WCPP 2019 session chair Steven Runo obtained his Molecular Biology PhD degree in 2007 at Kenyatta University as a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow in the groups of Prof. Neelima Sinha (University of California, Davis, USA) and Prof Jesse Machuka (Kenyatta University, Kenya). His PhD research focused on Long Distance RNA trafficking between the parasitic plant Cuscuta and hosts tomato, tobacco and medicago. In 2008, he started working as Lecturer at Kenyatta University in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. In 2009, he worked as a visiting Scientist at the University, Sheffield in the laboratory of Julie Scholes where he researched on interaction of maize and Striga. In 2010 he returned to Kenya and his position became Senior Lecturer in 2012. This was followed by another visiting scientist position at the University of Virginia in 2014 in the laboratory of Prof Michael Timko where he did research on Striga genomics. Upon his return to Kenyatta University, he started his research group focusing on natural resistance of Striga hosts using molecular biology and genomic tools. He continues to hold the position of Senior Lecturer at Kenyatta University and where he is also the current head of the Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology Department.