Dr Zainabu Hamisi Kilusungu

Dr. Zainabu Hamisi Kilusungu is a Tanzanian fisheries scientist and Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. She holds a PhD in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, an MSc in Life Science and Engineering (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management) from the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, and a BSc in Aquaculture from Sokoine University of Agriculture.

Dr. Kilusungu has over a decade of experience in fisheries research, training, and extension. She has led water quality and fish health assessments, provided training for small- and large-scale fish farmers, conducted inspections of fish products for domestic and international trade, and promoted best aquaculture practices across Tanzania. She previously served as a Tutor at the Fisheries Education and Training Agency (FETA), teaching courses in aquaculture, fish health, product processing, and farm management, and supervising student research projects.

Her research focuses on aquaculture sustainability, antimicrobial resistance in farmed fish, and food safety, with publications in PLOS ONE, the Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, and other peer-reviewed journals. Notably, her work has explored multidrug-resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in farmed fish in Dar es Salaam and their implications for human health.

Dr. Kilusungu has participated in multiple regional and international conferences, summer schools, and specialized training programs, including One Health Summer Schools in Malawi, the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health Summer School, and workshops on nanotechnology, aquaculture biosecurity, PCR-based diagnostics, and antimicrobial resistance. She is fluent in Swahili and proficient in English, combining technical expertise, research excellence, and hands-on extension to advance sustainable and safe aquaculture practices in Tanzania and the region.