Varsity Staff and Post- Graduate Students Trained in Bioinformatics and AI – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Effective data management and analytics are essential for any organization to unlock its full potential. When data is collected, stored securely, and analysed correctly, it can empower organizations to make informed decisions and predict future trends. However, this is only achievable with the right infrastructure and a well-trained workforce.

In this regard, the Institute of Biotechnology and Research (IBR) at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), in partnership with the Data Science Institute (DSI) at Hasselt University in Belgium, recently hosted a three-day training program on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for bioinformatics. The event took place in the newly equipped bioinformatics laboratory from March 5-7, 2025.

The training aimed to equip teaching staff and postgraduate students from various universities with machine learning skills while utilizing the new laboratory’s equipment to test the functionality of the equipment’s. This initiative is part of the Directed Breeding Programs for Improved Poultry Livestock by Genetic Bioinformatics Research and Development (C-BIRD) project. The project’s primary goal is to build capacity through infrastructure development (laptops and servers) and hands-on training. The final training session is scheduled for August 2025.

The training was led by Prof. Dirk Valkenberg, Dr. Simon Appeltans and Dr. Johnstone Neondo who shared their expertise on using machine learning and programming languages to conduct computational data analysis for large-scale biological data in medical and agricultural fields.

*The trainers, Prof. Dirk (second lfrom left) and Dr. Simon( Second from right) with the DVC AA Prof. Kinywa(Middle) together with IBR director Dr. Cecilia Mweu (Right) and Dr Nendo(Left).*

Dr. Neondo highlighted the significance of the laboratory, not only for the university but also for the country. He emphasized that the facility will enable more training in bioinformatics and AI, reducing the need to outsource services and saving costs.

“Our goal is to establish a fully functional bioinformatics laboratory as a regional centre of excellence. With the necessary facilities in place, we can undertake more projects and research independently. This will also allow us to integrate AI into our academic programs, thanks to the trained staff who will help incorporate these advancements into the curriculum during reviews,” said Dr. Neondo.

The team looks forward to the final August 2025 training, which will mark the completion of the project’s first phase focused on capacity building. The second phase will shift to research, leveraging the new facilities where PhD and Master’s students will play a key role, with the aim of securing joint proposals to further advance the project.

The training had 30 participants, the teaching staff and postgraduate students drawn from, Machakos University, Embu University, Kenyatta University, South Eastern Christian University and Chuka University.