Dr Lephoto develops community through science

Ever thought academic life is boring? Young scientist Dr Tiisetso Lephoto is here to prove that wrong. Balancing her job as a lecturer and researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and running a foundation that empowers young scientists, Lephoto’s life is nowhere near boring.

The young scientist believes that innovation and technology have the potential to drive and grow the economy, and thus grow South Africa’s gross domestic product.

The 33-year-old academic graduated with a PhD in Nematology and Biotechnology, with an emphasis in Bioinformatics and Microbial Genomics in 2016 – at the age of 26. Nematology is the scientific study of nematodes or roundworms, while biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services.

Currently, Lephoto is the Principal Investigator and Research Leader of the Nematology and Bioprocess Laboratory in the School of Molecular and Cell Biology at Wits.

“We all have the responsibility to do better in order to contrib - ute positively in our societies. As an innovator myself, I highly recommend more public servants to innovate products that will truly positively impact our way of living,” says Lephoto, who was born and raised in Soweto.

As a lecturer and researcher, she believes that her job is im portant because she transfers knowledge to young aspiring scientists, and she motivates them. She teaches both undergraduates at all levels and postgraduates courses such as plant and invertebrate pathology, current topics in microbiology, application and complementary life sciences, among others.

“All these courses are important in helping students learn and understand how to solve societal problems using science. This implies that I contribute in the breeding of future scientists that will bring solutions to our world through scientific knowledge, research and application,” she says.

To date, Lephoto has supervised 30 postgraduate students, including one PhD, 12 Master of Science, and 17 Honours students, of which 24 have successfully completed their degrees and have graduated. She says the remaining six students are still studying at the university.

Empowering young scientists

cides with an aim to service local and national farmers with

Products that were developed through Nematech include hairline repair oils, Afro Royal hair growth organic oils, organic hair butter, organic skin and hair products and are already in the market.

“We are about empowering people through training science graduates and unemployed youth. In 2022, Nematech hosted a two-day workshop that targeted 100 unemployed STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] graduates and postgraduates who were presented with various opportunities in the field of science,” says Lephoto.

Nematech has a team comprising young black qualified professionals whose expertise is multi-sectoral across industries of agriculture, biotechnology, entrepreneurship and innovation as well as finance.

The foundation has so far created three permanent jobs and also employs part-time workers and welcomes volunteers.

Through the foundation, Lephoto is heeding government calls for individuals and companies to be part of creating jobs and building the economy. She encourages public servants to never underestimate the power of their dreams, to work hard, believe in themselves and keep moving forward so that they impact other people’s lives positively.

As an extensively qualified and experience young black scientist, Lephoto leads the foundation with a vision of ploughing back to local communities and exposing regions outside South Africa to innovative products that contribute to socio-economic wellbeing and sustainable behaviours.

The foundation recently hosted a science graduate indaba, which was supported by the Gauteng Provincial Government, to expose unemployed science graduates to opportunities that government has and how to access them.

Academic journey

In 2006, Lephoto was one of the top learners in Soweto and her District.

“That set the tone for all my achievements to date,” she says.

She enrolled for a Bachelor’s of Science (BSc) at Wits before she turned 18 in 2007.

“While attending the welcome day with my parents, my father made interesting remarks about the red gown, what it meant and why I need to study further, and he thus encouraged me to not leave the university without it,” she recalls.

In 2010, she enrolled for a BSc Honours in Genetic and Developmental Sciences focusing on throat cancer and the following year she enrolled for a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology, focusing on insect pest management and biological control.

“While waiting for my MSc results, I had dually registered for a PhD programme, which I resumed in the middle of 2013, completed it in 2015 and graduated in March 2016. Of course, I went through challenges along the way associated with financial exclusion but I had destiny connectors and opportunities that enabled me to successfully complete my studies,” she says. She has received multiple scholarships, including the National Research Foundation excellence in science communication travel grant in 2019, Wits Faculty Research Committee research grant in 2020, the Wits Chancellor’s Female Academic Leader Fellowship 2021, and the National Research Foundation Thuthuka Research Grant in 2022.

As CEO of her foundation, Lephoto knew she needed business management skills to run it professionally. As such, she enrolled for a Master of

Business Administration degree with the University of Reading Henley Business School in 2019, focusing on brand management, marketing and strategy.

Contributing to the body of scientific research

Lephoto has published 11 articles in international and nation science journals and recently submitted more than 10 articles which are currently under review.

Her love for anything agriculture started at a tender age of five years when she asked her parents to help her grow a vegetable and fruit garden at the back of her home in Soweto. She says she was disappointed when the crops were affected by pests.

“Fast forward to 2007, when I enrolled for a BSc at Wits, all came full circle when I ended up in the field of biological control,” she says.

While she was doing her research on DNA methylation patterns in throat cancer cells, she came across an article that reported that one of the factors contributing to development of throat cancer is the consumption of chemical pesticide contaminated crops. She immediately felt the need to be part of the solution and grew passionate about biological control and innovation for advancement of agricultural practice, which led her to join the Nematology Laboratory in 2011.