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Biography
Dr. David Simiyu is a passionate scientist and a trained botanist. His areas of expertise revolve around different aspects of plant science including plant taxonomy, plant propagation and tissue culture, plant molecular biology, and plant biochemistry. He has researched and published extensively on how specialized metabolism pathways in medicinal and modal plants are regulated at a molecular level. His research works also reflect his endeavors towards understanding climate change resilience in tropical plants, especially food crops. He is currently involved in studies aimed at understanding climate change resilience in marine macroalgae (seaweeds), and expanding the potential use of seaweeds and other plants in human and animal nutrition, medicine, and soil fertility. Dr. Simiyu attained his BSc degree in Education from the St. Augustine University of Tanzania prior to joining the University of Dar es Salaam for his MSc degree in Applied Plant Sciences. He also holds a Ph.D in Applied Plant Science from Chonnam National University in South Korea.
Research Interest
Plant molecular biology
Plant tissue culture
Plant propagation
Plant taxonomy
Climate change
Contacts
Email:
Projects
Project title: Promoting the Use of Seaweeds in Livestock Feed in East Africa: Trial Farming of Selected Species in Tanzania.
Funder: WWF
Duration: June 2025 - January 2026
Role in the project: Co-PI
Project title: Understanding the nutritive values of wild seaweeds in Tanzania
Funder: WWF
Duration: July 2025 - December 2025
Role in the Project: Researcher
Project title: Strengthening Environmental and Climate Change Consideration On Mitigation Efforts In Seaweed Farming Towards Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation: A Case Study of Zanzibar
Funder: AU-AIBAR
Duration: June 2024 - December 2024
Role in the project: Researcher
Publications
Simiyu DC, Bayaraa U, Jang JH, and Lee OR. 2024. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor PgTT2 from Panax ginseng interacts with the WD40-repeat protein PgTTG1 during the regulation of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis and the response to salt stress. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 214: 108877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108877
Simiyu DC, Jang JH, and Lee OR. 2023. A group III patatin-like phospholipase gene pPLAIIIδ regulates lignin biosynthesis and influences the rate of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14:1212979. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1212979
Simiyu DC, Jang JH, and Lee OR. 2022. Understanding Cannabis sativa L.: Current Status of Propagation, Use, Legalization, and Haploid-Inducer-Mediated Genetic Engineering. Plants. 11: 1236. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091236
Simiyu DC, and Lee OK. 2022. Cytoplasmic mevalonate pathways play major roles in ginsenoside production and mevinolin treatment activates the plastidic MEP pathway. Trends in Agriculture and Life Sciences. https://doi.org/10.29335/tals.2023.61.41
Simiyu D, and Buriyo AS. 2018. Will climate change impacts aggravate malnutrition in concealed ways? The effects of temperature elevation on nutritive value of the edible seaweed Ulva fasciata Delile. Oceanography & Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.19080/OFOAJ.2018.06.555698