Dr. Eric Magembe is a Biotechnologist at the International Potato Center (CIP) based in Nairobi, Kenya since December 2012. He specializes in developing disease resistant potato varieties using cutting edge breeding tools like genome editing and transgenesis. His research focuses on tackling major challenges like late blight, bacterial wilt, and viral diseases that significantly impact potato production in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is utilizing genome editing technology to enhance resistance to Potyvirus Y (PVY) in the cultivated potato variety Shangi. His research involves precisely modifying the eIF4E gene to mimic the PVY resistant allele naturally occurring in the wild potato relative Eva1.

Passionate about leveraging biotechnology to address food insecurity and poverty, Dr. Magembe has partnered with the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and other organizations across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Rwanda to develop improved potato varieties that can benefit small-holder farmers and enhance livelihoods.

Dr. Magembe holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Nairobi, where his research was partially conducted at Texas A&M University as part of the Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program. He also holds an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi and a BSc in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Chemistry from Egerton University.