Hymenoscyphus group
Institut für Mikrobiologie
Biozentrum Raum: 242
Tel.: +49 (0) 531-391-5876
E-Mail: keziahenosh@gmail.com
ACADEMIC CARRIERE
2026-Present Guest Scientist, Technical University of Braunschweig. Characterization of H. fraxineus strains
2023-2025 Postdoctoral Scientist, Julius-Kühn Institute, Quedlinburg. Molecular characterization of mycorrhizal associations as well as fungal-fungal interactions
2022 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Technical University of Dresden. Controlling clubroot disease using bionanotechnology
2021-2022 Research Fellow, Matthias Schleiden Institute-Plant physiology, Jena, Thuringia. Characterization of CORK1 receptor kinase during Piriformospora indica colonization
2018-2021 Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Friedrich Schiller University. Grade: Magna Cum Laude
2016-2018 Master of Science in Biotechnology, Kenyatta University. Grade: Second Class Honours-Upper Division
2012 Research Assistant, Monsanto and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock. Research Organization Data entry and analysis of Generation of Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA)-Kenya Project.
2011-2015 Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, Kenyatta University. Grade: Second Class Honours- Upper Division
2011 Research Assistant, National Agricultural Research Laboratories, NARL, Nairobi, Kenya. Integrated pest management research on French beans against thrips and bean flies
2010 Research Assistant, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS), Muguga, Kenya. Inspection of exported and imported samples against quarantined diseases using molecular techniques.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Jena School of Microbial Communication (JSMC) postdoctoral fellowship 2022 - Institute of plant physiology, Technical University of Dresden, Germany.
Jena School of Microbial Communication (JSMC) doctoral fellowship 2018 - Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich Schiller University - Jena, Germany.
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) short term masters research fellowship 2017 – Institute of General Botany and plant physiology, Friedrich Schiller University - Jena, Germany.
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Master scholarship 2016 – Department of Biochemistry and biotechnology, Kenyatta University - Nairobi, Kenya.
PUBLICATIONS
Omenge, K.M., Deecke, K; äIrving, T.B; Hallmann, C; Fladung, M; Áne, J.M; Werner, S (manuscript). The role of Poplar LysM-receptor proteins in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Submitted to Nature Plants.
Omenge, K.M., Viscardo, O. C., De Oliveira Cantao, F. R., Santi, S., van Bel, A. J. E., & Musetti, R. (2025). SEOR2 in Arabidopsis mediates Ca2+ dependent defense against phytoplasmas and reduction of plant growth. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 1-19.
Wekesa, C., Jalloh, A. A., Muoma, J. O., Korir, H., Omenge, K. M., Maingi, J. M., ... & Oelmüller, R. (2022). Distribution, characterization and the commercialization of elite rhizobia strains in Africa. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(12), 6599.
Omenge, K. M., Rümpler, F., Kathalingam, S. S., Furch, A. C., & Theißen, G. (2021). Studying the function of phytoplasma effector proteins using a chemical-inducible expression system in transgenic plants. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(24), 13582.
Asudi, G. O., Omenge, K. M., Paulmann, M. K., Reichelt, M., Grabe, V., Mithöfer, A., ... & Furch, A. C. (2021). The physiological and biochemical effects on Napier grass plants following Napier grass stunt phytoplasma infection. Phytopathology®, 111(4), 703-712.