Dr. Irene Kida Minja is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. Her academic responsibilities include training of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is also a member of the Curriculum Committee, as well as Chair of the Research and Publication Committee of the School of Dentistry. At University level, She is a coordinator of the Health Profession Educators Group (HPEGs) and member of the Senate Research and Publication Committee (SRPC), as well as the Senate Continuing Education and Professional Development (DCEPD) - MUHAS.
She has been involved in a number of research projects that have aimed to improve dental skills treatment and outcomes in Tanzania. She developed an interest in sickle cell disease (SCD) due to the effects that the condition has on oral health. Currently she is supervising a fellow in research to compare pulp blood flow in primary teeth in individuals with sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait with the aim of Improving Oral Care to people with Sickle Cell Disease in Dar es Salaam. Since 2018 she has been working as the Skills Development Coordinator for the Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO) at Hub and Tanzania Site levels to coordinate consortium efforts to develop curricula organize and conduct short courses on sickle cell disease to healthcare workers and researchers with the aim of improving research skills and SCD care in Tanzania and across SSA. Dr. Irene is also a Co-Principal investigator at the Sickle Cell Programme contributing to the management and administration of different projects to ensure that program goals are achieved in line with the institutional policies and regulations of sponsored programs.