CURRICULUM VITAE - Faculty

Personal information:
Date of birth: 22 nd May, 1978
Nationality: Kenyan
Current position:
CURRICULUM VITAE
David Kamanda Ngugi
Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology
Karl-von-Frisch Strasse, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 893 864/176 2421 4259
E-mail: kamandan@mpi-marburg.mpg.de
2008– Postdoctoral training fellow at the MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology.
Projects/responsibilities: (1). Modeling the dynamics of nitrogen during
soil gut passage in soil-feeding termites, (2) Evaluating the activities and
diversities of methane-oxidizing bacteria in ammonia-rich soil-feeding
termite mounds, (3) Developing new cultivation strategies for novel
microbial groups (e.g., Methanogens and Planctomycetes) found in the
gut of soil-feeding termites, and (4) Supervision of Masters students in
their practical courses at the Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Education:
2005–2008 PhD. (Microbial Ecology), Philipps University, Marburg, Germany. Thesis
title: Transformation and mineralization of nitrogenous soil components in
the intestinal tracts of soil-feeding termites. Advisors: Profs. Drs. Andreas
Brune, Wolfgang Buckel, Rudolf Thauer, Roland Brandl
2002–2004 MSc. Botany (Microbiology), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology, Nairobi, Kenya. Thesis title: Isolation, identification and
characterization of bacteria from the intestinal tract of termites capable of
degrading monoaromatic compounds. Advisors: Prof. Dr. Hamadi Iddi
Boga, Dr. Muniru Tsanuo.
1997–2000 BEd. (Science) 2 nd Class Honors, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Dissertation title: The efficacy of three fungicides in the control of root-rot
fungi, Fusarium oxysporium of French beans. Advisor: Dr. Phillip Owino.
Professional experience:
2007 Supervisor of a MSc. student Jan Torsten, Jeske, Philipps University,
Marburg, Germany. Project title: Molecular identification and
characterization of ammonia-oxidizing (bacteria and archaea) in the gut of
soil-feeding termites.

2004–2005 Internship at the MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Germany. Project title:
Stable Isotope Probing (SIP) with 13 C-glucose in the intestinal tract of soilfeeding
termites. Advisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Brune.
2000–2001 Assistant laboratory technician, Nairobi Hospital (Eldoret Branch), Kenya.
Responsibilities: Routine sample analysis and post-HIV-testing patient
counseling. Supervisor-in-charge: Mr. Samuel Kabata.
2001 Biology and Chemistry teacher, Simat Secondary School, Eldoret, Kenya.
2000 Biology and Chemistry teacher, Ruiru High School, Thika, Kenya.
Academic awards:
2008 Travel grant from the International Max Planck Research School to
participate at the 12 th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology
(ISME) in Cairns, Australia.
2005–2008 Ph.D study fellowship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
(DAAD).
2004–2005 Internship fellowship from the International Max Planck Research School.
Conference presentations:
2009 Annual conference meeting of the Association for General and Applied
Microbiology (VAAM), Rühr-Universität Bochum, Germany. Nitrous oxide
(N2O) emission and spartial separation of denitrification and nitrate
ammonification in the highly compartmentalized intestinal tract of soilfeeding
termites (POSTER).
2008 12 th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology in Cairns, Australia.
Intestinal nitrate reduction and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission by soilfeeding
termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) (POSTER).
2006 Annual conference meeting of the Association for General and Applied
Microbiology (VAAM), Jena, Germany. The contribution of soil peptides
and carbohydrates to the diet of soil-feeding termites, (Cubitermes spp.)
(POSTER).
2004 Annual conference meeting of the Kenya Society of Microbiology, Nairobi.
Characterization and identification of bacteria from the intestinal tracts of
termites capable of degrading monoaromatic compounds (ORAL).
Workshops and short courses:
2009 Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) techniques in microbial ecology,
MPI Marburg, Germany.
2006 Advance light microscopy techniques: an introduction to Confocal Laser
Microscope (CLM), MPI Marburg, Germany.
2005 Molecular identification of microorganisms by comparative 16S-rRNA
gene sequence analysis, MPI Marburg, Germany.

Professional affiliations:
! International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME).
! Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM).
! International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS).
! Kenya Society of Microbiology (KSM).
Research experience:
! Working knowledge and experience with various GC systems (FID, ECD, TCD,
RGD, IRMS, and RAGA) and HPLC for sugars, amino acids, and short-chained
fatty acids.
! Extensively applied radio-tracers ( 14 C) and stable isotopes ( 13 C and 15 N) in
various side projects.
! Anaerobic microbial cultivation and isolation skills such as Hungate and deepagar
pure-culturing techniques.
! Molecular analytical techniques such as cloning (16S rRNA, pmoA, amoA, and
nirS/K) phylogenetic analysis and probe design (ARB), FISH, and DNA/RNAfinger
printing with TRFLP (LICOR and ABI sequencers).
Published papers/manuscripts under review:
1. Ngugi K.D., Ji R., and Brune A. (2009). Stimulation of nitrogen mineralization
and coupled nitrification–denitrification by soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes spp.)
– a 15 N-based approach. Biogeochem., submitted.
2. Ngugi K.D and Brune A. (2009). Intestinal nitrate reduction and nitrous oxide
(N2O) emission by soil-feeding termites (Cubitermes and Ophiotermes spp.).
Environ. Microbiol., submitted.
3. Ngugi K.D., Tsanuo M.K, and Boga H.I. (2007). Benzoic acid degrading bacteria
from the intestinal tract of Macrotermes michaelseni Sjöstedt. J. Basic Microbiol.
47:87–92.
4. Ngugi K.D., Tsanuo M.K, and Boga H.I. (2005). Rhodococcus opacus strain RW,
a resorcinol-degrading bacterium from the gut of Macrotermes michaelseni. Afric.
J. Biotech. 4:639–645.
5. Ngugi K.D., Fujita A., Geissinger O., Boga H.I., and Brune A. Proteolytic
activities and microbial utilization of amino acids in the intestinal tract of soilfeeding
termites (Isoptera: Termitidae). Appl. Environ. Microbiol., in preparation.
6. Ngugi K.D., and Brune A. Evidence for cross-epithelial transfer and excretion of
ammonia in the hindgut of soil-feeding termites. Insect Physiol., in preparation.
7. Fujita A., Ngugi K.D., Miambi E., and Brune A. Cellulolytic activities and in situ
rates of glucose turnover in the highly compartmentalized intestinal tract of soilfeeding
termites. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., in preparation.

Competencies/interests:
! Extensive knowledge of all Microsoft office programs and sufficient experience
with statistical tools such as GENSTAT and R-software.
! Proficiency in graphical software packages such as Gel-pro Analyzer.
! Fluency in English and Swahili, and good knowledge of German language.
! Playing lawn tennis, hiking, skiing, poetry, cooking, and mountaineering.
Referees:
1. Prof. Dr. Andreas Brune,
Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology,
Department of Biogeochemistry,
Karl-von-Frisch Strasse,
D-35043 Marburg, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 178 710
Fax: +49 (0) 6421 178 999
E-mail: brune@staff.uni-marburg.de
2. Prof. Dr. Hamadi Iddi Boga,
The Principle (Taveta Campus),
Botany Department,
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology,
P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel.: +254 (0) 733 926 733
E-mail: hamadiboga@yahoo.com
3 Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Buckel,
Laboratory for Microbiology,
Faculty of Biology,
Philipps-Universität Marburg,
Karl-von-Frisch Strasse,
D-35032 Marburg, Germany.
Tel.: +49 (0) 6421 2822 088
Fax: +49 (0) 6421 2828 979
E-mail: buckel@staff.uni-marburg.de