Meet the Team

Tatiana Koutchma, PhD is an internationally recognized expert in ultraviolet (UV) and emerging nonthermal food processing technologies. With over 17 years as a Research Scientist and Team Lead at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, she has led the development, validation, and regulatory approval of UV systems for milk, juices, and other liquid foods.

Dr. Koutchma has authored 8 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has worked closely with FDA, USDA, Health Canada, CFIA, and EFSA on technology approval and implementation. She is the Founder of UV4Good and a global leader in translating novel food technologies from research to validated commercial operation.

Richard Mariita, Ph.D. is a microbiologist, bioinformatician, and technology leader working at the intersection of biosafety, ultraviolet disinfection, and humanitarian innovation. He serves as Co-Founder and Administrative Director of UV4Good, advancing UVC-powered solutions that deliver safe drinking water and decentralized disinfection to marginalized communities worldwide.

Richard holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Microbial Physiology and Bioinformatics. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship as a President’s Fellow at Brown University, where his research focused on biological chemistry, including post-translational modifications and strain improvement, and later served as a Visiting Scientist in the Chemistry Department. He subsequently transitioned to industry, leading scientific and biosafety initiatives at Crystal IS, an Asahi Kasei company specializing in UVC LEDs. There, he managed disinfection projects across water, air, and surface applications, supporting clients in the automotive, HVAC, hospital, medical device, and water treatment sectors.

An author, inventor, consultant, and serial entrepreneur, Richard has co-founded multiple ventures and has received numerous awards for his work in UVC technology and infectious disease research. He serves on the NSF/ANSI 55 committee for water disinfection standards and contributes to air disinfection standard development with IEEE, and is a member of ASHRAE and the American Society for Microbiology. He currently works at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center as a Principal EHS Specialist and Biosafety Compliance Supervisor, while also consulting within the UVC LED industry.

Britt Hafner is a communications and marketing leader working at the intersection of ultraviolet technology and humanitarian impact. He serves as Communications Director for UV4Good, advancing awareness and adoption of UVC-powered solutions that provide safe drinking water to marginalized communities and enable decentralized disinfection in resource-limited settings.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in French from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Britt previously led global marketing efforts at Crystal IS, an Asahi Kasei company specializing in UVC LED technology, where he helped position advanced ultraviolet solutions for water, air, and surface disinfection across international markets.

An innovative storyteller and strategist, Britt focuses on communicating the life-saving potential of germicidal UV technologies to industry leaders, policymakers, and humanitarian partners.

Peter E. Gordon is an executive in the global photonics industry. He works in nano additive manufacturing of optical assemblies used in AI data center communications, illumination, and sensing and driving deployment of germicidal ultraviolet light solutions used for purifying room air, sanitizing hospital surfaces, and localized disinfecting of water in distressed areas.

He is active in education and training, providing guidance to UV4good and serving as an elected member of the Weston, CT Public School District Board of Education.

Bonface Nyaribo, MSA is a finance and operations professional contributing to the strategic and administrative work of UV4Good, where he supports financial planning, compliance, and organizational sustainability. His expertise in accounting and financial systems helps ensure that humanitarian water and disinfection initiatives are backed by sound fiscal management.

Bonface holds a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University–Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyatta University in Kenya. He has served in senior accounting and finance roles in the United States, including as Senior Staff Accountant at Associa, where he managed complex financial reporting and controls, and in previous positions spanning property management and financial services.

With strong skills in budgeting, financial analysis, and regulatory compliance, Bonface brings rigorous attention to detail and a commitment to ethical stewardship of resources in both nonprofit and corporate environments. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys engaging with community development initiatives, exploring diverse cultures, and fostering collaborative partnerships that amplify impact.

Dr. Duke Oeba holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education Science with a specialization in Physics and Mathematics from Egerton University in Kenya, a Master’s degree in Electronics and Instrumentation with a specialization in Photovoltaic Solar cell Technology from Kenyatta University in Kenya, and a Ph.D. degree in Physics specializing in Synthesis and Characterization of Silicon Materials, Fabrication, and Characterization of Radiation Detectors for Radiation Sensing Applications from the University of South Africa in South Africa. Currently, Dr. Oeba is a researcher and lecturer at the Department of Physics at Egerton University, Kenya. His research interest includes applying nanotechnology to produce safe, reliable and clean drinking water for marginalized communities.

Dr. Oeba’s current project involves testing novel UV LEDs (donated by Crystal IS, an Asahi Kasei Company) for water disinfection in Kenya. The UV LED system is applied and tested against Cholera, typhoid and dysentery-causing microbes and other related waterborne disease-causing pathogens. The application of UV-LEDs for point-of-use (POU) water disinfection, especially in marginalized communities, is due to their unique properties such as their small size that allow the design of unique reactors and low power consumption.

In the last five years, Dr. Oeba has published several scholarly articles in International Peer-reviewed Journals in his areas of specialization. He has also attended and presented at several international conferences and workshops and has won several awards and research grants. Dr. Oeba is the recipient of (i) $51,430.00 (USD) Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) by UNESCO-TWAS (2023-2025), (ii) $10,000.00 (USD) for the Design, Development & Construction of an IoT-Based Queen Bee Incubator by Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (2021-2022), funded by World Bank, and (iii) a Ph.D. scholarship worth $21,000.00 (USD) by National Research Foundation of South Africa (2018-2021).

Dr. Oeba is the Vice Chair of the University Bachelor of Science Physics Programs Review Committee, IEEE P2520.1 Working Group Member, Co-Guest Editor in Special Issue in International Journals of Thin Film Science and Technology, and is the Quality and Standard Faculty Board Member (Faculty of Science) at Egerton University.