Research Fellow in Natural Product Discovery on the Newton Fund/MRC/SAMRC - South Africa-UK Antibiotic Accelerator https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/uk-nil-south-africa-research-team-to-establish-hub-for-discovery-of-new-antibioticswith Prof. Mathew Upton of the Antibiotic resistant pathogens research group https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/biomedical-research-group/antibiotic-resistant-pathogens-research-group.This research project in Marine biodiscovery forms part of an exciting initiative between the United Kingdom and South African Medical Research Councils', with the principle aim of setting up an SA-UK Antibiotic Accelerator Initiative or Discovery Hub; particularly, investigating SA, UK, and Polar marine environments for novel antimicrobials. 
Prior to taking up this position at the University of Plymouth, I did a short-term postdoctoral research fellowship on the SA-leg of the project, working with Prof. Rosemary Dorrington at Rhodes University (Marine Natural Products), whilst being seconded to CPUT, with Dr Marilize Le Roes-Hill at the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute (Actinobacterial Research).

• British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2021)
• Applied Microbiology International (2021)
• Microbiology Society (2021)

During my postgraduate studies I previously held a position as Biotechnology tutor and practical demonstrator. My duties consisted of assisting students and practical co-ordinators during practical sessions and included scientific writing, conceptualisation, and communication; tutoring, marking of tests, assignments, and examinations; and invigilating tests and examinations. 
The modules I tutored were: Introduction to Microbiology (BTN 211), Quantitative Methods in Biotechnology (BTN 215), Environmental and Food Microbiology (BTN 213), Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology (BTN 312) and Plant Biotechnology and Proteomics (BTN 324). 

Research interests:
My interests include marine genetic resources, marine biodiscovery, novel antimicrobials, and antimicrobial resistance. In my postdoctoral project, I will be exploring biodiversity-rich marine environments to combat the pressing need for new antibiotics to treat antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, funded by the Newton Fund/MRC/SAMRC - South Africa-UK Antibiotic Accelerator Initiative.
During my PhD, I worked on previously unexploited Antarctic deep-sea sediments to discover novel species of marine bacteria that could possess new antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
In my MSc, I investigated endemic species of seaweed from South Africa for sulphated polysaccharides including fucoidan and determined their therapeutic potential including anticancer activity in vitro. 

Invited lectures:

• From deep-sea exploration to deep sequencing: The lost world of bioactive compounds. EMBRIC Transnational Access program. 15th January 2019. DSMZ, Brunswick, Germany.
• Marine genetic resources in South Africa – current status, challenges, and ideas to build for the future. “Marine Genetic Resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction: bridging policy, law, science and research and development” Workshop in Brussels, 22nd May 2019, EU Commission - DG MARE, Brussels, Belgium.
• From deep-sea exploration to deep sequencing: The lost world of bioactive. XVI International Symposium on Marine Natural Products (MANAPRO) and XI European Congress on Marine Natural Products (ECMNP). September, 2019. Peniche, Portugal.
• Marine genetic resources in South Africa – current status, challenges, and ideas to build for the future. Paris Biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) Workshop, 8th November 2019. Paris, France.
• Exploitation of new strains for drug discovery from Antarctica deep-sea sediments. Seminar series (MNF-bioc-374) – GEOMAR BIOTECH, 18th November 2019. University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
• Access and Benefit Sharing of Marine Genetic Resources. Seminar series (MNF-bioc-374) – GEOMAR BIOTECH, 18th November 2019. University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.