Babette Abanda

CV and research interest:

I received my Master’s degree from the University of Ngaoundéré in Cameroon within the DFG-funded project “Can onchocerciasis be eradicated?” operated by the Programme Onchocercoses field station of the University of Tuebingen, and the IRAD Wakwa Regional Centre in Ngaoundéré.

As a project partner of German and Cameroonian researchers I am interested in the biodiversity of African cattle, parasites and vectors, particularly ticks and their transmitted pathogens. I have successfully applied for several small-scale research grants (Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Otto Bayer Foundation, Teach@Tuebingen fellowship, DAAD, BW Stipendium) to foster my PhD project and my teaching skills, as I aim for an academic lecturer career in Cameroon. Furthermore, my research is supported by third-party funds of DFG and the mural RiSC programme, co-funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden Württemberg.

The focus of my research is to analyze the genetic and phenotypic diversity of cattle breeds from the northern part of Cameroon, and to associate their respective genotypes to their susceptibility to prevailing parasites. Over 1300 cattle have been carefully examined during field work, and the molecular-genetic analyses by conventional PCR, Sanger sequencing and reverse line blotting, as well as next-generation sequencing approaches with the Illumina platform are currently underway.

A genome-wide association study shall permit to identify markers of resistance or susceptibility to the regions’ most important pathogenic agents, which could ultimately contribute to strengthen the resilience to infectious diseases of the local breeds in their respective environment.

After two years of staying in Tübingen, I am trilingual speaking and understanding English, French and German to a proficient level. Especially the German language skills proofed useful to connect with my colleagues and local people, and to embrace the German culture in the most inspiring way

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE                                                                                                                                                                   _______ 

Guest Lecturer, University of Tuebingen, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, Tuebingen, Germany 2015 – 2016

• Seminars in parasitology and student field excursion to Ngaoundéré, Cameroon

Student Assistant, Programme Onchocercoses field station of University of Tuebingen, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, 2012 – 2016

• In vitro culturing of adult worms and microfilariae of the cattle filaria Onchocerca ochengi
• Cross-sectional parasitological field examination of 1300 cattle of different breeds in North Cameroon

Institute of Agricultural Research for Development IRAD, Wakwa Regional Centre, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, 2010 – 2016

• Longitudinal parasitological study of cattle herd exposed to natural Onchocerca ochengi transmission

Guest Researcher, University hospital of Tübingen, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tuebingen, Germany, 2013

• Genetic association of microsatellite markers for resistance against onchocercosis in zebu cattle

EDUCATION                                                                                                                                                                              ______________

PhD candidate in Biology at Universities of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, 2013 – present

• Working title: ‘Tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance in Cameroon’

MSc in Biology at University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, 2002 – 2010

• Thesis at Daniel Achukwi’s group at IRAD Wakwa, and Alfons Renz’s group at Programme Onchocercoses in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Title: ‘Utilisation du Western blot pour la reconnaissance des immunoglobulines G par les protéines antigéniques dans un extrait brut d’Onchocerca ochengi chez les bovins zébus Gudali à degrés d’infestation variés du parasite’

AWARDS____                                                                                                                               __________                                                __

Alumni Network Sub Sahara Africa ANSA, Berlin, Germany, 2015 – present

• Elected board member

German Academic Exchange Service DAAD, Bonn, Germany, 2016 – 2018

• Doctoral scholarship for international PhDs’ for a study visit at University of Tuebingen, Germany

Teach@Tuebingen, Excellence initiative of University of Tübingen, Germany, 2015 – 2016

• Lecturing program for international senior PhD candidates to give courses at University of Tuebingen

Otto Bayer Foundation, Leverkusen, Germany, 2014 – 2016

• Field work grant to examine Cameroonian cattle breeds in search for genetic markers of resistance/susceptibility against veterinary and zoonotic pathogens

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany, 2013

• Travel grant to a laboratory visit the University hospital of Tübingen, Institute of Tropical Medicine

LANGUAGES____                                                                                                                                        ____________

• French: native, English: fluent (C2), German: good (B1)