Cameroonian environmental scientist, Kimberly Etombi Muambo, inducted as SAS Society Eminent Fellow.

The specialist in water treatment, pollution monitoring and contaminant detection, was bestowed the lifetime honour of SAS Eminent Fellow Membership (SEFM), recently.

SEFM, it should be noted, is a prestigious distinction granted to a select group of top researchers worldwide who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievements and made significant contributions to their fields.

Her certificate of membership from the SAS Society Executive Committee, with effect from February 15, 2025, was handed to her recently. It is signed by SAS Society President, Dr Mohammed Imam Uddin, and SAS Society Director, Dr Md. Habibur Rahman.

The Executive Committee said Etombi Muambo was welcomed into the prestigious body in recognition of her “outstanding contribution in education and research”. 

The body stated that Etombi Muambo will be “entitled to all benefits and privileges” that go with the recognition. 

Muambo’s SEFM Membership & achievements 

In a letter to formally confirm Etombi Muambo’s SAS Eminent Fellow Membership, the President of SAS Society, Dr Mohammed Imam Uddin, said she was nominated for SEFM membership due to “her groundbreaking research in environmental science, particularly her innovative analytical methods for water treatment, contamination monitoring, and pollutant detection”. 

Dr Mohammed Imam said Muambo’s “scientific contributions have been widely cited and have influenced regulatory frameworks in environmental policy”.

He said following a thorough peer evaluation, the “committee determined that her work meets the highest standards of scientific excellence, qualifying her for this prestigious recognition”.

“Given the rigorous selection process and the highly exclusive nature of SEFM membership, Mrs. Muambo’s inclusion among our Eminent Fellows is a testament to her extraordinary ability and sustained national and international acclaim in the scientific community,” Dr Mohammed Imam stated. 

Zoom on rigorous selection criteria 

The President of SAS Society said Etombi Muambo was confirmed for the honour after undergoing the highly competitive and multi-step review by an expert panel of internationally recognised scientists. 

He detailed that Etombi Muambo met all the stringent criteria including proven research excellence through a strong track record of high-impact research publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, significant contributions to the field by demonstrating original scientific contributions with a measurable impact on their discipline. 

He added that Etombi Muambo works were also recognised by peers through the acknowledgment by leading experts in her field and widespread citations in scientific literature.

Dr Mohammed Imam also mentioned judgment of her works by a panel of experts through the review of applications by a distinguished selection committee composed of internationally recognised scholars and fellows of the SAS Society.

He said fewer than 5% of applicants are granted SEFM membership annually, ensuring that only leading experts with extraordinary abilities are admitted. 

Etombi Muambo expresses gratitude to SAS Society

Speaking to The Guardian Post after the distinction, Etombi Muambo who is also member of the International Water Association (IWA), expressed gratitude to the SAS Society for the honour on her person.

She said the recognition is testament to hard work she has put in over the years in advancing research on PFAS in water and seafood, which has contributed to environmental policies and regulatory frameworks in South Korea and beyond. 

Etombi Muambo said the SAS Society recognition will serve as a boost for her to continue doing more in education and research on global sustainability efforts, sewage epidemiology and machine learning for water quality management.

The researcher who has published in high-impact scientific journals believes in inspiring inspire young Cameroonian scientists through her work in order to highlight the importance of environmental research for sustainable development.

Snippet of Kimberly Etombi Muambo’s rich profile 

Etombi Muambo who is highly driven and very passionate about the impact of human activities on the environment, is currently undertaking a PhD on Environmental Science at the Pusan National University, where she is carrying out research on four different topics. 

She also holds a Master of Science (MSc.) in Environmental Science and Engineering (Cum Laude) obtained from the Pohang University of Science and Technology in 2019.

In 2017, she obtained a Diploma in Korean Language (Reading, Writing, Speaking) from the Pai Chai University. 

Before leaving the country for further studies, Etombi Muambo completed course work for Master of Science in Chemistry in 2016 from the University of Buea, Cameroon. 

This was after she obtained a First Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry in the University of Buea in 2014. 

Interest in areas of research 

In research, Etombi Muambo investigates the occurrence of a wide variety of emerging organic micropollutants in environmental matrices (specifically, water and sediment). 

She also carries out toxicology exposure experiments; in-vivo and in-vitro, forensic analysis, and estimate the health risks of these contaminants to both humans and the environment (risk assessment). 

With over six years of lab research experience, she has extensive experience in project and time management, quality control and quality assurance, team collaborations, leadership skills, multitasking and problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities. 

Etombi Muambo has performed various target and suspect analysis of organic pollutants using advanced analytical instruments such as UHPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, GC-QTOF/MS, and LC-ORBITRAP/MS. 

She has developed and validated several methods for sample pretreatment and trace analysis of contaminants of emerging concern; including but not limited to pharmaceutical compounds, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pesticides, phenols, among others.  

Etombi Muambo’s goal is to advance current knowledge in understanding the fate, behaviour, molecular mechanisms and ecological implications of environmental stressors.

She has been involved in over 13 diverse range of research projects spanning various aspects of environmental science and public health and published six articles on international journals with one under review. 

Etombi Muambo was part of the 2015 Adolphe Monkiedje Fellowship, Korean Government Scholarship (2016 – 2019), Smart Marine City Infrastructure Education Research Group in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024. 

She is a versatile and skilled in research and development, data analysis and software, analytical techniques, Gene expression, environmental science, project management and time management, strong interpersonal communication and team player abilities versed with technical writing and oral presentation abilities. 

The multi-tasking problem solver and troubleshooter is student member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), American Water Works Association (AWWA), International Water Association (IWA) and American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES). 

About SAS Society 

The Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SAS Society) is a non-profit professional organization established in 2011. Its mission is to promote and support scholars in the development of research across all fields of academia and scientific disciplines. 

SAS Society stands as one of the leading publishers of high-quality scientific journals, providing an excellent platform for academics, researchers, professionals and students to enhance their research and technical knowledge.