Pamella Kageliza Kilavi-Ndege

Dr. Pamella Kageliza Kilavi is a Lecturer and Researcher at the School of Computing and Engineering Sciences, Strathmore University, Kenya. She holds a PhD in Physics and an MSc in Nuclear Science from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Education (Physics/Mathematics) from Kenyatta University.
Her research focuses on the development of low-cost dosimeters for radiation monitoring, the design and deployment of biowaste-based water filters for heavy metal removal and human health risk assessment, and the integration of low-cost embedded sensors for battery health monitoring. These projects form part of her broader agenda to advance affordable, accessible, and locally adaptable technologies that address challenges in public health, radiation safety, energy storage, and sustainable development. She is especially passionate about linking physics, nuclear science, and sustainable energy technologies to regional development priorities.
Dr. Kilavi has established collaborations with leading institutions and networks, including Stanford University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the Quantum Kenya Initiative, CRDF Global, the University of Nairobi, and the University of the Witwatersrand. She also works closely with key national stakeholders such as the Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NUPEA), the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA), and Strathmore University’s innovation and policy leadership, aligning her work with Kenya’s energy transition, nuclear security, and frontier-technology strategies.
She is the Chairperson of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) – Kenya Chapter, the founding President of the Kenya Young Generation in Nuclear (KYGN), and a co-founder of both the Women in Nuclear Kenya Chapter (WiN-Kenya) and the African Young Generation in Nuclear (AYGN). Through these networks, she has been instrumental in strengthening mentorship, women’s leadership, and policy engagement in STEM and nuclear science across Africa.
At Strathmore University, she integrates her expertise into curriculum development, teaching, and supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students, while positioning the institution as a regional hub for innovation, governance, and science-policy dialogue.
Beyond academia, she is a member of the Physics Society of Kenya and the Nuclear Society of Kenya, and has actively engaged with the Eastern Africa Association of Radiation Protection. With over a decade of teaching experience, she has taught Physics at both the university level and in some of Kenya’s top national schools, including the Alliance High School and St. George’s Girls High School.