Lucian Talu Mayabi is a Kenyan mathematician, researcher, and educator who earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics before the age of 30.
Determined to excel in the STEM discipline, Talu completed her higher education studies in Kenya, earning credentials including a degree, a master’s, and a PhD, which make her story unique and a testament to her passion and dedication.
She is now one of Kenya’s youngest PhD holders.
Early Life and Education
Lucian joined Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and completed her Bachelor of Education Degree in Mathematics and Biology between 2015 and 2019, earning a second-class upper division.
She later enrolled in a master’s program in applied mathematics at the same university, where she studied from 2020 to 2022.
Recently, Lucian Talu earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Mathematics from the same institution, MMUST, where she studied from 2023 to 2025.
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Apart from her PhD, Lucian has also obtained a certificate in data science and Artificial Intelligence from the Open University of Kenya.
Career background
Luciana Talu currently serves as a Part-Time Lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), a role she has held since August 2025, where she teaches Integral Calculus and Engineering Mathematics to second-year undergraduate students.
Between 2023 and 2025, she worked with Innovations in Development, Education, and the Mathematical Sciences (INNODEMS) as a Research Assistant and STEM Educator.
Her work at INNODEMS included conducting qualitative data analysis for the research project titled “Digital Maths Activities and Parent-Child Maths Playful Learning with the Early Family Maths (EFM) App: A Kenyan Pilot Study,” a collaborative effort between INNODEMS and Kenyatta University.
She also organized and facilitated focus group discussions and personal interviews with participants, ensuring data reliability and integrity.
Also Read: Salome Aluso: Kenyan Who Began Her PhD at 27 After Almost Dropping Out
Between Oct 2024 and Dec 2024, she worked as a STEM Program Manager at Riley Orton Foundation, where she designed and delivered inquiry-based STEM lessons.
She also facilitated after-school STEM sessions and boot camps and collaborated with partner school teachers to align the AKILI STEM Mentorship Program with classroom instruction.
Earlier in her career, Luciana worked as a Mathematics Educator with the African Maths Initiative from 2022 to 2024, where she conducted capacity building for STEM teachers, developing teaching and learning resources for the Kenyan curriculum, including software packages like the GeoGebra tool and STACK.
She has also worked with Eneza Education and Ontum Education, producing learner-centered content aligned with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum, with a focus on conceptual understanding beyond examinations.
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