Dr. Jackie Epila
Dr. Jackie Epila completed her Ph.D. in Applied Biological Sciences at Ghent University in 2016. Upon returning to Uganda, she faced the challenge of finding an institution aligned with her research interests. After nearly two and a half years of searching, she secured a part-time lecturing position at Lira University, a newly established public university in the northern part of the country. A few months later, Jackie was offered full-time employment. Presently, she holds multiple positions at Lira University, serving as a member of the Senate, the Head of the Department of Science and Vocational Education at the Faculty of Education, and a Chemistry Lecturer.
Due to the civil and guerrilla wars that plagued the region for over two decades, the socioeconomic fabric of Northern Uganda is fragile. As a result, higher education institutions face numerous challenges, including the inability to provide the necessary technologies for scientific advancements. Nevertheless, Jackie remains determined, tenacious, and proactive in pursuing the infrastructure required to conduct ecophysiology, hydroponics, and phytochemistry experiments.
Jackie's work during her Short Research Stay
During one of her recent visits to her ancestral village, Jackie sadly observed the gradual loss of traditional knowledge surrounding wild indigenous vegetables. This loss has had a significant impact on the availability of food during the dry season, resulting in food scarcity. To mitigate food insecurity in rural areas, Jackie aims to establish a model wild indigenous vegetable farm and seed bank focusing on Asystasia gangetica ssp. micrantha.
During her fellowship at the Laboratory of Plant Ecology in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University, under Prof. Dr. Ir. Kathy Steppe's supervision, Jackie researched its nutritional value in terms of phytochemistry. This research lays the groundwork for the eventual domestication of the plant.
Selected Publications
-
Hubeau, M., Mincke, J., Vanhove, C., Gorel, A. P., Fayolle, A., Epila, J., Leroux, O., Vandenberghe, S., & Steppe, K. (2019). 11C-autoradiographs to image phloem loading. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. doi:10.3389/ffgc.2019.00020
-
Epila, J., Hubeau, M., Steppe, K. (2018). Drought Effects on Photosynthesis and Implications of Photoassimilate Distribution in 11C-Labeled Leaves in the African Tropical Tree Species Maesopsis eminii Engl. Forests, 9, 109. doi:10.3390/f9030109
-
Epila, J., De Baerdemaeker, N. J. F., Vergeynst, L. L., Maes, W. H., Beeckman, H., & Steppe, K. (2017). Capacitive water release and internal leaf water relocation delay drought-induced cavitation in African Maesopsis eminii. Tree Physiology. doi:10.1093/treephys/tpw128
-
Epila, J., Verbeeck, H., Otim-Epila, T., Okullo, P., Kearsley, E., & Steppe, K. (2017). The ecology of Maesopsis eminii Engl. in tropical Africa. Journal of African Ecology. doi:10.1111/aje.12408
-
Reyer, C., Brouwers, N., Rammig, A., Brook, B., Epila, J., Grant, R. F., Holmgren, M., Langerwisch, F., Leuzinger, S., Lucht, W., Medlyn, B., Pfeiffer, M., Steinkamp, J., Vanderwel, M., Verbeeck, H., & Villela, D. (2015). Forest resilience and tipping points at different spatio-temporal scales: Approaches and challenges. Journal of Ecology, 103, 5-15. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12337