Mwelwa is a Research fellow at the Center for Infectious disease research in Zambia, working in the analysis Unit. She holds a specialist degree in Genetics and a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and biostatistics. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development and the Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, under the supervision of Prof. Constance Schultsz, Dr. Vanessa Harris, and Dr. Daniel Mende. Her research is focused on the impact of the gut microbiome, clinical and sub-clinical infections with Shigella, and environmental enteropathy on childhood stunting in under 5 children in Lusaka, Zambia.