Marilen Nampijja

Marilen Nampijja is a PhD candidate at Washington State University (WSU), based at the Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research & Extension Center under Dr. Lindsey du Toit's supervision. Her research focuses on managing Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata infections in table beet and Swiss chard seed production, part of a USDA NIFA-funded project (Award No. 2019-51181-30019). She holds a BS in Conservation Forestry from Makerere University (2015) and an MS in Plant Science (Plant Pathology emphasis) from South Dakota State University (2019). Before her PhD, she worked as a laboratory technician at North Dakota State University studying soilborne pathogens in legumes.

• Education: BS (2015), MS (2019), PhD Candidate (2020-present)

Her research interests center on microbial interactions in crops, biopesticide efficacy, and sustainable disease management strategies. Her work bridges applied agricultural research with global food security needs, particularly supporting smallholder farmers in her home country of Uganda.