Ms. Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma | Water Quality | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma is a passionate researcher specializing in Water Resource Engineering and Natural Resource Management. Currently pursuing a PhD in Geography at Trinity College Dublin with funding from Science Foundation Ireland, her work focuses on climate resilience of peatlands through innovative isotopic analysis. She holds an MPhil in Water Resource Engineering and a First-Class BSc in Natural Resource Management. Zenobia has contributed to international projects, published in top-tier journals, and actively promotes STEM among women as a Global Ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers. Her expertise spans hydrology, GIS, remote sensing, and sustainable environmental management. 💧📘

📚Professional Profile

Orcid

Scopus

🎓Academic Background

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma has a strong academic foundation in environmental sciences and water resource management. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Geography at Trinity College Dublin, supported by the Science Foundation Ireland’s Frontiers for the Future Programme, with research focused on water stable isotopes and peatland ecosystems. She earned an MPhil in Water Resource Engineering and Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she ranked in the top 5% and received the Africa Centre of Excellence scholarship. Zenobia also holds a First-Class BSc in Natural Resource Management, graduating among the top of her class. 📚

💼Professional Experience

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma has gained diverse professional experience in research, engineering, and education. As a Graduate Engineer at the Ghana Hydrological Authority, she conducted hydrological data analysis and field surveys, and managed digital outreach. She previously served as a Research and Teaching Assistant at KNUST, supporting watershed management research and undergraduate instruction. Her internship at the Hydrological Authority involved storm drain assessments and GIS tool development. Additionally, she has worked as a Global Ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers, promoting STEM careers for women. Her professional journey reflects a strong commitment to sustainable water management and interdisciplinary collaboration. 🌍

🏅Awards and Honors

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma has received multiple prestigious awards in recognition of her academic excellence and research potential. She is a recipient of the Science Foundation Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme funding for her PhD studies. During her MPhil, she was awarded the Africa Higher Education Centre of Excellence scholarship and secured a grant from the UNESCO-TWAS Seed Grant for African Principal Investigators. At the undergraduate level, she was honored with the Elizabeth Herman’s Foundation scholarship for academic distinction. Additionally, she has received certificates for outstanding participation in international workshops, conferences, and capacity-building programs in environmental science. 🌍

🔬Research Focus

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma’s research centers on sustainable water resource management, climate resilience, and ecosystem health. Her current PhD work explores the resilience of blanket bogs to climate change using advanced water stable isotope techniques. She has investigated hydrogeochemical processes, water quality, and public health risks, particularly in vulnerable wetland areas such as the Densu Ramsar site. Her academic contributions integrate hydrological modeling, GIS, remote sensing, and environmental analysis. Zenobia’s research aims to address critical environmental challenges by improving our understanding of freshwater systems and informing conservation strategies, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application. 💧

📌Publication Top Notes

Assessing the impact of land use and land cover change on the Densu Delta wetland using Markov chain modeling and artificial neural networks
Year: 2024 | Cited by: 1 📄

Origin, hydrogeochemical evolution and human health risk assessment of surface and groundwater in the Densu Delta Ramsar site, Ghana
Year: 2025

🏆Conclusion

Zenobia Kusi-Afrakoma is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, demonstrating exceptional promise and achievement in the fields of water resources, environmental sustainability, and hydrology. With a First-Class BSc, a distinguished MPhil, and a fully funded international PhD from Trinity College Dublin, her academic journey reflects consistent excellence. Her research, focused on climate resilience and water quality using advanced isotopic methods, addresses urgent global challenges. Zenobia’s international collaborations, impactful publications, leadership in STEM outreach, and contributions to both scientific and policy communities underscore her wide-ranging impact. She exemplifies the ideal of a next-generation environmental research leader. 🌍🏅