Local Organizing Committee

Addmore Shonhai is Professor of Biochemistry in the department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Venda. He previously served as head of Biochemistry at the University of Venda for 10 years. His area of research involves understanding the role of heat shock proteins in the development various pathogens including those that cause malaria and tuberculosis. He is a recipient of a prestigious Georg Foster Fellowship awarded to him by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany. He is current chair of the Local Organizing Committee of the 2024 South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SABMB) Congress.

Edwin Madala is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Venda. Edwin holds a PhD in Biochemistry with a specialization in plant metabolomics from the University of Johannesburg. At the University of Venda, his research is centered around the application of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in deciphering the chemical changes associated with excessive sunlight episodes related to climate changes. His work has showcased some of the dynamic changes occurring at the metabolite levels as a mechanism used by plants to defend themselves against excessive sunlight exposure. His pioneering work was the first to unequivocally distinguish between light-induced geometrical isomers of cinnamic acid-containing molecules in African green leafy vegetables used by various communities as a source of food.

Edwin also applies multivariate statistical modeling and computational metabolomics tools to elucidate the complexity of metabolites synonymous with several plants, by uncovering potential health implications thereof. His work has been published in over 100 peer reviewed journals. Edwin is currently an Iso Lomso fellow with the Stellenbosch Institute for Advance Study (STIAS).

Dr Shonisani C. Tshidino is a Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry, at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. Dr Tshidino holds BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology, and BSc Honours in Microbiology from UNIVEN; MSc and PhD in Biochemistry from Nelson Mandela University, and PGDHET from University of Fort Hare. Her research areas are enzymology, Metabolism/Metabolomics and Medicinal plants. She has supervised postgraduate students and attended national and international conferences and workshops. She has worked at various national Universities. She is a recipient of 2019 VC’s Teaching and Learning Excellence Award “Best Overall Upcoming Teacher in the University”.

Dr Mduduzi Paul Mokoena is a Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Limpopo. He holds a Doctor of Biotechnology and conducts research on bacterial and fungal degradation of environmental chlorophenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. He also investigates natural toxins of agricultural importance. His research interests include investigation of the way in which the local communities use traditional fermentation as a way of enhancing the nutritional value of food, highlighting the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics associated with fermented foods. He works in collaboration with researchers from DUT and UKZN.

Prof AN Traore is a C3 established academic and researcher, engaged in national and international research collaborations. She has experience in Cell culture, Infectious diseases, clinical trials and water & sanitation.

Traore completed her PhD at the University of Johannesburg focusing on the infectivity of HIV during Co-infection with TB. She has published in international accredited journals.
She teaches immunology to both 2nd year students and BSc Hons students.

Traore is currently employed at the University of Venda as a Full professor and has secured research funds from the South African Medical Research Council focusing on drug resistant tuberculosis and genetic predisposition.

Prof Jabulani Makhubele is currently the Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Republic of South Africa. He was the Professor and HOD at the University of Limpopo in the Department of Social Work where he spent 14 years. Before that, he had a short stint at North West University. He also worked in government where he was a provincial manager in the Free State Provincial Government, Department of Social Development responsible for Substance abuse Services and Youth Development Programmes. He has also had a short stint as a Social Worker in the Department of Correctional Services. In academia, he successfully supervised more than 37 MSW and 17 PhD students. He has published more than 80 articles in accredited and refereed journals, edited a book, and written more than 5 book chapters. His research interests include Public Health Social Work issues (substance abuse), IKS, climate change, and migration studies. He has led several domestic and international collaborations and projects with Namibia, Finland, and Sweden. He has conducted successfully commissioned studies, for instance, led a team on a project titled: ´Substance Use, Misuse, and Abuse amongst the Youth in Limpopo Province´ funded by “Limpopo DSD – Research and Population Unit. He also led a team that developed the ´Sexual Offender Treatment Programme´ which the Department of Correctional Services implemented countrywide. He is the external examiner for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies locally and internationally, namely, Wits, University of Johannesburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal, North West University, University of Cape Town, University of Namibia, University of Zimbabwe, just to mention a few. He is C3 NRF Rated Researcher and was awarded Overall Best Researcher at the University of Limpopo in 2021.

Pascal Bessong trained as a molecular virologist in South Africa, France, and the United States. He is an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, and a B-2 rated scientist of the National Research Foundation of South Africa. He is currently Professor of Microbiology and Global Health at the University of Venda; and the Founding Director of the South African Medical Research Council – University of Venda Antimicrobial resistance and Global Health Research Unit. Professor Bessong is enthusiastic in the development of human capital and research infrastructure for biomedical research. His scientific contributions and opinions have appeared in influential outlets such as Nature, Science, Lancet HIV, Lancet Global Health, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), and Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Professor Besong is an Associate Editor of the South African Journal of Science, and a student of bioethics and health law.

Dr. Amidou Samie is an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Venda, in South Africa, where he graduated for his PhD in May 2008. He joined the Department of Microbiology the same year and has been giving lectures on topics covering Parasitology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, and Industrial Microbiology. He is currently a rated researcher by the National Research Foundation of South Africa in the category C1 and has published widely in the field of infectious diseases and graduated with several MSc s PhDs. His research activities cover mostly topics in infectious diseases from epidemiology to control. His particular interest lies in the study of intestinal protozoan parasites and opportunistic infections among HIV patients as well as the potential impact of childhood diarrhoea on growth and child development. He also conducts research on water borne diseases and water quality and is involved in the evaluation of point of use water treatment technologies using nanoparticles from silver and copper in collaboration with the University of Virginia in the USA. He also studies the use of medicinal plants for the control of infectious diseases as well as antimicrobial drug resistance. Dr. Samie is also interested in understanding the occurrence of steroid hormones in the environment and their potential impact on microbial diversity.

Dr Lufuno Mavhandu-Ramarumo is a Research Scientist and Manager of the HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme, at the University of Venda. In the path of becoming a recognized independent biomedical investigator her research interest is on molecular genetics with a focus on the molecular basis of HIV drug resistance and its implications on the efficacy and sustainability of first line antiretroviral therapy. Dr Mavhandu-Ramarumo had research fellowships at the Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, USA (2007-2009); and at J. Craig Venter Institute, Maryland USA (2011); bursaries and mobility grants from the National Research Foundation and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative; and awards from DST/TATA South African Women in Science Award (2010), in the Young Scientist category; and BRICS Young Scientist (2021).

She is the PI and Co-Investigator of four active research grants; participated in over 6 completed research and training grants. She has published peer-reviewed articles and commentary in reputable journals; mentored and supervised over 25 BSc Honours, MSC and PhD students at the University of Venda and visiting scholars. Dr Mavhandu-Ramarumo is a registered member of the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM); an active member of the Animal and Clinical Trials Research Ethics Committee at the University of Venda; and an Adhoc reviewer of the AIDS Research and Therapy and Plos One journals. Her role in the SAMRC-UNIVEN Antimicrobial Resistance & Global Health SAMRC Extramural Unit is to coordinate the study sites and lead the virology component. She is currently participating in the South African Future Professors Programme Phase 2 (2024-2025).

Dr Chokoe is a senior lecturer in the Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology department at the University of Limpopo (UL), focusing on protein biochemistry. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from UL. Dr Chokoe’s career started at UL as a Laboratory Assistant in 2010. She then joined the Toxicology division at the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in 2011, as part of a PhD programme through NRF. This was followed by appointment as a laboratory technician at UNISA in 2014 before her move to UL in 2016. Throughout her career, Dr Chokoe has gained experience in molecular biology – particularly genotoxicology and epigenetics – and her current research interests lie in investigating the role played by medicinal plants on mitigating the progression of breast cancers.

Dr. Makhoba holds a PhD degree in Biochemistry from the University of Zululand with a strong background in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Proteomics. Before joining the University of South Africa as a Senior Lecturer in 2023 where he lectures at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, He was appointed as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Zululand between 2015-2018. In the year 2018-2020, He then joined the University of Pretoria as a Lecturer and later in 2020-2022 he joined the University of Fort Hare as a senior lecturer. Dr. Makhoba’s research interest is in molecular chaperones and polyamines. Before, He was working on clinical Biochemistry research focusing on bio-products that can regulate diabetes. This has resulted in him paying more attention to new technologies to treat diabetes, which is one of the research focuses under his group. During His MSc and PhD His focus has been on the production of malarial drug target proteins using molecular chaperones as tools to improve the former. Dr. Makhoba has presented at both local and international conferences and published his work in international journals, and his work is well recognized. His previous projects were funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) and South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI). He established both local and international collaborations. Dr. Makhoba’s research group also focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 project with the aim of developing innovative treatment for the coronavirus and the project, is currently funded by South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). The project involves postgraduate supervision and one post-doctoral fellow being mentored under the project.