Ms. Theresia Gastor Mapunda is a Tanzanian graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Science and Technology from the University of Dar es Salaam. She has a strong academic foundation and experience as a research assistant in agriculture and related sciences, with interests in local knowledge in its breadth - including health, sustainability, and research-driven development. With a focus on creative innovation and problem-solving, she aims to contribute meaningfully to fields that bridge science, community well-being, and sustainable progress.

Currently in the AFRIAK fellowship within a team of seven young researchers affiliated to the University of Dar es Salaam, she is driven to find a bridge to integrate traditional medicinal practices into the modern medicine system, and to use that experience to further her professional journey.