Gladys Kung`u
PhD student
Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, 5020 Salzburg
Tel.: +43(0)662 80445604
Room: D-2.037
Research interest
- Behavioral biology of cooperative breeders
- Effects of home range habitat quality on behavior, stress hormone levels, and ultimately the reproductive success of birds
- Species distribution modelling
- Application of GIS and remote sensing in defining habitat structure within highly disturbed species home ranges
Curriculum Vitae
Education and training
- from 09/2020 on: University of Salzburg, Austria; Doctoral Studies (PhD) at the Faculty of Natural Sciences
- 09/2017-06/2020: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences – Kunming Institute of Zoology (China); Master of Natural Sciences in Zoology. Thesis title: Reconstructing the demographic history of the Kenyan endemic Hindes’ babbler Turdoides hindei using whole genome sequences and ecological niche models
- 09/2009-12/2013: Kenyatta University (Kenya); Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Management
Work experience
- 06/2014-08/2017: Project Fellow (Kenya Bird Map Project) – National Museums of Kenya and Nature Kenya. Main responsibilities: coordinating data submission, organizing field bird-mapping excursions, training volunteer birders/mappers, synthesizing scientific data and communicating the impact of the project to the general public.
- 07/2013-05/2014: Research intern – National Museums of Kenya. Main activities and responsibilities: assisting in biodiversity field research surveys; assisting in weekly bird ringing/banding within Nairobi
- 05-09/2012: Student trainee – Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). Main responsibilities: Preparing environmental management plans; Carrying out environmental audits and preparing audit reports.
Grants and awards
- 2017: Awarded CAS “The Belt and Road” Masters Fellowship Program to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Chinese Academy of Science
- 2017: Won a research grant to assess the occurrence and status of the Hinde’s Babbler Turdoides Hindei population in the northern suburbs of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Grant Amount: £1,823. Source of funding: African Bird Club
- 2014: Awarded a search grant to survey the population status and distribution of Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa in Kenya’s Rift Valley and Central wetlands. Grant Amount: £1,804. Source of funding: African Bird Club.
Language skills
- English
- Kiswahili
- Chinese (basic user)
Publications
Fei W, De-Jun K, Peng-Fei S, Jie W, Kung’u G, Guang-Yi L, Xiao-Jun Y (2019) Ongoing Green Peafowl Protection in China. Zoological Research 40: 580-582.
Kung’u G, Jackson CHW (2017) Kenya Bird Map: achievements from January 2014 to December 2016. Biodiversity Observations 30: 1–6.
Kung’u G., Imboma T, Njoroge P (2016) Recent undocumented Kenya records of the Grey-chested Babbler Kakamega poliothorax. Scopus 36: 34-3.