Felista Tarimo

I am a Tanzanian public health researcher and social scientist with a strong focus on community engagement and malaria vector control. I currently serve as a stakeholder engagement officer at the Ifakara Health Institute, where I support Transmission Zero’s cutting-edge research into genetic and biological tools for malaria elimination. I hold a Master of Science in Public Health Research from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Dodoma. My academic and professional work has centered on understanding community perceptions of novel malaria control methods, such as autodissemination of pyriproxyfen, and on ensuring that community concerns are integrated into scientific interventions. I have co-authored several peer-reviewed publications on malaria control, gender-based violence, and health system challenges in Tanzania. In my current role, I apply advanced qualitative methods - including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and ethnographic techniques - to engage communities in rural Tanzania, helping to align cutting-edge research with lived experience. I have received a specialized training in science communication, social innovation, and research ethics, and I am fluent in both English and Swahili. I am a member of the Tanzania Entomological Society and I am passionate about bridging the gap between science and society, believing that community-driven approaches are key to sustainable health solutions in Africa.