James Mbora Wainaina

I am a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Molecular Sciences at the University of Western Australia (Perth) and Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Plant Energy  Biology through an Australian Award scholarship. My research interests are in the genomic and evolutionary analysis of insect vector and associated viruses that they transmit. In particular, within smallholder agro-ecosystems. To address these questions I use multiples tools primarily; next-generation sequencing (DNA-Seq, RNA-Seq), advanced molecular techniques. While for computation analysis; the primary analysis is on evolutionary relationship analysis (phylogenetic and phylogeographic) using Bayesian approaches. In addition to recombination, and selective pressure analysis of viruses found across the agro-ecosystem. Moreover, I also conduct population genetic studies to monitor the population and demographic changes within insect vectors.