Purity Muthoni (Kenya)
Purity Muthoni earned a PhD in environmental planning & management from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, where she is also a lecturer in the Department of Spatial & Environmental Planning. Her areas of focus include urban development, sustainability, climate change adaptation, and dryland agriculture.
Could you describe your UMAPS research project in layman’s terms?
My research focuses on how environmental sustainability is infused in urban development projects. I investigate the efficacy of integrative tools and practices that are utilized in urban planning. For my UMAPS project, I will focus specifically on informal settlement upgrading projects owing to their popularity in Kenyan cities. My study will investigate the efficacy of integrative approaches to urban development in eleven upgraded informal settlements in the three Kenyan cities.
What were you doing for work (or in life) before your UMAPS fellowship?
I am a lecturer at Kenyatta University, where I teach both undergraduate and postgraduate students, supervise student research projects, coordinate the student practicum program, and coordinate the regional-based studios. Before joining the UMAPS program, I also provided technical assistance to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Climate Change Mitigation project, to the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Project, and to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as part of a feasibility assessment of an Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (the first of its kind in Kenya). I am also involved in community engagement projects, such as the Mathare river restoration project that I am spearheading in partnership with national environmental agencies.
What do you miss from your country?
My family and the Sunday social table banking meetings that we call 'Chama' in Kenya.
What’s your first impression of Ann Arbor and U-M?
A high-end town/university with lots of sophistication. The building/street naming, the swiping of cards, the traffic lights and the self service in some outlets. All these blew my mind. One week later, it does not appear that unusual anymore. I now appreciate that it is just a matter of different settings, which one can quickly learn to adapt to.
What is the one thing you hope to do while in the US?
I would like to visit New York and Niagara Falls.
Who are you working with at U-M? Who is your UMAPS host?
I am working with Christine Feak on academic writing training. Martin Murray is my faculty host, and we will meet regularly during my time at Michigan. I am looking forward to conceptualizing a research project in consultation with Martin.
Diana Mbatudde (Uganda)
Diana Mbatudde is an emergency and critical-care nurse by training and is a faculty member in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Aga Khan University, Uganda,
Could you describe your UMAPS research project in layman’s terms?
During my time in the UMAPS program, I will work on a project that aims to understand and improve emergency care systems in low-resource settings, particularly in Uganda, where established and well-resourced EMS services are non-existent.
What were you doing for work (or in life) before your UMAPS fellowship?
Before joining the UMAPS program, I worked as a junior faculty member at Aga Khan University, mainly responsible for classroom and clinical teaching of undergraduate student nurses.
What do you miss from your country?
I miss my son and niece! More generally, I miss the closeness of my small and intimate family.
What’s your first impression of Ann Arbor and U-M?
Ann Arbor is quite interesting, cozy, and beautiful. I can't wait to see what it will look like when all the trees and plants bloom!
What is the one thing you hope to do while in the US?
I want to visit the Statue of Liberty and would like to see the White House, even if at a distance.
Who are you working with at U-M? Who is your UMAPS host?
At Michigan, I am working with Prof. Massy Mutumba. We interact regularly, and I have already benefited greatly from our interaction. Additionally, I have been able to meet a number of people from the U-M School of Nursing who have been very helpful and inspirational.
Anslyn John (South Africa)
Anslyn John is a lecturer in the Department of Physics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He a theoretical physicist specializing in general relativity, astrophysics and cosmology.
Could you describe your UMAPS research project in layman’s terms?
My UMAPS project focuses on developing and refining a model of dark matter, the mysterious substance that forms most of the matter in the universe. Although the precise composition of dark matter remains unknown, the existence of new fundamental particles which comprise dark matter is strongly suspected. My project explores the effects of viscosity (essentially internal friction) in a fluid model of dark matter and examines the implications for the formation of the largest objects in the universe.
What were you doing for work (or in life) before your UMAPS fellowship?
I am a lecturer in the Department of Physics at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I am engaged in teaching undergraduate and post-graduate students, guiding students on their research, and conducting my research.
What do you miss from your country?
Clear night skies, warm sunny days, the sounds of birds and insects, and my family and cats!
What’s your first impression of Ann Arbor and U-M?
The university has a vibrant, cosmopolitan campus culture. The students are of an incredibly high academic caliber. Administrative support has been extremely efficient. It's very easy to find one's way around Ann Arbor, which is extremely flat. The town possesses an excellent public transport system and is walker-friendly. There is a remarkable array of cuisine available.
What is the one thing you hope to do while in the US?
I would love to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time! Both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are minutes away from my home in South Africa
Who are you working with at U-M? Who is your UMAPS host?
My UMAPS host is Professor August Evrard (Department of Physics). I have also interacted with other members of the department, including Professors Dragan Huterer, Fred Adams, and Roy Clarke, as well as several postdoctoral fellows and PhD students. I have also had the opportunity to present my research at the cosmology group's weekly journal club, and I attended the weekly seminar series on astrophysics and high energy theory. Lastly, I am also auditing a graduate course on “Cosmology of the Early Universe.”
