University of Galway · C_CAPS · PhD Researcher, Physics

David
Nganga.

Measuring the air that cities breathe. From Nairobi's roadsides to Galway's Atlantic coast. I calibrate low-cost particle sensors and turn their readings into evidence for cleaner air.

Now: EPIC-AIR Atmospheric science Aerosol measurement Nuclear science & chemistry
Read my publications ORCID ↗ ResearchGate ↗ Get in touch ↗
AboutGalway & Nairobi Portrait of David Nganga

Chemist by profession, with a bias for analytical chemistry.

My research interest is in applying nuclear techniques and atmospheric modelling to air pollution and monitoring studies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

I also have a keen interest in understanding the links between air pollution, climate change and public health. This forms a key part of my PhD, which focuses on identifying the drivers of toxicity in ambient air and solid fuels.

Since 2018 I have worked on international collaborations between the University of Nairobi and the University of Birmingham, including community-led monitoring in a Kenyan informal settlement. I am now completing a structured PhD in Physics at the University of Galway's Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS), where I work on the EPIC-AIR project, studying how air pollution affects health through advanced mass spectrometry and the oxidative potential of particulate matter.

I'm keen to collaborate on projects that help build a greener, healthier future.

ResearchWhat I work on

Making low-cost sensors tell the truth.

A cheap optical particle counter can sit on a lamppost, a school roof or a household wall. Its raw readings drift with humidity and aerosol composition, so the science lies in calibration, correction and careful interpretation.

Current project · 2024 – present · Funded by Research Ireland

EPIC-AIR

Identifying the health effects of air pollution. The project combines advanced mass spectrometry, which resolves the chemical make-up of particulate matter, with measurements of its oxidative potential: the capacity of particles to generate oxidative stress in the body. Together they link what is in the air to how it may harm health, beyond mass concentration alone.

  • Air pollution toxicity drivers
  • Oxidative potential
  • Mass spectrometry
  • PM composition
  • Health effects
  • Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS)

Research themes

µg/m³ · OPC calibration

Low-cost sensor calibration

Correcting optical particle counters against reference instruments, including how aerosol composition changes correction factors.

PM2.5 · roadside hotspots

Urban air quality in East Africa

Mapping particulate pollution across Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Kampala, with a focus on traffic-driven hotspots.

Citizen science · Mukuru

Community-led monitoring

Working with residents of an informal settlement to collect and use their own air quality data.

WRF-CHIMERE · PSCF

Modelling and source analysis

Evaluating chemical transport models and using back-trajectory methods to trace where pollution comes from.

JournalDaily field notes

Field notes

A running log of research days, readings, ideas and life in between.

Read the full journal ↗

    No entries yet. The first journal entry will appear here once it's published.

    Publications6 peer-reviewed papers

    Selected publications

    Full record on ORCID ↗ and ResearchGate ↗

    2018
    2020
    2021
    2022
    2023
    1. 2023

      A citizen science approach for air quality monitoring in a Kenyan informal development

      Manshur, T., Luiu, C., Avis, W.R., Bukachi, V., Gatari, M., Mulligan, J., Radcliffe, J., Singh, A., Waiguru, E., Wandera, A. and Pope, F.D.

      City and Environment Interactions, 19, 100105

      doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2023.100105
    2. 2022

      Evaluation of the WRF and CHIMERE models for the simulation of PM2.5 in large East African urban conurbations

      Mazzeo, A., Burrow, M., Quinn, A., Marais, E.A., Singh, A., Ng'ang'a, D., Gatari, M.J. and Pope, F.D.

      Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 22(16), 10677–10701

      doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-10677-2022
    3. 2022

      Urban diagnostics and a systems approach to air quality management: pathways towards sustainable economic development and a healthy Nairobi, Kenya

      Singh, A., Bakare, H., Mazzeo, A., Avis, W.R., Ng'ang'a, D., Gatari, M., Bartington, S.E., Thomas, G.N., Bryson, J.R., Andres, L. and Quinn, A.

      Frontiers in Environmental Science

      doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.978002
    4. 2021

      Air quality assessment in three East African cities using calibrated low-cost sensors with a focus on road-based hotspots

      Singh, A., Gatari, M.J., Kidane, A.W., Alemu, Z.A., Derrick, N., Webster, M.J., Bartington, S.E., Thomas, G.N., Avis, W. and Pope, F.D.

      Environmental Research Communications, 3(7), 075007

      doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ac0e0a
    5. 2020

      Effect of aerosol composition on the performance of low-cost optical particle counter correction factors

      Crilley, L.R., et al.

      Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, 13(3), 1181–1193

      doi.org/10.5194/amt-13-1181-2020
    6. 2018

      Airborne particulate matter monitoring in Kenya using calibrated low-cost sensors

      Pope, F.D., Gatari, M., Ng'ang'a, D., Poynter, A. and Blake, R.

      Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 18(20), 15403–15418

      doi.org/10.5194/acp-18-15403-2018
    ExperienceResearch & education

    Research path

    1. 2024 – present
      University of Galway · Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies (C_CAPS)

      PhD in Physics (Structured), EPIC-AIR project

      Health effects of air pollution, studied through advanced mass spectrometry and the oxidative potential of particulate matter. Funded by Research Ireland.

    2. 2020 – 2021
      Birmingham · Nairobi · Kounkuey Design Initiative

      Research Assistant, community-led air quality monitoring

      Monitoring in a Kenyan informal development, funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering (FoDSF\1819\1\12).

    3. 2018 – 2020
      University of Birmingham · University of Nairobi

      Research Assistant, ASAP East Africa

      A Systems Approach to Air Pollution in East Africa, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    4. 2016 – 2019
      University of Nairobi

      MSc in Nuclear Science

      Thesis: Calibration and Application of Low-Cost Optical Particle Counters in Nairobi, Kenya.

    5. 2011 – 2015
      University of Nairobi

      BSc in Chemistry, First Class Honours

      Project: Indoor Air Pollution, efficiency and emissions from cooking stoves in Kenya.

    TeachingLabs & tutoring

    Teaching

    2024 – 2025 · University of Galway

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Taught first-year undergraduates in physics, chemistry and biology, demonstrated laboratory sessions and provided one-to-one tutoring.

    2022 – 2023 · University of Nairobi

    Tutorial Fellow

    Taught undergraduate science students, supported scientific report writing, and marked and edited reports to academic standards.

    Awards& training

    Fellowships and training

    1. 2019
      IAEA · INSTN, Antananarivo, Madagascar

      Training Fellowship: PSCF for trajectory-based model analysis

    2. 2019
      University of Birmingham

      Travel Award: Air quality in Nairobi, past, current and future trends

      A Royal Society of Chemistry project, April–May 2019.

    3. 2019
      PREFIA & WHO · Nairobi

      Seamless Prediction of Air Pollution in Africa

    4. 2018
      Certificate

      Raspberry Pi microcomputers in scientific research

    5. 2017
      IAEA · CNESTEN, Rabat, Morocco

      Training Fellowship and ISTRA Level 2 certification in advanced radiotracer applications

    6. 2016
      Training

      Aerosol hygroscopicity, cloud condensation nucleation and aerosol sampling

    7. 2015
      University of Nairobi

      Masters' Scholarship Award

    Methods & tools

    • Aerosol sampling & calibration
    • EDXRF
    • AAS
    • UV-Vis spectroscopy
    • R · openair
    • Nuclear science
    • Scientific writing
    • TEFL certified
    • English & Swahili
    ContactCollaborations welcome

    Let's work on cleaner air together.

    I'm open to research collaborations, sensor deployment projects and science writing.

    Send me a message ↗

    Or email directly

    University email
    Personal email

    ORCID · 0000-0002-3126-9606
    ResearchGate · David-Nganga-3