1. KENDI MUCHUNGI |PhD MSc PgDip BSc|
Computer Science and Information Technology Department
Africa Nazarene University
P.O. Box 53067-00200
Cell: +254 (0) 714-076767
kmuchungi@anu.ac.ke
https://ke.linkedin.com/in/kendi-muchungi-phd-874b6145
EDUCATION
PHD in Computer Science, University of Surrey, UK, 2010 - 2015
Thesis Title: Rod-Cone Convergence In The Retina
Funding: University of Surrey,
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The Computing Department
Supervisors: Dr. Matthew Casey
Dr. André Grüning
Research Synopsis:
We developed a new retinal model that allows for improved clarity of vision.
Because the retina outperforms existing visual man-made acquisition devices, it therefore follows that the
best way to inform the design of retinal prosthetics is by computational simulations of human biological
visual systems. Retina simulators exist; however, they do not encompass recent information pertaining
to the interaction of retinal neurons. These interdependencies contribute to higher performance by the
retina.
To this end, we introduced a new retina model, which is biologically plausible, computationally simple,
and one that captures these interdependencies.
A more detailed synopsis is appended to this CV.
This research required my ability to straddle between multiple disciplines; neuroscience, computing, and
physics, so as to develop a comprehensive model that would expose the underlying implications of this
interdependency.
In the course of my research I received two awards
- Best Paper Presentation
- Best Poster Presentation
I was also a PhD representative (PhD Rep) and helped organize and facilitate numerous conferences and
academic events. While in the capacity, I represented the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

2. (FEPS) during the 2011 re-launching of the Post Graduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), rolled
out by the UK government, which saw one of the highest participatory numbers by the FEPS faculty.
Research Interests:
The main focus of my current research is to exploit the findings from my initial work, that the
interdependencies between existing retinal neurons allows for improved clarity of vision (visual acuity),
and then develop an improved sub-retinal prosthesis.
2009 – 2010, MSc Information Systems (Distinction), University of Surrey, UK
Dissertation Title: Query Optimization
Funding: Africa Nazarene University
Supervisor: Dr. Matthew Casey
2007 – 2009, Post-graduate Diploma (Honours), Humber College, Canada
Program Title: Advanced Web Development for E-Business
1996 – 2001, BSc Computer Science (Honours), Africa Nazarene University, Kenya
EMPLOYMENT
2016 – Present The Department of Computer Science and Information Technology
Africa Nazarene University, Kenya
Responsibilities:
1. Lecturing Undergraduate and Masters students.
2. Research in the aforementioned field.
3. Writing grants and fellowships for funding research.
2010 – 2015 Student Researcher
The Department of Computing
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
University of Surrey
United Kingdom
Responsibilities:
1. Carrying out research in the field of Computational Neuroscience.
2. Participated in marketing the department, by facilitating the Applicants Day and supervising the
volunteering Undergraduate students.
3. Demonstrated for Undergraduate and MSc labs.
4. A PhD Rep for two years, in which capacity I played an important role in the PRES rollout.
5. Actively involved in introducing science to high school students, as part of the TeenTech
program.
2008 – 2009 Test Analyst
Internet Channel Delivery, Quality Assurance, eChannels Department.
Commercial Imperial Bank of Canada (CIBC)
Canada

3. Responsibilities:
Perform web based and traditional “back end” testing activities for applications that were being rolled
out as part of CIBC Online Banking (OLB) and other Internet Channel Deliver (ICD) web sites. The
role included process improvement, stewardship of ICD documents, and administrative activities for
ICD QA.
1. Identify, log and retest variances encountered during the testing process.
2. Keep deliverables within the scope of defined work packages.
3. Provide regular testing status updates to QA lead and / or project manager.
In my down time I also developed two pieces of software to help better facilitate testing for quality
assurance, one of which is still being used to date.
2001 – 2007 Administrative Assistant
Africa Nazarene University
Kenya
Responsibilities:
1. Developed Registration Software in Access
2. In Charge – Student Registration
3. Generating reports for
Upper Management; Finance Department; Lecturers; Students (Personalized Timetables)
4. Maintaining and updating the Student Database
5. Developing marketing strategies for the University
6. Designing advertisements for print
7. Liaison between graduating students and University Alumni
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
Programming: Html, PHP, ASP, SQL, MySQL, Visual Basic, Java, Matlab, CSS and
Ruby on Rails
Operating Systems: Windows, OS X, Linux and Unix
Teaching: Lab demonstrator (Undergraduate and Masters students)
Exam marking and invigilation (Undergraduate and Masters students)
Developed marking scheme and criteria for Masters Database class (UK)
Other Skills:
1. Time Management
2. Writing and Presenting Reports, Papers and Journals
3. Data Collection and Analysis
4. Grant Writing
5. Being a part of, and leading a team
6. Critical thinking
7. Finding and employing solutions that can be unconventional (outside the box)
8. A good communicator

4. VOLUNTEERING
1. Street Angels, the Guildford chapter (Surrey, England) received The Queen’s Award (2015)
2. TeenTech (Surrey, England) – Introducing high school students to programming
3. The Matrix Trust – Ready 4 Action (Surrey, England)
4. Deeds – Christian Centre Church (Toronto, Canada)
5. Junior Achievement of Central Ontario – The Dream Big Project (Etobicoke, Canada)
6. Standard Chartered Run (Nairobi, Kenya); CIBC: Run for the Cure (Toronto, Canada); Race for
Life (Surrey, England); Comic Relief (Surrey, England)
7. World Vision (Kenya); Visible Grace (Kenya)
8. ANU Mentorship Program (Kenya)
9. Science at Play Project - Einstein’s Garden (Wales, UK)
(Cirque de Perception at the Green Man Festival -
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/08/science-with-the-walking-wounded-at-
green-man.html)
INTERESTS
1. Mentoring
2. Community Development
3. Affecting positive change in the world (my version of Miss World’s – ‘World Peace’) J
4. Swimming
5. Basketball
6. Argentinian Tango and Salsa dancing
REFERENCES
Dr. Matthew Casey |BSc PhD CEng MBCS CITP FHEA|
Managing Director
Pervasive Intelligence
info@pervasive-intelligence.co.uk
+44 (0) 1252 214 365
Professor Leah T. Marangu |PhD MBS DLit|
Vice Chancellor
Africa Nazarene University
P.O. Box 53067-00200
lmarangu@gmail.com
+254 (0) 733 628920 || +254 (0) 725 217949
Mrs. Beth Wokabi |PgCert PhM BEd|
Board Member
Education For All Children
www.educationforallchildren.org
lizwokabi@gmail.com
+254 (0) 724 888 672

5. APPENDIX
SYNOPSIS OF PhD
Vision enables visual perception of one’s environs, as well as self-navigation within space. Objects within
our environs are visible by virtue of the fact that they reflect light. To see or have visual perception, this
light needs to be converted into an electrical signal. This process is referred to as visual transduction and
takes place in the retina. Recently, it has become apparent that the convergence of rod and cone systems
in transduction is crucial to enable retina functionality. Specifically, for local adaptation and contrast
gain control in response to changes in illumination. However, because research until recently showed
that rod and cone pathways have operated autonomously of each other, existing retinal models and
designs of retinal prosthesis have been of either one of these pathways and have not incorporated their
convergence.
In this thesis we introduce a new retina model, which is biologically plausible, computationally simple
and effective, and one that captures the convergence of rod and cone pathways both in the Outer and
Inner Plexiform Layers (O/I PL) of the retina. In the OPL, we introduce rod cone convergence via
electrical gap junctions to simulate rod-cone coupling. We demonstrate that introducing convergence in
the OPL improves the perception of input stimuli and extends the range of adaptation to light levels. In
the IPL, we introduce the convergence by developing a simulated rod On Bipolar Cell (ONBC) and
introducing it via a rod pathway into the cone system via an Amacrine model. At this layer, we were able
to show improved visual acuity as well as an increase in the dynamic range by improving contrast
enhancement at very high luminance levels. Our results are compared with biology to determine
whether rod and cone convergence gives rise to a better model of biology as measured through the
threshold versus intensity (tvi) function. We also assess the signal-to-noise ratio results of the model when
compared with an image processing technique to determine if the model has computational benefits.
The results obtained from our retinal model show that if incorporated in the design of retinal prosthesis
and visual systems used in robotics, there should be marked improvement during visual processing.

6. PUBLICATIONS/CONFERENCE PAPERS
1. 8th
Annual Computing Department PhD Conference, University of Surrey
2. 9th
Annual Computing Department PhD Conference, University of Surrey
3. 2012 PGR University of Surrey Conference.
4. ICANN 2012 conference in Lausanne, Switzerland
(http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-33269-2_43),
5. 2014 Bernstein Conference in Göttingen, Germany
(doi: 10.12751/nncn.bc2014.0048)
AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS/GRANTS
1. FEPS, University of Surrey Research Funding, 2010 – 2015.
2. Travel Grant given by the Computing Department, University of Surrey, 2014, to Göttingen,
Germany.
3. Best Paper Presentation, awarded by the Computing Department, University of Surrey and IBM,
2012.
4. Best Poster Presentation, awarded by the Computing Department, University of Surrey, 2011.