Nyasita is a bioinformatician focused on applying computational approaches to complex biological questions. She holds an MSc in Bioinformatics and a BSc in Medical Biochemistry, and has built extensive experience working with diverse omics datasets. She is currently based at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), hosted at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. Her work includes genome assembly for bananas and yams, building pangenomes, and developing pipelines to analyse CRISPR data generated from transformation work at IITA laboratories.
Beyond her technical work, Nyasita is deeply committed to strengthening bioinformatics communities and building local capacity. She is a co-founder of the Bioinformatics Hub of Kenya Initiative (BHKi), a volunteer-led, non-profit organisation that connects experienced and emerging bioinformaticians through peer learning, mentorship, and collaboration. She also works with the Bioconductor project to grow the Bioconductor Africa community and serves as a mentor with Open Life Science (OLS), where she has been part of the governance committee since 2023. In addition, she contributes to the Open Science working group of the Data Science Without Borders initiative, organising webinars and conversations around open science practices.
In 2023, Nyasita launched the Science in Real Life Podcast (SIRL) to share relatable STEM career journeys, particularly from underrepresented contexts. Through in-depth interviews and personal reflections, the podcast explores how scientists built their careers and stayed in the field, offering insight and encouragement to the next generation of STEM leaders. A relaunch of the podcast is coming soon.
- Workflow/Pipeline development
- Genomics data analysis
- Transcriptomics analysis
- Genome annotation
- Protein structure prediction and homology modeling
- Python programming
- DNA and RNA extraction
- Foundational Machine Learning
- Metabolomics analysis
- Genome assembly
- Computer-aided drug design
- Manuscript and research thesis writing
- R programming
- BASH/Linux programming
- Master of Science in Bioinformatics – Pwani University
- Bachelor of Science in Medical Biochemistry – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (First Class Honours, GPA: 3.6/4)