Mark Otieno

Dr. Mark Otieno is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management at the University of Embu's School of Agriculture, specializing in agroecology and insect-mediated ecosystem services for sustainable food systems.

Education: PhD in Animal Ecology (University of Reading, UK, Felix Scholarship); MSc and BSc in Animal Ecology (Kenyatta University, Kenya, thesis on Acacia pollination funded by Tropical Biology Association).

Research Focus: Investigates pollination biology, natural pest regulation, and agroecosystem resilience to advance sustainable agriculture in tropical Africa, with current projects addressing climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

Scientific Recognition:

• Felix Scholarship for doctoral studies
• Georg Forster Experienced Research Fellowship
• AvH Alumni Research Networking Grant
• AvH Research Books Award

Grant Leadership: Principal Investigator on 21 international grants totaling €900,000+ from DFG, British Ecological Society, and AvH, covering endangered species conservation (pancake tortoise, African violets), coffee pollination, and climate-resilient farming systems across Kenya.

Global Collaboration: Partners with researchers from Germany, USA, Brazil, and Madagascar through projects like the Integrated Crop Pollination initiative and DFG-funded biodiversity studies.