Peter Akoll, Uganda

Curriculum vitae

Peter Akoll is currently working at Makerere University, Department of Biological Sciences. He lectures on Parasitology, Microbiology, Ecology, Fish Anatomy and Limnology, Fish Diseases and conducts basic and applied research in Aquatic Animal Health with emphasis on understanding host–pathogen relationships and the influence of the environmental conditions on the aquatic diseases. Peter also coordinates graduate training activities in the department and has a strong and wide collaborative training and research network notably with researchers at the Department of Freshwater Ecology, University of Vienna and Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Austria; Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology (Fish Pathology Laboratory) University of Bologna, Italy and Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia. Currently he coordinates with a team from BOKU the APPEAR funded project “Strengthening regional capacity in research and training in fisheries and aquaculture for improved food security and livelihoods in Eastern Africa - STRECAFISH”. In addition to institutional responsibilities he oversees several research projects in collaboration with other research institutions especially National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) and Aquaculture research and Development Centre, Kajjansi.

Reflection

Working with my critical supervisors Prof. Fritz Schiemer and Dr. Robert Konecny improved my analytical and scientific writing skill. This has contributed significantly to increasing my competiveness on the local, national and international labour market. Besides being committed academicians, my supervisors also had wide network of friends and professions. Associating with them helped me establish a broad and strong professional and social network globally. Reinvigoration and strengthening IPGL (formerly at Mondsee) at BOKU with Zoology unit (Department of Biological Sciences) was my dream. With support from APPEAR, Makerere has renewed the partnership with IPGL team under the STRECAFISH project. This is thus a turning point to the reinvigorating the “almost-faded” academic partnership between Makerere University and Austria.