Special greetings everyone!
In our academic world, “knowledge is power and knowledge shared is power multiplied”. We were privileged to have an opportunity to participate in National Science Week on the 1st of October 2024 with our PI giving a talk to high schoolers at the UJ Metropolitan Academy. Dr. Fidele’s talk was titled “Living in a High-tech World: Should We be Concerned,” where he highlighted the advantages of AI in modern research. As expected, he proudly advocated for its use in Metabolomics research and caught the attention of quite a few matriculants who expressed their interest in some of the research topics explored in The Tugizimana Lab. We wish all the matriculants at the UJ Metropolitan Academy the best of luck, and we hope one day we’ll add them as part of the graduates spearheading research in The Tugizimana Lab.
October was not short of a celebration for our group members. We’d like to congratulate Miss Innocentia Selepe for fulfilling all requirements for her MSc degree in Biochemistry. Her MSc dissertation was titled “Computational metabolomics to characterize the metabolic maps of three Artemisia spp.”. Key findings from her research include unique bioactive metabolites with promising therapeutic applications, such as potential anti-cancer, anti-HIV, and anti-COVID-19 properties. This research not only advances drug discovery but also underscores Artemisia’s societal impact in fighting global health challenges. Graduation loading…
The Department of Biochemistry (UJ) held a postgraduate research day on the 21st October 2024. It was an exciting and engaging event where four members of our lab showcased their innovative projects and research findings. Miss. Dzveta, Mr. Ndlovu and Mr. Mulaudzi presented their MSc studies while Miss Myoli presented some of her PhD findings. Each member presented their work in front of experts and peers, contributing to the vibrant exchange of ideas. Among the participants, Miss Akhona stood out for her exceptional research and was honored with 1st prize in the PhD presentation category. This recognition not only highlighted the depth of her work but also reflected the dedication spirit within her.
On October 23, 2024, Dr. Motseoa Lephatsi celebrated her PhD graduation—a remarkable achievement that reflects years of dedication and hard work. Her thesis was titled “Metabolomics and 4IR Technologies for Natural Products Research: Characterization of the Phytochemistry and Biochemistry of Helichrysum Species with Potential Anti-Cancer Activities”. Dr. Lephatsi developed novel predictive models that correlate metabolomes of Helichrysum plants to their anti-cancer properties. Her work has already contributed to the scientific community, with some of her key findings published. Congratulations once more Dr. Lephatsi! The sky is the limit!
As we near the end of the year, we are excited to introduce Dr. Mariam Oyedeji Amusa, a new Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg who has recently joined our group. Dr. Mariam is an early career researcher with expertise in medicinal plant research, which includes ethnobotany, antimicrobial, chemistry, molecular systematics, plant anatomy, and plant taxonomy. Dr. Mariam is also deeply invested in community-led climate resilience projects, working to integrate scientific innovation into environmental health initiatives across African communities. She is enthusiastic about taking her research on medicinal plants further by applying metabolomics techniques to understand the metabolites responsible for antimicrobial activities in plants, their pathways, and the mechanism of action against infectious diseases, which could lead to drug discovery from natural products. We are looking forward to learning from her!
And that’s a wrap!! To stay updated with our science endeavors and socials, follow us on social media. We are excited to have you join us on this dynamic digital space.
Written by: Faith Phahlane, Thuso Mudau and Akhona Myoli