Sala Nanyanzi Senkayi is an African environmental scientist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency. She was the first Ugandan-born woman to win the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.
Sala Senkayi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sala Senkayi at Converses with Students in 2013 | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University University of Texas at Arlington |
| Awards | PECASE ('17) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | United States Environmental Protection Agency |
Early life and education
editSenkayi is the daughter of Abu Senkayi and Sunajeh Senkayi. Her family are from Butambala District in Uganda. Her father was an environmental scientist and worked at Texas A&M University as a research scientist from 1977.[1][2]
Senkayi obtained a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She joined the University of Texas at Arlington, earning two more Bachelor's degrees in microbiology and biology. Later, she earned a master's degree (2010) and a PhD (2012) degrees in environmental and earth sciences from the same university.[3] Her PhD thesis considered the association between childhood leukaemia and proximity to airports in Texas.[4] She found that benzene emissions were a predictor for childhood leukaemia.[4] During her graduate studies Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda and Sylvia Nnaginda visited her in Texas.[5]
Career
editSenkayi joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2007.[6] She works with local children in schools and colleges talking about the environment.[5] She initiated the EPA Converses with Students webcast, an opportunity for children to speak to scientists who worked on environmental protection on Earth Day.[7][8] Her research focuses on water quality protection and she is the Water Quality Division Quality Assurance Officer.[3] In 2017 Senkayi was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for her "transformative" community outreach and research.[3][9]
References
edit- ^ "Abu Lwanga Senkayi Celebrates 40 Years of Professional Excellence in Environmental Science". 24-7 Press Release Newswire. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ Moderator, Marquis Who's Who (2018-08-14). "Abu Lwanga Senkayi, Ph.D." Marquis Who's Who Top Scientists. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b c Ph.D, Samuel Muwanguzi. "Youthful Dr. Sala Senkayi smashes glass ceiling, wins top US science award". eadm.news. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ a b Senkayi, Sala N.; Sattler, Melanie L.; Rowe, Nancy; Chen, Victoria C.P. (2014-04-01). "Investigation of an association between childhood leukemia incidences and airports in Texas". Atmospheric Pollution Research. 5 (2): 189–195. doi:10.5094/APR.2014.023. hdl:10106/25951. ISSN 1309-1042.
- ^ a b "Meet The First Ugandan-American PhD Female Environmental Scientist In Dallas – Dr. Sala Senkayi | Welcome to the Ugandan Diaspora News Online". www.ugandandiasporanews.com. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "Employee Profile of Sala Senkayi — General Physical Scientist". www.federalpay.org. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ US EPA, OA (2015-07-30). "EPA Converses with Students Webcasts". US EPA. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "WEEKLY eNEWS: Events, Grants/Awards, Workshops, Webinars, Volunteer Opportunities, Resources | Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries". www.wlf.louisiana.gov. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
- ^ "President Obama Honors Federally-Funded Early-Career Scientists". whitehouse.gov. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2018-12-26.