Jean Pacifique MUNEZERO  is a PhD student at the University of Burundi. He was trained as a physicist at the University of Burundi. Since 2014, he has been a physics teacher at the junior seminary of Buta. For his doctoral studies, he is currently in the field of applied mathematics working on complex systems and agent-based models (case of the dynamic transmission of malaria in Burundi). Since 2022, he has been an associate member of the University Center for Research and Applied Science Pedagogy (CURPAS), assigned to the Exact and Applied Sciences Laboratory (LSEA). During this year, he joined an interdisciplinary research program at the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi.

Denis Sinzinkayo is a Medical Doctor (2013) with a master’s in healthcare management (2017), and a master’s in international cooperation and humanitarian Aids (2021), postgraduation in epidemiological & statistical methods in health(2024), and currently a PhD fellow in Public health. His profile is that of a public health professional with extensive experience in project and program management. He is an independent consultant who has provided technical expertise to Global players including Global Funds, GAVI, etc. He is a researcher with experience in research conduct and paper publication with articles published in international journals. Furthermore, Dr. Denis has statistics hands-on expertise using Stata, SPSS, and R. Another skill is document and literature review, report writing, and events coordination including virtual events. Dr. Denis’s values teamwork, professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity and gender.

Mr. Olivier KAMATARI is PhD candidate at the doctoral school of the University of Burundi with a research project entitled “Developing an agile operational response framework to Public Health Emergencies in Burundi”. He is a dedicated public health professional with a Master's degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (2020) and a background in Human biology (2017). He has a strong foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of epidemiology and biostatistics. He has developed a deep understanding of the distribution, determinants, and control of diseases in populations.
Olivier KAMATARI, being a perfect bilingual speaker (French-English), a highly experienced epidemiologist, was hired by the Ministry of Health and the Fight against AIDS in May 2021 to work with international experts in the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) to combat COVID-19. He has contributed to various outbreaks, including cholera, polio, conjunctivitis, and MPox, generating data-driven insights that inform public health policy and interventions. He has also gained practical experience in field and academic settings, collaborating with government health agencies, non-profits, and international healthcare organizations to conduct epidemiological studies and evaluate public health programs. His passion for translating data into actionable insights has led to projects addressing issues such as community transmission, vaccine distribution, and environmental exposure risks. He is known for his ability to communicate complex statistical concepts and research findings effectively, making him a strong collaborator in multidisciplinary teams. Currently, he is working in WHO Burundi on an operational research project focusing on monkeypox transmission. He is committed to advancing epidemiology and biostatistics, making meaningful contributions to public health at local, national, and global levels.

My name is Sakubu Daxelle, and I am a PhD candidate at the doctoral school of the University of Burundi, where I am focusing on cancer diagnosis using deep learning models.
After completing my master's degree in Computer Science at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology in China, I was hired as a research intern for 6 months at the Inetrdiscipinary Research Group in Public Health. In this role, I worked on developing machine learning models to predict malaria case based on various environmental and demographic factors.
Through this internship, I gained valuable experience in applying advanced analytics techniques to real-world public health challenges. I am now building on this work in my doctoral research, where I am investigating the use of deep learning for early and accurate detection of different cancer types from medical imaging data.

Nadine Misago is a Medical Doctor (2015) with a Master of Public Health obtained from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 2019. She is fully bilingual both in English and in French. Her profile is that of a public health professional with extensive experience working on public health, and nutrition programmes in Africa’s low- and middle-income countries.

She is an independent consultant who has provided technical expertise to global players including UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, The Global Fund, GIZ, the African Union, etc. Furthermore, she is an academician, and a researcher with an experience in research conduct and coordination. She has authored a number of publications. Misago has hands-on statistics expertise using STATA, SPSS, and R. She values teamwork, professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity and gender.

NIBAYISABE Emile started his academic journey at  Military Academy known as Institut Supérieur des Cadres Militaires (ISCAM) in Burundi. He has a honors degree in Fundamentals Sciences with concentration in Mathematics and Physics. Together with  MFISIMANA Lionel Divin, they have been working under supervision of Dr David Niyukuri on prediction of malaria cases in Burundi using neural networks and statistical models.

MFISIMANA Lionel Divin started his academic journey at  Military Academy known as Institut Supérieur des Cadres Militaires (ISCAM) in Burundi. He has a honors degree in Fundamentals Sciences with concentration in Mathematics and Physics. Together with  NIBAYISABE Emile, they have been working under supervision of Dr David Niyukuri on prediction of malaria cases in Burundi using neural networks and statistical models.

Jean de Dieu NKURUNZIZA holds a PhD in Statistics from the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Institut de Mathematique et de Sciences Physique), Porto-Novo, Benin. He has been working as a Lecturer of Applied Statistics, Multivariate Analysis, and Sampling Methods at the University of Burundi and Higher Institute of Education. He also work as a Consultant in applied statistics.

Ms. Daxelle Sakubu obtained her bachelor and master degree in computer science at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology in China. She is currently an intern within the Interdisciplinary Research Group - in - Public Health at the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi.

Her research focuses on Machine learning modeling for malaria transmission dynamics. She is currently building machine learning models to estimated malaria transmission dynamics in Burundi using with sensored data.

KWIZERA Jean de Dieu did his Honors degree at Military Academy known as Institut Supérieur des Cadres Militaires (ISCAM) in Burundi in Fundamentals Sciences with concentration in Mathematics and Physics. He has been working under supervision of Dr David Niyukuri on building epidemiological models for malaria and Ebola. Currently, he is 2nd year student in a MPH program at Mount Kenya University.

Mireille Ndereyimana is an Assistant Coordinator in the research project titled malaria epidemiological research in Burundi. In which she helped to coordinate the field-work, manage the social media, and other communications roles.

She was trained as a communicator in Sc of Communication at Université Lumière de Bujumbura (Light University of Bujumbura) where she got a Bachelor degree in Communication for Community Development.
 

Florence Munezero has a bachelor's degree in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Burundi. She did her Master's degree in Epidemiology at the Regional Health Institute of Ouidah in Benin, where she completed her PhD in Public Health Sciences.

Since 2008, She has worked at the Ministry of Health in Burundi. She has an experience in information system management both nationally and internationally (Madagascar, Benin). She has also worked with international organizations such as USAID. Currently, she is a Lecturer & and a Researcher Assistant at National Public Health Institute of Bujumbura.

Irumva Vanessa, PhD Candidate at Erlangen Uniklinikum, Germany. She is also a molecular and biotechnologist scientist trained at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In her Msc, she worked on Human African Trypanosiamiasis.

Currently, She is a PhD student at the Uniklinikum Erlangen, Germany in Immunology focusing on IgA antibody.

Colins O. Oduma is a molecular and health scientist by training based at the Kenyan Medical Research Institute  Center for Global Health and Research (KEMRI  CGHR), Kisumu. He is a PhD student at Egerton University, Kenya. He also holds a MSc in Biochemistry from Egerton University, and a BSc in Biomedical Science and Technology from Egerton University. He is a recipient of a PhD scholarship by the International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR)   Sub-Saharan Africa.

He has an experience, and an interest in large population-based field studies, molecular biology, diagnostic medicine, and in monitoring and evaluation. His PhD focusses on understanding the transmission potential of asymptomatic infections, and on how to adapt malaria control measures to seasonality.

He is also taking part in studies to determine the effectiveness of vector control tools on asymptomatic malaria infections reduction. He collaborates with the University of Notre Dame, USA, the University of Burundi, the Ministry of Health in Burundi, the Case Western Reserve University, USA, and the University of California, Irvine, USA.
 

Joseph NYANDWI, MD, DES (Nephrology), Msc (Immunology) is an Associate Professor at the University of Burundi in the Faculty of Medicine. He is also a General Manager of the National Public Health Insitute, a Head of National Commission of Science Technology and Innovation, and a Head of the Board of National ethics Committee.

The area of research of Pr NYANDWI Joseph is focused on renal kidney diseases, and other diseases (autoimmune diseases, diabetes, hypertension and malaria) which have a negative impact of the renal functional, and for a better understanding of the immunological mechanism those diseases on the occurrence of glomerular disease.

Denis Sinzinkayo, MD, M.Sc. is an expert in public health project, and program management. He is a Ph.D. fellow in Public Health at the University of Burundi (3rd cohort).

Since 2012, he has been successively a duty physician, and a District Medical Officer. He is currently a Deputy Director of the National Malaria Control Program (since 2017).
 

Mediatrice Barengayabo a Burundian citizen, holds a B. Cur Nursing at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and a Master 's degree in public health at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. With an experience spans over 9 years of working. She has participated into engagement with UN agencies such as the Peacekeeping Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), IOM in Burundi, and other private institutions which include local and international organization as well as USAID & PEPFAR sponsored project.

Currently, she is an ambassador of the Management of Democratic Elections in Africa (MDEA) under the University of South Africa at the Institute of Africa Renaissance (IARS). Again, she is versatile, and can adapt easily to change and challenges in a collaborative, or a multicultural working environment.

She has a passion to contribute towards the development of good practices, and to participate in programs that focus on policies design and implementation of program which address local communities especially youth by providing support, encouragement, and leadership. Both within foundation, and more publicly in the community, and around the world.

Dr. Kingsley Badu is a Senior Lecturer, and a Principal Investigator of the Vector-borne Infectious diseases (www.vectorgenes.com). He holds a BSc, and a MPhil degrees in Clinical Microbiology. In addition Dr. Kingsley Badu has a Ph.D in Biological Sciences. His interest is in vector-borne diseases such as Malaria, Cutaneous leishmaniasis, and Trypanosomiasis. He studied transmission dynamics, co-infections molecular, and Immuno-epidemiology - (antibody responses at the individual, and community levels)

Recently, he has also been working on improving, or developing diagnostic tests for these diseases such as developing infectious - bite markers for tracking transmission intensity.
 

Cristian Koepfli, PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame, USA. Where he has appointments in the Department of Biological Sciences, and at the Eck Institute for Global Health. Koepfli, PhD 's research focusses on the development of molecular tools for research on infectious diseases, and primarily malaria. Thus, the application of these tools for surveillance, and control.

Main foci of his work include the evaluation of novel diagnostic methods, and a better understanding of the extent of asymptomatic infections and their contributions to transmission. Also, the parasite genomic studies to understand transmission networks, drug resistance, and mutations resulting in false-negative diagnostic tests (P. falciparum hrp deletions).

Dr. Koepfli works closely with universities and malaria control programs in numerous countries, inclusive of Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, and Burundi. With the aim to strengthen control, and accelerate elimination.

Dr David Niyukuri is a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at the University of Burundi, and a Research Associate at the South African Centre of Excellence for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He was trained as a mathematician at the University of Burundi, and from the joint program of the African Institute for Mathematical Science (AIMS) and Stellenbosch University. Afterwards, he did his PhD studies in Epidemiology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University. His current research focuses mainly on HIV, malaria, emerging infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases. In the last couple years, he has been working with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Emergencies Program, in the African Region and at Headquarters, contributing with Public Health Intelligence activities, and responding to different infectious diseases outbreaks and other public health emergencies. Since October 2021, he is the coordinator of an interdisciplinary research program at the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi. In that role, he has been leading epidemiological research in non-communicable diseases, malaria with collaborators from Notre Dame University in the US, KEMRI in Kenya, KNUST in Ghana, and National Institute of Public Health in Burundi. His research group is supporting the Burundi National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) with results from different studies, and in predicting malaria transmission dynamics for designing tailored interventions.

Professor Juma Shabani is the Director of the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi. With more than four decades of experience in High Education, he holds a PhD in mathematical physics from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. He has produced more than 100 publications in the areas of pure mathematics, mathematical physics, and higher education, including, Books chapters, Guides, and articles indexed in international databases.

Currently, he is the President of the Burundi National Commission for Higher Education, Director of the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi, President of the International Conference on Quality assurance in Higher Education in Africa, President of the Burundi Academy of Sciences and Technology (BAST), and President of the International Advisory Board of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education at Lagos State University, Nigeria. Additionally, Professor Shabani Juma is a member of the High-Level Panel of the Pan African University, a coordinator of the African Union Quality Assurance Sub-cluster of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, and a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the advancement of science in developing countries.

He worked for two decades at UNESCO as a Senior Specialist for higher education in Africa, Director of the UNESCO Harare Cluster, and Bamako Cluster Offices. He also worked as UNESCO Representative to several countries and Regional Economic Communities. Furthermore, Professor Shabani was in coordination of UNESCO's programs in Higher Education at Headquarters in Paris. Before joining UNESCO, Professor Shabani held several senior positions such as Deputy Secretary General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Vice-Rector of the University of Burundi, Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Burundi, and several other universities as well as research centers in Africa and beyond.

Professor Shabani also served as a Vice-President of the African Academy of Sciences, a Vice- President of the African Mathematical Union, a Co-Director of the Virtual Institute for Higher Education in Africa, a Member of the International Board of Suffolk University in Boston, USA, Member of the Executive Committee of the Global University Network for Innovation, Barcelona, Spain, a Member of the Board of the Centre for Higher Education Trust in Cape Town, South Africa, a Member of the International Panel of Experts that developed the new World Bank Policy on Higher Education in Sub Saharan Africa, and a Member of the Board of Trustees of UbuntuNet Alliance.