Dr. John Gitua

Professor of Chemistry
Office Location: 212 Cline Hall
515-271-3760
john.gitua@drake.edu

John Gitua grew up in Kenya and earned his undergraduate and master degrees at the Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya. He then received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the State University of New York at Binghamton in the laboratory of Professor John J. Eisch before joining the Drake faculty in 2005.

He routinely teaches organic chemistry and has also contributed to the GCPH concentration (Global and Comparative Public Health) by teaching Food and Health class in addition to the First Year Seminar (FYS) Program.

He has also served as the Director of Drake Undergraduate Science Collaborative Institute (DUSCI) for a period of five and a half years (2013 - 2018). The institute brings together Science and Math students, faculty and other scientists from across disciplines for inquiry, collaboration, connection and discovery.

His research focuses on a variety of studies on the synthesis and reaction mechanisms in both organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry. He is also interested in the study of malaria and anti-malarial drug’s efficacy towards treatment of malaria disease.