A comparative functional respiratory morphologist, Professor Maina has worked at universities in various parts of the world, including Australia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America and has published prolifically in his area of research, namely respiratory processes and organs. His papers have been published in international journals of high impact factors and his books published by reputable publishers.
Trained as a veterinarian at the University of Nairobi (Kenya). Did PhD at the University of Liverpool (UK). Awarded a DVSc by the University of Liverpool in 1999 on thesis entitled “Comparative functional morphology of the gas exchangers”. Taught at the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi between 1982-1996 before joining the then Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of the Witwatersrand as Professor. Served as Head of School of Anatomical Sciences. Joined the Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg in 2009 as a Research Professor.
Has published over 189 articles among which are six books in the area of comparative pulmonary functional morphology. Twice awarded a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship tenable at the University of California (Davis) and appointed as a Royal Society Senior Research Fellow taken at the University of Liverpool and a Hooker Distinguished Visiting Professor taken at McMaster University. Has been appointed Visiting Professor at the Universities of California (San Diego and Davis), Liverpool, Wyoming, Tokyo and Vancouver.
Qualifications
- B.V.M. - University of Nairobi (1979)
- Ph.D. - University of Liverpool (1982)
- D.V.Sc. - University of Liverpool (1999)
Experience
- 1978: Tutorial Fellow: Department of Veterinary Anatomy University of Nairobi.
- 1979-1982: Assistant Lecturer: University of Liverpool
- 1982: Lecturer: University of Nairobi.
- 1983: Senior Lecturer: University of Nairobi.
- 1986: Associate Professor: University of Nairobi.
- 1988-1995: Chairman/Head: Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Nairobi.
- 1989: Visiting Fulbright Professor: Department of Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.
- 1989: Professor: University of Nairobi
- 1991: Professor: University of Nairobi.
- 1991: Royal Society Visiting Senior Research Scholar: Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Liverpool
- 1993: Distinguished Visiting Hooker Professor: Department of Biology, McMaster University
- 1995: Distinguished Visiting Hooker Professor: Department of Biology, McMaster University
- 1995: Visiting Professor: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming
- 1996: Visiting Professor: Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of California, Davis
- 1997: National Research Foundation rating B3
- 2002: National Research Foundation rating B1.
2002-2003: Visiting Research Scientist: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego - Professor, Head, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand.
- 2007: National Research Foundation rating A2.
- 2009-2011: Honorary Professorial Research Fellow, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
- 2009-2011: Visiting Professor, School of Anatomy, University of Sydney
- 2009-present: Research Professor: University of Johannesburg