Felix Emeka Anyiam
Centre for Health and Development, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Steward focus - Training and webinar support & AA Data Science Hub Leader

Felix is an accomplished Researcher, Analytics and Data Science professional with a demonstrated ability to develop and implement data-driven solutions in the Urban and Health sector; with over 10 years’ experience in teaching and leading Epidemiological, Biostatistical and Data Science projects, from descriptive to predictive analytics. He is also a trained Research Scientist, Scientific Writer and Epidemiologist in his day-to-day duties at the Centre for Health and Development (CHD); a Centre that evolved from several years of international research collaborations between the University of Port Harcourt and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada, and most recently, the University of Ottawa, Canada. CHD aims to develop the human and organizational capacity for health-related research and quality health care provision in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, built on sustainable local structure, and international collaborations. He is one of the guest facilitators for AuthorAID online courses, a Biostatistician for the AuthorAID Online Journal Clubs pilot project, and also advises on a potential curriculum for a statistical/data analysis online course.

AuthorAID blog posts

• Statistical significance level: The science behind the art in research publication - Part 2 - Jan. 14, 2022
• Statistical significance level: The science behind the art in research publication - Part 1 - Aug. 25, 2021

Bernard Appiah
Syracuse University, New York, US 

Steward focus: Proposal writing

Bernard is a Ghanaian public health professional, science journalist, development communicator and a pharmacist with a passion for teaching, research and service. He is an assistant professor at the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. His research centres on translational communication science to influence population health practice and policy in low-income and minority populations in the US and beyond. 

AuthorAID presentations: 

• Writing Journal Papers from Thesis: My Experience
• Writing Grant Proposals: Perspectives of a Grant Reviewer

Alejandra Arreola
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico

Steward focus: Research communication

Alejandra is a biologist with a master's degree in Science and Technology Journalism from Texas A&M University. She works at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, in Monterrey, where she teaches science writing to graduate and undergraduate students. She facilitates our research writing courses in Latin America and co-facilitates on some of our global online courses.

AuthorAID blog posts: 

• My quest against 'respectively' - Aug. 7, 2023
• To be or not to be ... funny? That is the question - June 19, 2023
• Plagiarism-detecting software: What's the magic number? - Dec. 1, 2021

Buna Bhandari
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, Nepal and PhD Candidate in Public Health, University of New South Wales, Australia

Steward focus: MOOC facilitation, Systematic Reviews & ’Nepali women researchers hub

Buna Dr. Buna is a Public Health academic and global health researcher with more than a decade of experience. She is a Lown scholar at the Cardiovascular Health Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She pursued her PhD in Public Health from the University of New South Wales, Australia. Her research portfolio encompasses diverse implementation science research addressing critical areas such as cardiovascular diseases, comorbid conditions, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), nutrition using innovative digital tools. She is deeply committed to fostering the next generation of public health researchers through her teaching, mentoring and supervision of research projects. With a distinguished academic career spanning over a decade, Dr. Bhandari has made significant contributions to implementation science, focusing on translating evidence into practice to improve health outcomes, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries When not working, you can find her reading books, exercising, meditating, and exploring nature. She is the Chair of Author AID Stewards and an INASP associate as well..

AuthorAID blog posts

• Do you know your numbers? Check your blood pressure regularly for hypertension prevention and control
• Writing a review article: Not a piece of cake 

Dr. Funmilayo Doherty
Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria

Steward focus: Online journal club leader (Environmental Biology, Chemistry and Toxicology), Nigeria National Hub leader

Dr.  Funmilayo Doherty is an Environmental Toxicologist and a lecturer at Yaba College of Technology (YCT). Dr. Doherty is a member of several professional bodies including the Organization for Women in Science for the developing world (OWSD). She has over 45 publications in reputable Journals and co-authored six books. She is a former Coordinator, UNESCO UNEVOC Centre, YCT. She is one of the guest facilitators for AuthorAID online courses and coordinator of the AuthorAID Online Journal Club pilot project, which is focused on Environmental Biology, Chemistry and Toxicology. She is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation. Dr. Doherty has been invited on several occasions by media organizations to contribute to national discourse on environmental issues in Nigeria. Dr. Funmilayo Doherty is the immediate past President, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation (SETPOM) and Vice Chairman of The African Foundation for Quality e-Learning for TVET (AFQueT) based in Kenya.

AuthorAID blog posts:

• Driving knowledge and supporting researchers through online courses

Haseeb Irfanullah
Independent Consultant - Environment, Climate Change, & Research Systems, Bangladesh

Steward focus: Scholarly Publishing and Climate Sciences specialist

Haseeb is an independent consultant in environment, climate change and research system, and a visiting research fellow at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Dhaka. He is a biologist-turned-development facilitator, who often introduces himself as a research enthusiast. Over the past 25 years, Haseeb has been working for different international environment/development organizations, academic/research institutions, funders, and government agencies in different capacities. Currently a Council Member and Co-chair of Environment & Sustainability Committee of European Association of Science Editors (EASE) (2023-2025), an associate editor of Learned Publishing, an associate at INASP and Research Consulting Ltd., and a Chef of The Scholarly Kitchen, Haseeb advocates for justice, sustainability, climate action, and resilience of the scholarly publishing ecosystem. Haseeb has a PhD in aquatic ecology from the University of Liverpool, UK.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haseebirfanullah/ 

AuthorAID blog posts: 

• Early-Career Researchers and Their Mentors
• Keeping in mind the real use of our research
• Can co-learning be a motivation for peer reviewers?
• Read more from Haseeb

Aurelia Muthoni Munene
Founder Eider Africa and  Executive Director Nascent Research and Development Organization

Steward focus: Online Journal Club Lead (Social Sciences) & Kenya Research and Publishing Mentorship Hub

I like developing and implementing research mentorship programs for upcoming scholars in Kenya and beyond. I am a researcher in children, health, livelihood, youth, education and poverty. The coordinator of the Kenyan based Online Journal Club (Research Club) with over 500 members and facilitator of AuthorAID UK Online Social Sciences Journal Club with 256 members. I am a guest Facilitator Research Writing for the Sciences Course with AuthorAID and a Steward. The current Research Committee Lead for Association for Faculty Enrichment in Learning and Teaching (AFELT) and a member of the Research Data KE Working Group. I am a CODESRIA Laureate of Children and Youth Institute and currently undertaking a Masters in Business Administration Health Care Management at Strathmore University. I hold a Masters in Development Studies, Major in Social Policy for Development from Erasmus University International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), The Hague Netherlands. Facilitating Online Learning Course from e/merge University of Cape Town South Africa. 

AuthorAID blog posts: 

• Developing research talent capacities in Africa: Why we must cherish research

Farooq Azam Rathore
Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan

Steward focus: Training and webinar support

Dr. Farooq Rathore is a Professor and Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, Pain Specialist, and Bioethicist at the Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences, Quetta. He describes himself as a rehabilitation physician, learner, teacher, and mentor. Dr. Farooq's commitment to knowledge sharing and mentorship is evident through his involvement with AuthorAID. He initially joined as a mentee in 2008 and has since progressed to become a research mentor, course facilitator, and Steward. Over the years, he has conducted more than 140 in-person workshops across eight different countries since 2013. These workshops covered various topics, including research paper writing, presentation skills, research ethics, AI tools, Stroke Rehabilitation, and Disaster Rehabilitation. Dr. Farooq has also made valuable contributions as a guest facilitator for several online courses organized by AuthorAID, further expanding his reach and impact in fostering research excellence. He has more than 240 publications with more than 4500 citations. He has won multiple national and international awards, travel grants, and scholarships.

LinkedIn: http://pk.linkedin.com/in/farooqrathore

Google Scholar: https://goo.gl/gNtM22 

Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/B-8232-2008

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Farooq_Rathore

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4759-0453

Email: farooqrathore@gmail.com

AuthorAID blog posts:

• A researcher's story: Using AuthorAID resources to support my research
• Peer Review Week interview: Dr Farooq Rathore
• Why medical professionals should conduct research
• AuthorAID Workshops on Medical Writing: Fun, Learning, Motivation, and l

Oluwaseyi Dolapo Somefun
School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, South Africa 

Steward focus: Mentoring and blog writing

Oluwaseyi (Seyi) is a postdoctoral fellow, at the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape (UWC) linked to the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa’s Adolescents Hub. She has over 5 years of professional experience in both domestic and international settings. Seyi is involved in research investigating the cost-effectiveness and acceptability of interventions designed to improve the wellbeing of adolescents in Africa. Her scholarly interests range widely from adolescent sexual and reproductive health, social networks, and mixed research methodology. She is strongly interested in improving the health behaviours of adolescents through health communication and policy dissemination.

AuthorAID blog posts

• Some networking tips for early career researchers - April 3, 2023
• Tips for writing research objectives - March 6, 2023
• Replace your New Year's resolutions with SMART goals - Dec. 20, 2022
• Navigating ethical challenges in qualitative research - May 18, 2022
• Journal Clubs are Beneficial for Early Career Researchers - June 16, 2021

Zainab Yunusa-Kaltungo
Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe, Nigeria 

Steward focus - Online journal club leader (Biomedicine and Healthcare), Nigeria National Hub
Coordinator – North East

Dr. Zainab Yunusa-Kaltungo, is a plastic surgeon, the former chairman of the medical advisory committee (CMAC) and Clinical Governance lead of the project at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe in north-east Nigeria. Zainab has been a guest faclitator on several AuthorAID online courses.

AuthorAID Blog posts

The Travails of a Self-Proclaimed Freelance Researcher

Jackeline Alger
Hospital Escuela / Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal; Tegucigalpa, Honduras 

Steward focus - Research capacity building for health

Jackeline is a parasitologist working in the Department of Clinical Laboratory at the main public health hospital, University Hospital (Hospital Escuela), since 1997. She is also the executive director of the Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal (IAV), a non-profit organization devoted to training and research in the field of infectious diseases and parasitology, from 2022. Jackeline participates in The Global Health Network Latin America and the Caribbean (TGHN LAC) Consortium with the goal of strengthening health research and innovation capacities in LAC. She is also a member of the TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, is a global programme of scientific collaboration that helps facilitate, support and influence efforts to combat diseases of poverty. It is co-sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Training Center for LAC. She combines clinical laboratory work, teaching, and research activities with mentoring health students and professionals performing health research. These activities are critical for building interdisciplinary bridges, promoting international collaboration, and networking to advance scientific research and social innovation for health in Honduras and the Central American region.

Charles Kalinzi
University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom 

Steward focus - Strategic procurement and supply chain management

Dr. Charles Kalinzi, PhD is a Senior teaching fellow- Strategic Procurement at University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) of UK and & a post- Doc Researcher. He holds a PhD in Public Procurement from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, an MBA in Management of Government Procurement from Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands and a BSc degree in Mathematics from Makerere University. He previously served as a course leader for Business and Supply chain Management undergraduate course and presently module coordinator for several UG and Post graduate modules. He is a Certified Procurement Professional with Institute of Procurement Professionals of Uganda and Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, and Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, UK. He is a member of several leading procurement research associations like IPSERA (International Purchasing & supply Education & Research Association, among other action research bodies Charles has won a number of travel grants and awards and has attended a number of leading academic & research associations like African Doctoral Academy (ADA), WASD (World Association of Sustainable Development), IPSERA, BigSurv (Big Data Meets Survey Science) among others; where he made several conference presentations in the field of strategic Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Pubic procurement and procurement innovation.

Barbara Burmen (Steward 2021)
Havard T Chan School of Public Health & University of Cape Town, South Africa

Dr Burmen holds a Bachelors’ degree in Human Medicine and Surgery, a Masters’ Degree and a Doctorate in Public Health. She undertook a postdoctoral research fellowship at Harvard University and the University of Cape Town and a Policy fellowship at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Development, funded by the inter-academy partnership. She has over 17 years’ experience in HIV clinical, programmatic, research, science policy and consulting fields with interests in operations research and professional mentoring. She joined AuthorAID in2016 initially as a trainee, then a mentor and guest facilitator. She has authored 30 publications, the Kenya AIDS Response Progress report for 2018 and made 25 international conference presentations and has received international recognition for innovations in clinical practice, policy and research, sustainable public health, interdisciplinary sciences, promoting the clinician-laboratory interface, influencing laboratory policy development and mentoring. 

Professor Richard de Grijs
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia 

Steward focus: Strategic Development and Website Editorial Lead

Richard de Grijs is an academic and journal editor with more than 20 years of experience in the field of Astrophysics. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Groningen (Netherlands) in 1997, he held postdoctoral positions at the University of Virginia (USA) and the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge (UK), before being appointed to a permanent post at the University of Sheffield (UK) in 2003. He joined the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University (China) in September 2009 as a full professor, where he was promoted to Associate Director in 2012. He moved to Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) in 2018 to take up an appointment as Associate Dean (Global Engagement).

Find out more about Richard at http://astro-expat.info/about.html

AuthorAID blog posts:

• How to Review a Paper

• How to establish productive research collaborations

• Read more from Richard

Ismael Aaron Kimirei (former steward 2020)
Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute, Tanzania 

Ismael is an Aquatic ecologist working in marine and freshwater systems, focusing on fish ecology, aquatic resources management, limnology, and climate change. I study marine ecosystems—mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs—connectivity for marine conservation and fisheries management. I am interested in how habitat degradation and change—both human and climate mediated changes—will affect the provision of ecosystem goods and services to coastal communities. Currently, I am studying the effect of climate change on fisheries productions in, and functioning of, Lake Tanganyika; and how land use and urbanization are affecting water quality in the great east African lakes. I am also working on how urban development in Tanzania is affecting marine coastal habitats, especially mangroves.

AuthorAID blog posts: 

• Peer Review Week interview: Dr Ismael Kimirei

Prof. Dilshani WN Dissanayake (former steward 2020, 2021 )
Professor in Physiology, Neuroscientist in charge, Neuroscience research Laboratory, Department of Physiology
Director, Research Promotion and Facilitation Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo

Prof. Dilshani Dissanayake has been collaborating with AuthorAID via the Research Promotion and Facilitation Centre (RPFC) at the University of Colombo since 2013. Dilshani spearheaded the initiation of a tailormade research writing support program which includes online training and onsite writing clubs, with the support of AuthorAID, to the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo and at partnering higher education institutions in Sri Lanka. She, with her group in RPFC, has commenced a hybrid course on post-graduate research skills for researchers in Sri Lanka. The RPFC, under her leadership, provides research training and counselling for researchers, conducts writing clubs and journal clubs, supports national and international research collaborations and facilitates publicizing research while supporting researchers toward inventions and innovations. She is currently leading a team of multidisciplinary researchers at the University of Colombo, who are researching the effects of meditation on health.

AuthorAID blog posts: 

• How writing clubs help medical research communication in Sri Lanka and beyond