Ms Irene Nyakio Nyaga
About me
Analytical Chemist and MSc graduate from the University of Nairobi (2026), specialising in electrochemical analysis and materials characterisation. OPCW-certified in Basic Analytical Chemistry. Experienced across government regulatory laboratories, academic research, and environmental science. Committed to advancing women in science across Africa.
I am a Kenyan analytical chemist and early-career researcher whose work sits at the intersection of electrochemistry, materials science, and environmental analysis. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2019) and a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry (2026), both from the University of Nairobi, where my MSc thesis focused on the physicochemical stability of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites incorporating copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles across aqueous environments of varying pH. My research employed advanced electrochemical techniques including Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV), and Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV), with findings submitted for peer review at the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry.
I hold certification from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Basic Analytical Chemistry, an internationally recognised credential in chemical safety, identification, and compliance. I am also a certified Master Trainer under the UNESCO MGIEP youth peace education programme.
My professional experience spans government and regulatory laboratories, including the Government Chemist's Department at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Kenya Revenue Authority, where I conducted pesticide, pharmaceutical, food safety, and trade commodity analyses. I have also served as a Research Assistant at the University of Nairobi's Department of Chemistry and as an Analytical Chemist at 3-DEE Green Limited, a Nairobi-based environmental science consultancy.
I am deeply committed to the advancement of women in science in Africa, to science communication for general audiences, and to the application of analytical chemistry in addressing environmental and public health challenges across the continent.
