Nantale Gauden

Nantale Gauden is a Plant Scientist by training. She is a PhD student at Makerere University in the area of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. She holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Botany and a  Bachelors of Science in Ethnobotany both  from Makerere University. 

She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Education, Busitema University. She has also served as the Head of Department from August 2008 to 2011 in the same department. She has a rich exprience of over 17 years in academia having been a lecturer from Makerere and Kaymbogo prior to joining Busitema University

She is also an expert  in developing innovative solutions and conducting research for plant conservation strategies. She has a background in working to improve plant yields and advise plant developers about techniques that could enhance production. She has worked with farmers on the use of traditional management practices and conservation of local varieties of bananas including  investigating on a number of medicinal plants which stimulated her interest in developing techniques to conserve medicinal plants using biotechnology techniques without affecting their medicinal compounds. She is a meticulous team player with problem solving and analytical skills.

Her current Ph.D research evolves around the production of plants such as cowpeas that are resistant to bacterial blight and high yielding for use to boost food security involving the use of both conventional breeding and assisted marker breeding using the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL). As a biotechnologist, she hopes to contribute to plant conservation strategies through the production of fast maturing plants of the selected medicinal plants.