Dr Gladys Ngetich: Award-Winning Kenyan Engineer Who Earned a PhD at 28 Without a Master’s

Dr Gladys Ngetich Chepkirui, an award-winning Kenyan aerospace engineer, came to the limelight after earning a PhD from the University of Oxford at just 28 years old—without ever pursuing a master’s degree.

While studying engineering at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Ngetich said she had never met a woman with a PhD in engineering or even someone in their twenties who had one.

Having no family or friends who had pursued doctoral studies, she always assumed that PhDs were reserved for older, brilliant men.

How Ngetich Earned a PHD without a Master’s Degree

But a simple suggestion from a classmate shifted her perspective. “Why don’t you apply directly for a PhD?” the classmate asked. Curious and with little to lose, she decided to explore the possibility.

Dr Gladys emailed a professor of turbomachinery at the University of Oxford to inquire if skipping a master’s and proceeding directly to PhD studies was even possible.

The professor requested a brief Skype interview and asked her to send her CV and transcripts.

Having never used Skype before, Gladys accidentally emailed both her Skype ID—and her password. The professor gently corrected her, laughing off the mistake and proceeding with the interview.

During the call, the professor was impressed by her academic excellence and depth of understanding.

He told her: “Given your excellent grades and your deep understanding of foundational concepts, you’re ready for a PhD. Come look for me when you report at Oxford in Autumn.”

Dr. Ngetich said that, just like that, she landed her PhD advisor, short-circuited her academic journey by pursuing a PhD without a master’s degree, and earned her doctorate from the University of Oxford at just 28 years old.

Growing up in the tiny village of Amalo, Kuresoi South Constituency, Nakuru County, Chepkirui scored 298 marks in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

However, she was not able to secure direct admission as per the government standards, and her mother had to move from school to school seeking her admission.

She later attended Mercy Girls’ Secondary School in Kericho and excelled academically.

“If I hadn’t pursued excellence, none of this would have happened,” she reflects. “When you don’t have anyone in high places to speak your name or open doors for you, your best bet is to take a chance on excellence, God, and a bit of luck.”

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Academic Path and Achievements

Dr Ngetich joined the University of Oxford in 2015 and completed her PhD in 2019.

She earned a DPhil in Engineering Science (Aerospace), funded by the Rhodes Scholarship, from the University of Oxford, where she researched advanced techniques for cooling jet engines.

While at Oxford, she was actively involved in Oxford University Athletics and played for Chch/Oriel Women Soccer.

She holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University in Kenya (2010–2014).

In 2013, she was awarded the Babaroa Excellence Award for being the best student in her class.

In 2015, she secured a Rhodes Trust Scholarship for her PhD in engineering at Oxford, where she is reported to have combined her academic performance and leadership skills.

Additionally, in 2016, she was awarded the Tanenbaum Fellowship, which is an annual competitive fellowship awarded to Rhodes Scholars for a multifaceted program in Israel.

This also led to her being named the 2018 Skoll World Forum Fellow.

She is also the recipient of the Schmidt Fellow Award, which is given to the world’s best aspiring scientists who have a broad perspective, the ability to engage in an interdisciplinary way, and the potential to make a lasting impression on society.

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Ngetich’s Professional Career

Dr Gladys Ngetich has built a dynamic and impactful career that spans engineering, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and global consultancy.

As of January 2025, she works as a Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Boston, USA.

She is also the founder and host of the GN Inspire Podcast, launched in March 2024, where she shares inspiring stories and practical resources with young professionals.

Since early 2024, she has served as a judge for the StartUpAfrica Innovation Olympiad and continues to run the Gladys Ngetich Foundation, which she founded in 2022 to mentor and empower students, especially young women.

Between 2022 and 2024, she co-founded and led SQDGO, a Nairobi-based mobility startup. SQDGO is a ride-hailing company focused on safety, affordability, and community impact.

Dr Ngetich was also a fellow at On Deck from 2021 to 2023 and a Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT from 2020 to 2022.

Her research formed a major part of a multi-year project on wax-based hybrid propellants to explore their potential as fuel for small satellites.

She also worked as an Engineering Tutor at the University of Oxford between 2016 and 2018. Ngetich tutored engineering undergraduates at Oriel College at the University of Oxford.

Her journey began in 2014 as a mechanical engineering intern at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa, Kenya.

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