Meeting with Nancy Kalee Evans, Kenyan doctoral student

What motivated you to apply for the 100 PhDs for Africa programme?
I applied because the scholarship offered full funding, which would allow me to pursue the PhD programme without financial constraints.

Was the application process easy for you?
The application process was not difficult, as it was my second attempt. After my first application was rejected, I took the time to analyse it and correct any mistakes I may have made. This allowed me to improve my application and submit a stronger one.Can you describe your project? What is/are your research question(s)?My project focuses on Clostridioides difficile infections in immunocompromised populations, particularly patients with chronic kidney disease. C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhoea and colitis, posing a significant threat to vulnerable and immunocompromised populations. C. difficile infections (CDI) are mainly associated with antibiotic use and are contracted in hospitals. The burden of C. difficile in low- and middle-income countries is poorly characterised due to limited diagnostic resources. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are particularly vulnerable to CDI and associated morbidities due to their increased predisposition to CDI risk factors. Despite the persistence of diarrhoea cases in Kenya, epidemiological information on CDI and its clinical consequences in this population is scarce, even though it is a high-risk group. The proposed study will therefore comprehensively examine the impact of CDI on patients with CKD in Kenya and contribute to the formulation of appropriate interventions for CDI.

Could you give some practical applications of your research?
C. difficile is never tested in most hospital laboratories in Kenya. This surveillance will therefore be important in informing relevant stakeholders to include routine testing for C. difficile in their laboratories and also to provide the necessary diagnostic tools and equipment for testing.

What is the scientific challenge of your research topic?
The challenge lies in analysing the genomic data obtained in this study using computational tools, as I have never used such tools before.

Could you briefly introduce your thesis supervisor and co-supervisor?
My thesis supervisor is Dr Benard Kulohoma, Senior Lecturer in Bioinformatics at the University of Nairobi. He is a specialist in biosciences. My co-supervisor is Dr Marcel Salathé, Associate Professor at EPFL. An expert in digital epidemiology, he is innovating through the use of digital data and AI for public health research.

What are the advantages of co-supervision between your thesis supervisor in Africa and your co-supervisor at EPFL?
Co-supervision will broaden the range of skills, perspectives and worldviews in my PhD programme, enabling me to acquire the skills and experience necessary to produce meaningful data.

The visit to EPFL will certainly help me acquire skills in a leading laboratory, which will translate into improved diagnosis of infectious diseases, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal number three, which is to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages " (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3, 2015).

How will the collaboration with EPFL help you meet the scientific challenge described in the previous question?
The collaboration with my co-supervisor at EPFL will be a major asset for the analysis of my data, as he has recognised expertise in digital epidemiology and artificial intelligence.

What does excellence mean to you?
Excellence means taking on a challenge that seems difficult, even impossible at first glance. Then, being able to overcome it and succeed by having a team of supportive people around you.