Dr. Samuel Karenga

Dr. Samuel Karenga

Lecturer

Director Graduate Studies & Lecturer, School of Pure & Applied Sciences
Mount Kenya University

Email: skarenga@mku.ac.ke

Education

Ph.D., 2010 (Analytical Chemistry), Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
M.Sc., 2009 (Organic Chemistry), Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya
B.Sc., 2002, (1st Class Honours), Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya

Professional Experience

1. Director, Graduate Studies (December 2019-current)
2. Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Mount Kenya University (March 2017-November 2019)
3. Head, Pure & Applied Sciences Research Programme (August 2013-February 2017)
4. Lecturer (2011-2013), San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
5. Postdoctoral Fellow (2010-2011), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (DoE), Berkeley, California, USA

Areas of expertise:

In solution protein digestion, peptide mapping, polymer and small molecules synthesis, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) capillary electrophoresis (CE), capillary electrochromatography (CEC), high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), gradient polymer chromatography (GPC), Areas of expertise: In solution protein digestion, peptide mapping, polymer and small molecules synthesis, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) capillary electrophoresis (CE), capillary electrochromatography (CEC), high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), gradient polymer chromatography (GPC), Gas chromatography (GC), characterization techniques (SEC, GPC, BET, XPS, NMR, FT-IR, MS, UV/VIS etc.), Bio-assay guided extraction, isolation and characterization of botanical natural products etc.

Research Interests

  1. High performance liquid chromatography/affinity chromatography/capillary electrophoresis; capillary electrochromatography
  2.  High performance liquid chromatography/affinity chromatography/capillary electrophoresis; capillary electrochromatography
  3.  Stationary phase post-modification reactions such as hypercross linking, grafting etc
  4. Isomeric separations; biological and environmental separations
  5. Proteomics; glycomics5. Organic synthesis
  6. Natural products isolation and characterization
  7. Environmental analysis

AWARDS, SPONSORSHIP’S & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  1.  Lead in securing 24 DAAD full Master Scholarships in Public Health & Nursing 2019-2021
  2. Co-investigator in an equipment donation from Seeding Lab 2018
  3. DIES NMT (2017/2018) Workshop I & II (attend) grant 2017-2018
  4. Co-investigator in a project titled Bridging the Gap between Science and Cultural Religious Practices through Science Communication. A KSh.19,825,000 Grant from National Research Fund, Kenya 2017
  5. Co-investigator in a 3-year (2016-2019) project titled Christian and Scientific Affiliation of Kenya (CSAK): Facilitating Synergetic Interaction between Science and Christian Faith. A USD 862,311 Grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation Inc. 2016
  6. Post-doctoral Fellowship 2010
  7. ITP 2010 travel award 2010
  8. Nominated for best Graduate Teaching Assistant award 2010

Publications

  1.  Kirira PG, Karenga SM, Michuki GN. Evaluation of a utilized domesticated water transport and storage device in Kenya. Water, e-journal, 2017, 2(2),
  2. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Mixed ligand monolithic columns for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography via hydrophobic and π interactions. Electrophoresis, 2011, 32, 1044–1053
  3. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Controlling retention, selectivity and magnitude of electroosmotic flow by segmented monolithic columns consisting of octadecyl and naphthyl monolithic segments. Applications to RP-CEC of both neutral and charged solutes. Electrophoresis, 2011, 32, 1033–1043
  4. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Trends in nonpolar polymer-based monolithic columns for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography. Electrophoresis, 2010, 32, 90–104
  5. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Naphthyl methacrylate-phenylene diacrylate-based monolithic column for reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography via hydrophobic and π interactions. Electrophoresis, 2010, 31, 3200–3206
  6. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., A novel, neutral hydroxylated octadecyl acrylate monolith with fast electroosmotic flow velocity and its application to the separation of various solutes including peptides and proteins in the absence of electrostatic interactions. Electrophoresis, 2010, 31, 3192–3199
  7. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Naphthyl methacrylate-based monolithic column for RP-CEC via hydrophobic and π-interactions. Electrophoresis, 2010, 31, 991-1002
  8. Karenga, S., El Rassi, Z., Neutral octadecyl monolith for reversed phase capillary electrochromatography of a wide range of solutes. J. Sep. Sci., 2008, 31, 2677-2685

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

1. Christian & Scientific Association of Kenya
2. American Chemical Society (member number 30113803)
3. California Separation Science Society (CASSS)
4. Kenya Chemical Society