George Lohay, Ph.D.

Research Scientist – RISE

George Lohay is a Tanzania Biologist with over 10 years of work experience in the field of wildlife conservation in Tanzania. George joined the Grumeti Fund in 2023. Before joining RISE, George was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Biology Department at Penn State University. He was working on the population genetics of the Masai Giraffe in Tanzania, a collaborative project between Penn State and Wild Nature Institute.

George earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Penn State University in 2019. His research focused on the genetic connectivity of African Savannah Elephants in Tanzania. George also worked as a research assistant for the Serengeti Lion project between 2009 and 2011 which was under Prof. Craig Packer from the University of Minnesota. George holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam and a B. A. in Philosophy from Uganda Martyrs University.

George is passionate about restoration of wildlife corridors in Tanzania which have been critically affected by human activities because of habitat loss and fragmentation.
With his role at Grumeti Fund, George will apply his research, leadership, and mentorship skills to support RISE programs and graduate students by providing supervisory and logistical support to existing graduate student fellows, to produce high-quality scientific output and help expand programs that support the advancement of researchers and women within the conservation sector.