MF (Marie Fidele) Tuyisenge

I hold a BSc in Biology and Conservation from the University of Rwanda and an MSc in Organismic and Molecular Biodiversity from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany. My bachelor's thesis focused on a fecal analysis method to identify the diets of unhabituated herbivores, while my master’s thesis investigated long-term morphological changes in arable weeds in response to agricultural intensification and global change, using herbarium specimens.

My research interests include plant ecology, vegetation dynamics, and biodiversity conservation. I am particularly interested in how vegetation adapts to environmental changes and various forms of disturbance. I have work experience in biodiversity monitoring, plant identification, and natural history collections research and management.

My PhD research is part of the interdisciplinary “CONNECT” project, which explores the sociological, economic, and ecological impacts of unconditional cash transfer programs around protected areas in Rwanda. Within this project, I focus on assessing the impact of illicit human activities on vegetation communities within Rwanda’s protected areas.