Robert Mokaya: How I Got a Scholarship to Study at Cambridge University

Robert Mokaya, a professor of Material Chemistry and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Nottingham in the UK, stands out as the only black chemistry professor in the country.

This is according to findings conducted by the UK Royal Society of Chemistry. Mokaya's love of science never wavered owing to his impressive math, physics, and chemistry abilities. Reflecting on his journey, Mokaya discloses that he had a different kind of doctorate in mind, one not related to medicine. Thriving academically in schools, Mokaya enrolled in the chemistry program at the University of Nairobi during the 1980s. Following his graduation in 1988, he briefly explored corporate life with Unilever Kenya before concluding that the corporate world was not his cup of tea.

After graduating from the University of Nairobi, he was wandering around campus when he came across an advertisement that promised the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to study at Cambridge. Without hesitation, he decided to give it a try. Looking back, he recalls thinking, "If only one person will win, why not me?" His philosophy was simple: Taking action leads to progress, and in his case, his application proved victorious, and he secured the scholarship to Cambridge.

He embarked on his journey at Cambridge University in 1992. There, he earned a highly esteemed Ph.D. under the careful tutelage of William "Bill" Jones in their lab. 1992 held other accomplishments as well. Among those was a Research Fellowship at Trinity College. Years later and following his tenacious perseverance, he earned an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). His perseverance propelled him to the position of material chemistry lecturer at the University of Nottingham in 2000, and in just five years, he attained the esteemed title of Reader in Materials Chemistry within the institution. In 2008, Mokaya achieved the prestigious title of Professor of Materials Chemistry.

At the forefront of a distinguished research team, Mokaya directs a Royal Society enterprise dedicated to boosting the capabilities of African scientists in the development, synthesis, and optimization of porous materials. As an acclaimed academic of extended record, Mokaya has secured numerous major accolades. Paramount among them is the highly regarded Royal Society Wolfs on Research Merit Award which he received in 2017 followed by the Officer of the Order of the British Empire award (OBE) in 2022.