Dr. Isaac Motochi

Mobile: +254 721281396, Email: motochi@mmarau.ac.ke

 
Skype: Isaac.motochi

Journals & Publications

  • Isaac obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Physics from the prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg has won scholarships from The Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (CoE-SM) and the African Laser Centre (ALC). A pan Africanist per excellence, he was instrumental in forming the East African Students and Scholars Association (EASSA-Wits), an association that assimilates and helps students and scholars from East African countries (South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) to settle comfortably in the “home away from home” environment of Jozi, He was the first organizing secretary, a post he held for two terms running.

    An efficient and committed educator with 8 years of experience in classroom teaching at high school and 6 years as a tutorial fellow and lab demonstrator at Moi University in Kenya and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He worked for 13 months as an adjunct lecturer at Moi University, Kibabii University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, handling both graduate and undergraduate classes. Since joining Maasai Mara in February 2016, Dr. Motochi has shepherded the physics class from state of hopelessness to courageous group. He worked on the physics curriculum review and was able to deliver on three programmes, Bachelor of Science in Physics (BSc, Physics), Master of Science in Physics (MSc, Physics) and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (Ph.D., Physics). The bachelor’s programme is in its second year of implementation, the master’s programme has received its first group of students in the 2017/18 academic year while Ph.D. will have its first candidates report in 2018/19 academic year. Outside the lecture room and labs, Isaac was the secretary to the Maasai Mara University International annual conference of 2017 planning committee.

  • A widely traveled scholar, Isaac has through experience a proven capability in handling students from various social, cultural and racial backgrounds. Able to handle complex roles or as part of the team and having the proven ability to successfully work under tight schedules and deadlines. His area of academic interest is; Materials science/ Physics, Energy materials, Laser and optical spectroscopy and Computational physics. Current running collaborations are with researchers working in Kenya, Italy, South Africa, Japan, and the UK.

        Publications

  • Motochi, N. W. Makau, G. O. Amolo, Metal–semiconductor ohmic contacts: An ab initio Density Functional Theory study of the structural and electronic properties of metal–diamond (111)-(1×1) interfaces, Diam. Relat. Mater. 23 (2012) 10-17.
  • Motochi, N. W. Makau, G. O. Amolo, B. A. Mathe, S.R. Naidoo, Ab initio structural and electronic study of metals on diamond (111)-(1×1) surface, Proceedings of SAIP 2011, pg. 207-213
  • Aradi, S. R. Naidoo, D. G. Billing, D. Wamwangi, I. Motochi, T. E. Derry, Ion beam modification of the structure and properties of hexagonal boron nitride: An infrared and X-ray diffraction study, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B, 331 (2014) 140-143
  • Motochi, S.R. Naidoo, B.A. Mathe, R. Erasmus, E. Aradi and T.E. Derry, E.J. Olivier, Surface Brillouin scattering on annealed ion-implanted CVD diamond, Diam. Relat. Mater. 56 (2015), 6-12.
  • Motochi, B.A. Mathe, S.R. Naidoo and T. E. Derry, Surface Brillouin scattering in ion-implanted chemical vapour deposited diamond, Mater. Today: S3 (2016), S145-S152.
  • Motochi, B.A. Mathe, S.R. Naidoo, D. Wamwangi, T.E. Derry, Surface Brillouin scattering observation of higher order resonances in annealed, ion-implanted CVD diamond, Diam. Relat. Mater. 76 (2017), 171-176
  • Ichibha,, K. Hongo, I. Motochi, N.W. Makau, G.O. Amolo, Ryo Maezo, Adhesion of electrodes on diamond (111) surface: A DFT study, Diam. Relat. Mater. 81 (2018), 168-175
        Other papers awaiting publications
  • Sewe T & Kisia B 2017, Communicating the impact of knowledge management as a necessary input in the performance of higher learning.
  • Sewe T & Kisia B 2017, Intrinsic motivation: A tool for organizational development in the public sector in developing countries.
  • Sewe T & Kisia B 2017, Co-operate identity as a communicative tool for competitive advantage.
  • Sewe T & Adagala N 2016, Education as an indispensable asset for peacebuilding freedom for development and social justice: reflecting on the Kenyan experience.
  • Sewe T (2013), Analyzing Religious Liberty through the Prism of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kenya.
  • Kisia, B, Tabitha Sewe (2008), Sustainable alternative source of nutrition for city dwellers in North Rift. (Moi University 4th International Conference, July 2008)
  • Sewe T, Kisia B. Machio R. & Sewe, C. (2008), Communicating Health Information: A Critical Concern for the developing world. (Moi University 4th international Conference, July 2008.
  • Sewe T, Machio, C, Kisia B. (2008), The role of Interdependence and Collaboration in Leadership. An alternative approach to leadership in the developing world. (Moi University 4th International conference, July 2008) Moi University Desktop Publishing.
  • Sewe T, (2014) The Role of Education to Society Interrogating the Gains: The Kenyan Experience.
  • Sewe T, Choge Chepkemboi R. (2014) Policy implications in the conservation of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and the Mau Forest Complex in Kenya. Challenges and Opportunities.
  • Sewe T, Isalambo K. (2014) Exploring online Eco-Linguistics Communication Strategies in the conservation of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve and Mau Forest Complex.
  • Sewe T, Maloba B. (2014) Communicating Climate Change and disaster management challenges for social protection; The case of Narok County – Kenya.

Workshops, Seminars & Conferences

Schools/ Workshops/ Seminars attended

  • Local university workshops/ Symposi16th April 2014: Presented a poster “Surface Brillouin scattering in annealed ion-implanted diamond” at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
  • August 2013: Presented a poster at the 5th Cross-faculty graduate symposium: showcasing graduate research at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
  • 28th May 2013: Presented a poster “Effect of ion-implantation on the stiffness of diamond studied by surface Brillouin scattering” at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
  • October 2012: Presented a poster at the 4th Cross-faculty graduate symposium: showcasing graduate research at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
  • 30th May 2012: Presented a poster “Characterization of metal-ion irradiated diamond interfaces” at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
  • 2-4 March and 22-23 June 2011: Attended and completed the Physics I laboratory Training Workshops for tutors and lab demonstrators (Student helpers) of the School of Physics at the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • 4-8 August 2009: Presented a paper “Ohmic Contacts on Hydrogenated and oxygenated diamond (111) Surfaces using Density Functional Theory” at the Moi University 5th Annual International Conference, Margaret Thatcher Library, Moi University, Kenya.

South African Institute of Physics (SAIP)

  • 29th June – 3rd July 2015: Presented a talk “SBS observation of higher-order resonances in annealed, carbon implanted CVD”, at the 60th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, South Africa.
  • 7-11 July 2014: Presented a talk “Ion dose effect on sound velocity in ion-implanted CVD diamond studied using surface Brillouin scattering”, at the 59thAnnual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • 8-12 July 2013: Presented a talk “Back surface influence on Brillouin scattering in ion-implanted chemical vapour deposited diamond”, at the 58th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics, University of Zululand, Richard’s Bay, South Africa.
  • 9-13 July 2012: Presented a talk, “Brillouin scattering study of ion-implanted chemical vapour deposited diamond”, at the 57th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
  • 12-15 July 2011: Presented a poster “Ab initio structural and electronic study of metals on diamond (111)-(1×1) surface” at the 56th Annual Conference of the South African Institute of Physics, hosted by University of South Africa (UNISA) at St. Georges Hotel, Pretoria, South Africa.

International conferences/ workshops/ schools

  • 6-7 July 2017, KENET SIG CMMS Workshop 2017, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Operationalization of computational physics in Kenyan universities, MMUST Kenya.
  • 27-28 June 2017: Maasai Mara University Annual International Conference 2017, Anomalous behaviour of surface Brillouin scattering in thin strained CVD diamond, Maasai Mara University Kenya.
  • 18-20 Nov 2014: Workshop on femto second lasers and applications in physics and chemistry, Laser research Institute, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
  • 3-5 Nov 2014: Presented a poster “SBS and Raman studies on annealed ion-modified CVD diamond”. 7th ALC Annual Students Workshop, MASCiR, Rabat-Morocco.
  • 7-11 Sept 2014: Presented a poster “Surface Brillouin scattering studies on annealed ion-implanted CVD diamond,” International Conference on Diamond and Carbon Materials, Melia Castilla, Madrid, Spain
  • 12 March 2014: Attended and completed the Basic Laser Safety Course at Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa.
  • 2-6 Sept 2013: International workshop on adaptive optics for industry and medicine at Stellenbosch, South Africa.
  • 28 May-8 June 2012: Attended the 2nd summer school “African School on Electronic Structure Methods and Applications (ASESMA 2012)” at Chepkoilel University College, Eldoret, Kenya.
  • 14 Sept 2011: Attended a seminar on Laboratory Safety and Chemical Grades at Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • 19-30 July 2010: Attended summer school “African School on Electronic Structure Methods and Applications (ASESMA 2010)” at AIMS, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • 3-7 May 2010: Presented a paper “Metal-Semiconductor Ohmic Contacts: An ab Initio Structural and Electronic Study of Metal-Diamond (111)-(1×1) Interfaces” at the 3rd National Conference on Dissemination of Research Results and Exhibition of Innovations of National Council of Science and Technology, KICC, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • 15-26 Sept 2008: Attended summer school “East African School in Computational and Materials Science”, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

 

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