Peris Musitia

Driving data-informed product decisions in digital health through mixed-methods research, user insights, and rapid experimentation.

Product

Development and Research Manager with 8+ years' experience leading product validation, field testing, and market-driven innovation across East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Skilled in translating field performance data, user insights, and stakeholder inputs into product improvements, adoption strategies, and scale-up decisions. Proven ability to work across research, technical, and commercial teams to ensure products are relevant, effective, and scalable in real-world environments.

Experienced in managing multi-country projects, engaging regulators and partners, and delivering evidence to support product quality, compliance, and market fit.

Program Manager – Product Research & Development at Aga Khan University (UZIMA-DS) (2023-01 – Present)

Lead product validation and performance testing of digital and wearable health technologies across East Africa.

• Designed and executed field-based studies assessing product usability, performance, and adoption among diverse user groups
• Generated insights that directly informed product improvements and scale strategies across multiple countries
• Coordinated with technical, data science, and implementation teams to align product functionality with user needs and operational realities
• Managed stakeholder engagement across government, research institutions, and partners to ensure alignment with standards and policies
• Supervise 6 postgraduate researchers, ensuring high-quality technical outputs and applied learning
• Led product testing and user validation studies, influencing adoption strategies across multiple countries

Research Officer – Product Evaluation & Implementation at Kenya Medical Research Institute Wellcome Trust Research Programme (2019-01 – 2022-12)

Led multi-site product performance studies across 17 hospitals in Kenya.

• Designed and implemented field evaluations to assess effectiveness, adoption, and user engagement
• Translated findings into product improvements and rollout strategies
• Managed cross-functional teams and ensured standardised implementation across sites
• Supported scaling of training product across multiple facilities through evidence-based improvements

Social Scientist – Product Testing & Field Research at Aga Khan University (Multi-country) (2017-01 – 2019-12)

Led the user experience research on the feasibility and acceptability of the Tracer tool (a locally based small ultrasound machine that can be used in low-resource settings by any healthcare provider to determine the gestational age of pregnancy).

• Collaborated with engineering and clinical teams to align product functionality with real-world health care user needs
• Contributed to scaling the Tracer tool across 300+ healthcare providers in multiple countries
• Designed and led mixed-methods research that informed feature redesign for a mobile ultrasound tool used by over 300 health workers across three countries
• Conducted continuous data collection in different phases of the development of the Tracer tool that was used to inform the design
• Led user testing for a mobile ultrasound tool (Tracer) used in antenatal care with pregnant women
• Conducted user testing with healthcare providers and pregnant women, integrating insights into product feature improvements
• Conducted focus groups and interviews with healthcare providers and pregnant women to assess usability and acceptability
• Provided technical input on product features based on iterative user feedback

UX Researcher – Product Development at Netwookie Ltd (2015-01 – 2017-12)

Led product testing and user validation for a digital platform targeting informal workers.

• Generated insights that improved product adoption and user engagement

MA in Development Studies – The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (2017-12)

Project management and Evaluation – Kenya Institute of Management (2014-12)

BSc in Disaster Management and International Diplomacy – Masinde Muliro University (2011-12)