PROF. JOHN ODHIAMBO

Prof. Odhiambo is a professor of Mathematical Statistics and former Vice-Chancellor of Strathmore University. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Mathematics and went on to complete his Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in statistics from the University of Nairobi. He has exemplary industrial experience and has served as Consultant Statistician to the Population Council and Rockefeller Foundation’s Africa Regional Program. 

He has done extensive research, and supervised PhD research students in group testing designs, and published his work in reputable statistical journals. He has also done significant research and supervised PhD research students in disease modelling in areas such as HIV, malaria and most recently, the COVID-19 outbreak.  Prof Odhiambo has continued to mentor his students even after they graduate and start research careers and many of them are now holding senior academic positions, both regionally and globally.  While at the University of Nairobi, he successfully led the establishment of an international programme for the enhancement of biometric training and education in Africa sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation at both Master’s degree and professional levels.

Most of the graduates who received fellowships to enroll in the programme proceeded to do PhDs in biostatistics and related areas and are now established senior researchers or senior academics in prestigious institutions across the world. At Strathmore University, Prof. Odhiambo led the University to partner with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa and the African Centre for Clinical Trials (ACCT), through a grant from the Council for National Health Research (CNHR), to establish the Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES), which is a renowned Centre of excellence in the region. Most recently, he led the creation of the Mathematical Sciences Research Programme (MSRP) dedicated to applying mathematical sciences to solving problems in health and biology through a collaborative cross-disciplinary research platform at Strathmore University.

This is a community of research excellence that fosters the collaboration of mathematical scientists, medical and health scientists, chemists and physicists, ecologists and environmental scientists, economists, social scientists, etc. to solve problems in population and planetary health. Prof. Odhiambo is a member of the International Biometric Society (IBS), American Statistical Association (ASA), International Statistical Institute (ISI), International Association of Statistical Education (IASE), among others.