Vincent Rotich


Adress:
Permoserstr. 15
04318 Leipzig
Germany

building: 7.3
office: 2.028
phone: +49 341 6025 3547
Vincent Rotich

Research Interests

Vincent joined the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) at the start of October 2025 as a PhD student in the Department of Exposure Science, within the Chemicals in the Environment (CITE) research unit. His research focuses on chemical mixtures (cheMix), particularly the identification and assessment of pollutants originating from textile industries in both treated and untreated textile wastewaters. His work investigates their roles as toxicity drivers in aquatic environments, surface waters and water basins.

He applies both target and non-target screening approaches using advanced analytical techniques such as LC-HRMS and GC-MS/MS to study environmental fate, conduct bioassays and bioassay modeling, and assess mutagenicity and ecotoxicological impacts (including toxic units) of textile-related pollutants in the environment.

He previously completed a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry at Moi University and the African Centre of Excellence (ACE II) in Phytochemicals, Textile & Renewable Energy (PTRE). His MSc research focused on natural dyes as sustainable alternatives to environmentally hazardous synthetic dyes, employing spectrophotometry, fastness testing, and FT-IR for substrate (fabric) surface analysis, alongside HPLC-UV and UHPLC-MS/MS for detailed chemical profiling.

Curriculum Vitae

since 2025

PhD candidate - Department Exposure Science, Research Unit, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

2018 - 2021

Master of Science (MSc) in Analytical Chemistry,
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences & Aerospace studies (SSAS), Moi University and African Centre of Excellence (ACE II) –Phytochemicals, Textile & Renewable Energy (PTRE), Kenya.
‘Preparation and Characterization of Beta Vulgaris Peels and Pomace Dye Extracts as a Potential Natural Dye of Cotton Fabric’.

2003 - 2007

Bachelor of Science (BSC) in Chemistry, Second class honors, upper division (2.1),
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences & Aerospace studies (SSAS), Moi University, Kenya.

Publications

  • Vincent Rotich, Phanice Wangila, Jackson Cherutoi, "Method Validation and Characterization of Red Pigment in Beta vulgaris Peels and Pomaces by HPLC-UV and UHPLC-MS/MS", Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry, vol. 2022, Article ID 2229500, 11 pages, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2229500.
  • Vincent Rotich, Phanice Wangila, Jackson Cherutoi, "FT-IR Analysis of Beta vulgaris Peels and Pomace Dye Extracts and Surface Analysis of Optimally Dyed-Mordanted Cellulosic Fabrics", Journal of Chemistry, vol. 2022, Article ID 2233414, 12 pages, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2233414.
  • Rotich V., Wangila P. & Cherutoi J. (2022). Colorimetric study of natural dye from Beta vulgaris peels and pomace on cellulosic substrate. In Nzila et al. (Eds), Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for Industrial Growth (pp. 182–191). Taylor & Francis. https:// at www.taylorfrancis.com.

Work and Professional Experience 

2009 - 2025

Assistant Quality Assurance (Asst. QA); Manufacturing Process, Product Quality and Supervisions (Rift Valley Textiles East Africa Lt)

  • Assesses QA strategies periodically to determine best practices and improvements;
  • Monitoring compliance to environmental protection, health, occupational and safety;
  • Quality checks and identifying problems to ensure guidelines on standard production and test procedures for raw materials, auxiliary chemicals and dye-stuff laboratory formulations; as well as assessment and sampling of final products for permits from Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS);
  • Assist in management and implementation of ISO 9000, ISO 17025, TQM principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and the 3 Kaizen pillars (standardization, lean systems and proper housekeeping).

2018 - 2025

Part-time Lecturing (Moi University, Kenya)
(courses units: Atomic Structure & Bonding, Surface and Colloidal Chemistry, & Photochemistry)

  • Designs/prepares courses, modules and teaching materials for lectures and tutorials;
  • Developing new methods and strategies of teaching and research;
  • Assesses students' coursework;
  • Sets, marks and moderates continuous assessments tests (CATs) and main examinations.
  • Laboratory demonstrations and research; phytochemistry/natural products, etc.