Postgraduate research students

I am a vector biology researcher with an interest in biology, ecology and behaviour of disease vectors. I desire to see a malaria-free world by conducting research leading towards the development and application of novel tools which will contribute to the reduction of malaria and other vector borne diseases. I hold an MSc in Tropical Disease Biology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Bachelor of Education Sciences degree from the University of Malawi, Chancellor College.

In my most recent research, I was leading a study exploring the sugar feeding behaviour of anopheline mosquitoes and its impact on malaria control in Chikwawa, Malawi. As sugar feeding is a key activity for Anopheles mosquitoes and presents a potential target for control, our study for the first time in Malawi provides baseline evidence of the potential plant sugar sources that are attractive to Anopheles mosquitoes. Understanding local sugar source preferences will help tailor novel mosquito control intervention strategies such as the ATSBs to specific ecological contexts.

I am currently a PhD student in Population and ecosystems health at the University of Glasgow. My PhD study aims to understand the role of sugar feeding on the life traits and pathogen transmission potential of Anopheles gambiae.

Publications

Zembere, K., Kalonde, P.K. & Bickton, F.M. Know your enemy: understanding mosquito biology to advance malaria elimination in Africa. Parasitol Res 124, 93 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08534-9

Clinton Nkolokosa, Rex Mbewe, James Chirombo, Michelle C. Stanton, Christopher M. Jones, Peter Makaula, Gladys Namacha, Blessings Chiepa, Patrick Ken Kalonde, Chifuniro Baluwa, Kennedy Zembere, Eggrey Aisha Kambewa, Chikumbusko Chiziwa Kaonga, JohnArcher, Alexandra Juhász, Lucas J. Cunningham, Julie-Anne AkikoTangena & J. Russell Stothard. A first report of Biomphalaria pfeifferi in the Lower Shire Valley, Southern Malawi, a major intermediate snail host species for intestinal schistosomiasis. Sci Rep 15, 5603 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88930-4 

Zembere, K., Jones, C.M., Mthawanji, R., Nkolokosa, C., Kamwezi, R., Kalonde, P.K. et al. (2024) Small dams drive Anopheles abundance during the dry season in a high malaria burden area of Malawi. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 38(4), 375–392. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12733

Zembere, K. The potential for attractive toxic sugar baits to complement core malaria interventions strategies: the need for more evidence. Malar J 23, 356 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-05161-0

Zembere, K., Chirombo, J., Nasoni, P. et al. The human-baited host decoy trap (HDT) is an efficient sampling device for exophagic Anopheles arabiensis within irrigated lands in southern Malawi. Sci Rep 12, 3428 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07422-x

Stanton, M.C., Kalonde, P., Zembere, K. et al. The application of drones for mosquito larval habitat identification in rural environments: a practical approach for malaria control?. Malar J 20, 244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03759-2

Mburu, M.M., Zembere, K., Mzilahowa, T. et al. Impact of cattle on the abundance of indoor and outdoor resting malaria vectors in southern Malawi. Malar J 20, 353 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03885-x

Mburu, M.M., Zembere, K., Hiscox, A. et al. Assessment of the Suna trap for sampling mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. Malar J 18, 51 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2680-7 

• Professor Heather Ferguson
• Dr Emilie Pondeville

2025-2028

Commonwealth PhD Fellowship- University of Glasgow, UK

2022 to 2023

Wellcome Trust Pre-PhD training fellowship- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Progtamme, Malawi

November 2025-ASTMH Poster presentation- 

Exploring the importance and preference of sugar feeding behaviour of malaria vectors in sugar plantations of southern Malawi

2022-ASTMH Poster presentation

The human-baited host decoy trap (HDT) is an efficient sampling device for exophagic Anopheles arabiensis within irrigated lands in southern Malawi

2023 to 2025

Part time lecturer (Microbiology)- Malawi University of Busines and Applied Sciences, Malawi