4 minute read
MBUKENI ANDREW NKOMO
Tell us about the background of your research.
I am a trained agricultural biotechnologist, who has a purpose of enhancing academic excellence through innovative teaching and learning approaches, quality research that may impact society positively. My field of expertise is Botany and laboratory experience ranged from Effect of Climate change on Plants (Specifically progressive drought stress and salinity), Plant Pathology (Effect of different fungus and their mycotoxins on plants), Soil Science and Phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated land using plants. The main theme of my PhD is to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms, proteomics pathways, and metabolomics fingerprint involving nutrient uptake and stressresponse, including the uses of key metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway to modify and control abiotic stresses. I have trained a number of Plant Biotechnology post graduate students in different physiological and biological techniques in other to help identify how plants are affected by Environmental Stresses and to help in finding ways to combat the effect of these stresses. I have also demonstrated multiple skills working in agricultural biotechnology industry. Which includes Mass Spectrometry (For identification of proteins), HPLC (Identification of phenolic acids) and ICP-OES (Identification of mineral content and heavy metals concentration) Bio-typing (identification of micro-organism), ELISA, Plant Tissue Culture, Statistical Analysis, Research Design and Sessional Lecturing.
What were the motivations for carrying out this research?
Whenever I felt like giving up and things were not working out. I will always think of my daughter “Mabatho” and think of a life that I would wish for her to live.
Research can be a long and tough journey, what kept you going during this process?
I always tell other student that when choosing a supervisor, the best thing to look for its their availability. If they are not available most of the time make sure the lab has a good supportive structure meaning, this could be postdoctoral student that can assist you. I was Dr. Ashwil Klein first student when he first started a Lab at UWC. He, believed and the only best thing you can do as a supervisor is to believe in your students and always push them to do more. I really appreciated their combine efforts with Prof. Marshall Keyster. Especially during my Thesis writeup and publication preparation meetings they took pro-active steps and always practiced what they preached. I found this to be incredibly valuable in working with them, they will always allow me to explore and challenge nearly all possible perspectives to any idea surrounding my PhD project.
Who is your biggest inspiration/What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration came from my mentors Prof. Ndimba (ARC/UWC) and Dr. Ndimba (iThemba labs). They are friend when I need a shoulder to cry on, mentors when I need advice regarding my PhD work and parents when I need guidance on life’s problems. I could go on forever talking about them I’ll suggest to do a story about them and you’ll understand why they inspire me.
What is the funniest/scariest/most embarrassing or best thing that has happened to you as a researcher?
The scariest part of my Journey was losing all of my Data and worked around the end of 2018 when I was planning to submit. I was hijacked in symphony way at Delft in the process lost all of my belongings and the laptop that had my work. Meaning I had to go back to the laboratory to start over, but with faith and a strong desire for science I was able to start afresh and complete all the experiment and writing up in less than 2 years.
There are certainly lots of lesson you took from your journey, what can you share with an aspiring researcher/post grad student?
Backup your work, Backup your work on the virtual space “Google drive” should be your friend as anything is possible. To avoid going through the most Backup. COVID-19 has been a huge challenge in the society at large, how did you cope with this challenge? I feel it has worked best for me as when it started I had already completed my lab work and had to start writing. So gave me the time I needed to start writing and since we were on lockdown the only time I had I could just focus on writing.
How was your supervision experience in one word?)
Pragmatic-leaders
What are you currently doing (work/ academics)?
I have gone back to complete the journey I had started more than 10 years ago. When I had first registered to study Biotechnology as an undergraduate student at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). But due to financial constrains had dropped out and had to go and work at Caltex garage (as a petrol attendant). I had to go back this year to complete that journey, but not as a student but a lecturer. I am currently a full time lecturer at CPUT, I am lecturing both undergraduate (Biotechnology I; 1st year and Food Microbiology; 2nd year and postgraduate (Biosafety and regulation; Advance diploma in Biotechnology) studies.
What does the future hold for Mbukeni Andrew Nkomo?
I wish to see myself graduating my first PhD student, 5 years from now.
