies
Time-kill kinetics
Surface antimicrobial engineering
Fluorescence microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy
Time-lapse imaging
Image analysis
Sample preparation techniques
Biofilm visualization
Cold plasma applications
Experimental design
Molecular docking
Scientific writing
Conference presentations
Grant writing
Laboratory management
Supervision and mentorship
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Analytical Skills
Interdisciplinary collaboration
CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
- 07/07/2025 – 10/07/2025 Turku, Finland XXXII International Conference on Polyphenols (ICP2025)
- Link https://icp2025turku.utu.fi/
- 17/06/2025 – 20/06/2025 Barcelona, Spain Final Meeting COST Action PlasTHER
- Link https://www.plasther.eu/events-archive/final-meeting-plasther-barcelona-2025/
- 31/01/2025 – 05/02/2025 Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia 25th Symposium on Application of Plasma Processes and 14th EU-Japan Joint Symposium on Plasma Processing
- Link https://neon.dpp.fmph.uniba.sk/sapp/
- 08/09/2024 – 13/09/2024 Portoroz, Slovenia 10th International Conference on Plasma Medicine (ICPM10) and 9th International Workshop on Plasma for Cancer Treatment (IWPCT9)
- Link https://f6-ge.jis.si/icpm10/?page_id=1269
- 10/06/2024 – 13/06/2024 Budapest, Hungary 3rd Annual Meeting & Management Committee of COST Action PlasTHER “Therapeutical applications of cold plasmas”
- Link https://www.plasther.eu/events-archive/3rd-annual-meeting-plasther-budapest-2024/
- 30/06/2022 – 02/07/2022 Belgrade, Serbia 2nd FEMS Conference on Microbiology
- Link https://fems-microbiology.org/opportunities/fems-conference-on-microbiology/
- 28/04/2022 – 30/04/2022 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary 19th Wellmann International Scientific Conference
- Link https://genetika.uni-mate.hu/19th-wellmann-international-scientific-conference
Timeline
Post Doctoral Researcher
Comenius University
03.2024 - 06.2026
Doctoral Researcher
University of Szeged
09.2019 - 12.2023
Adjunct Instructor
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
08.2015 - 09.2018
Polytechnic Trainer
Meru National Polytechnic
07.2015 - 08.2019
Biology and Chemistry Teacher Secondary School
Nduriri Secondary School
01.2009 - 06.2012
Biology and Chemistry Teacher Secondary School
Saint Anne's Girls Secondary School
01.2007 - 12.2008
Ph.D. Biological Sciences - Natural sciences
University of Szeged
Masters of Science - Microbiology
Jiangnan University
Bachelor of Education Science - Science Education (Biology And Chemistry)
Maseno University