Dr. Ngugi Mathew Piero

Dr. Ngugi Mathew Piero

Dr. Ngugi Mathew Piero

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology

Dr. Ngugi Mathew Piero is the current head of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences at Kenyatta University. He is a senior lecturer and a researcher, who has successfully supervised over 50 postgraduate students (Masters and PhD) in the fields of Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology/Biotechnology and Forensic Science. 

Dr. Ngugi has strong research interests in Medical Biochemistry with strong bias towards bioscreening of medicinal plant extracts mainly against biochemical and neurodegenerative disorders viz; Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Depression, Anxiety, and Oxidative Stress. He also does research on possible role of plant extracts in exercise physiology like exercise endurance.

He is a recipient of many awards and grants for his valuable contributions and discoveries in his major areas of research.

Dr. Ngugi Mathew Piero has published widely in peer-reviewed journals that are abstracted and indexed in reputable databases like Scopus and Pubmed and has also coauthored books.

He is an Editorial Board Member in the Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Experimental Therapeutics (JABET) https://www.bsmiab.org/jabet , Archives of Microbiology and Immunology http://www.fortunejournals.com/archives-of-microbiology-immunology-home-ami.php   and Advances in Clinical Toxicology (ACT) https://medwinpublishers.com/ACT/editorial-board.php

Dr. Ngugi serves as an external examiner for several universities for both university exams and postgraduate student theses

He participates in local, regional and international collaborative research in his several areas of research interests and also offers consultancies in these areas.

 

Expertise

Biotechnology and Molecular Biology

  • Population genetics
  • Genetic Transformation of crops for improved traits like drought tolerance, biofortification, flood tolerance, salinity tolerance and pest tolerance
  • Tissue culture techniques like regenerations of plants via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis
  • Molecular Biology techniques like PCR, RT-PCR, Electrophoresis, Southern blotting and Western blotting

Forensic Science

  • Forensic biology skills like Forensic Serology, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Semen Analysis and Forensic Anthropology.
  • Forensic DNA Technology
  • Forensic Photography
  • Forensic Pharmacology
  • Questioned Document Examination

Natural Product Chemistry

  • Ethnosurveys
  • Botanical techniques
  • Aqueous and Organic solvent extractions
  • Phytochemical profiling using Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and HPLC
  • Bioassay-guided fractionation

Medical Biochemistry

  • In vivo laboratory assays viz; clinical biochemistry, ELISA and Radioimmunoassays
  • In vitro Laboratory assays viz; enzyme assays, antioxidant assays
  • Use of Laboratory animal models in medical biochemistry research
  • Design of Medical Biochemistry experiments

Areas of Interests

Biochemistry and Medical Biochemistry
75%
Natural Product Chemistry
70%
Molecular Biology
65%
Forensic Science
60%

Work Experience

September, 2019 - Present

Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology

Kenyatta University

February, 2014 - August, 2019

Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology

Kenyatta University

September, 2010 - January, 2014

Tutorial fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Kenyatta University

January, 2010 - August, 2010

Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Pure and Applied Sciences

The Mombasa Polytechnic University College (Currently The Technical University of Mombasa)

December, 2006 - November, 2012

Adjunct Biochemistry lecturer in the Department of Pure and Applied Sciences

Kenya Methodist University (KeMU)

August, 2006 - April, 2007

Adjunct Biochemistry Tutor in the Department of Applied Sciences.

The Kenya Polytechnic (Currently The Technical University of Kenya)

Education

2009 - 2013

Doctor of Philosophy (Molecular Biology)

Kenyatta University

2002 - 2006

Masters of Science (Biochemistry option)

Kenyatta University

1998 - 2002

Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry Major) ` First class Honours

Kenyatta University

Professional Courses

2019 - 2019

Undertook training in Forensic Genetics, Knowledge Exchange at the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology

University of Leicester, UK

2013 - 2013

5-day training on “Application of Bioscience Technologies in Sorghum Production and Value Addition

Kenyatta University and ASARECA

2013 - 2013

Workshop on Drug Discovery and Design.

Kenya Institute of Bioinformatics and Angusgenomics, India

2011 - 2011

A course on Basic Skills in Teaching Methodology and Course Examination.

Kenyatta University Regional centre for Capacity Development

2008 - 2008

Short Course on Environmental Biosafety

Moi University

Administrative Appointments

At Kenyatta University

September, 2020 - Present
Appointed Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology.
March, 2020 - Present
Section Head for Medical Biochemistry Section of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology.
July, 2017 - Present
Appointed by the Chairman, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology as a member of a committee to develop a Master of Science (Forensic) degree programme.
October, 2016 - Present
Appointed by DVC (Research, Innovation & Outreach) to Proposal Writing Committee to prepare a fundable proposal in Agriculture and Food Security.
August, 2016 - Present
Appointed by DVC(Academic) to the Dean, Graduate School’s Committee on Data Analysis for Developmemt of Guidelines on Thesis Supervision and Code of Conduct to guide postgraduate research activities in Universities in Kenya (Commissioned by Commission For University Education).
December, 2015 - Present
Departmental representative in the School Research Committee
July, 2015 - Present
Appointed by the Chairman, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology as a Member of the Committee on Preparation for Inspection of Medical Biochemistry Programmes by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDP).
May, 2015 - January, 2019
Appointed Examinations Coordinator, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology
March, 2015 - Present
Appointed by the Vice Chancellor in a committee to develop a concept note to be submitted to ASARECA entitled “Capacity Development for sustainable Plant genetic resources (PGRS) utilization and conservation in eastern and central Africa”
February, 2015 - Present
Appointed by the Vice Chancellor in a committee to develop a concept note to be submitted to World Bank for financing centers of excellence in capacity development in the field of Biotechnology in East and Central Africa
March, 2014 - November, 2016
Chairman, Departmental Board of Postgraduate Studies (DBPS)
December, 2013 - Present
Expert Trainer of Departmental Staff on Smart Board Use in Teaching
December, 2012 - Present
Member, Departmental Strategic Plan Development Committee
December, 2012 - December, 2019
Departmental Co-ordinator for University Website Updates
December, 2012 - Present
Chairman, Kenyatta University Biochemistry and Biotechnology Staff Welfare (KUBBSWA).

At Other Institutions

December, 2019 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Experimental Therapeutics (JABET) https://www.bsmiab.org/jabet
December, 2017 - Present
External Examiner, Technical University of Mombasa, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences
December, 2015 - Present
External Examiner, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Mombasa CBD Campus
December, 2015 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Archives of Microbiology and Immunology

Local, Regional And International Appointments

External Examiner in other Universities

November, 2020 - Present
Biochemistry External Examiner, Uzima University, School of Medicine for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
December, 2017 - Present
External Examiner, Technical University of Mombasa, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences.
February, 2016 - Present
PhD Theses External Examiner, University of Zimbabwe and University of Fort Hare
December, 2015 - December, 2018
External Examiner, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Mombasa CBD Campus

Review of Professional Periodicals

November, 2021 - Present
Editorial Board Member Advances in Clinical Toxicology https://medwinpublishers.com/ACT/editorial-board.php
September, 2020 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Experimental Therapeutics (JABET) https://www.bsmiab.org/jabet
December, 2015 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Archives of Microbiology and Immunology. http://www.fortunejournals.com/archives-of-microbiology-immunology-home-ami.php

Appointment to Boards

March, 2019 - Present
Appointed Chairman, Board of Management of Gitiburi Day Secondary School
February, 2019 - Present
Reappointed Chairman, Board of Management of S.A Gikuyari Day Secondary School
January, 2017 - December, 2019
Appointed Chairman, Board of Management of S.A Gikuyari Day Secondary School
December, 2016 - December, 2019
Appointed Member, Board of Management of Gitiburi Day Secondary School

Awards

Date Awarded Award
23rd December 2012 Awarded a Scientific Credit certificate by OMICS Publishing Group as a prestigious author in the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism whose paper had the highest number of full text downloads and citations
2nd February 2007 Awarded PhD Scholarship by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
12th October 2002 Awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Biochemical Society of Kenya (BSK) for being the Best Overall Biochemistry student in Kenyatta university in 2001/2002 Academic year
10th September 2002 Awarded Msc Scholarship by Kenyatta University

Membership to Professional Bodies

December, 2014 - Present : Member, Kenya Chemical Society
December, 2001 - Present : Member, Kenya Biochemical Society

Contact

Address
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology Kenyatta University, P.O Box: 43844-00100, NairobiKenya
Phone Number
+254 710 34 9485 / +254 732264 557 / +254 732 264 557
Email
matpiero@gmail.com / piero.mathew@ku.ac.ke
Skype ID
+254710349485
Fax
+254 732 264 557