Staff

Dr Benesh Somai Position:  Head of Department and Senior Lecturer in Microbiology Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120307 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2608 Email:  benesh.somai@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (Clemson University, South Carolina, USA) Expertise:  Fungal Genetics And Toxin Production, Molecular Biology, Antifungal Plant Extracts

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Ms Ronel Hiles Position:  Departmental Secretary Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120306 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2441 Email:  Ronel.Hiles@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  Mphil – Conflict & Transformation Management (NMMU)

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Associate Professor Carminita Frost Position:  Associate Professor in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120327 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 4123 Email:  carminita.frost@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (UPE) Expertise:  Protein chemistry, Enzymology, Metabolic diseases

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Prof Vaughan Oosthuizen Position:  Associate Professor in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120303 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2435 Email:  vaughan.oosthuizen@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (UPE) Expertise:  Immunology

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Prof Maryna Van de Venter Position:  Professor in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120301 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2813 Email:  maryna.vandeventer@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (UPE) Expertise:  Medicinal Plants, Cell Biology, Diabetes, Cancer

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Dr Sharlene Govender Position:  Senior Lecturer in Microbiology Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120304 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2347 Email:  sharlene.govender@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  MSc (Microbiology) (UKZN), PhD (Medical Microbiology) (University of Stellenbosch), Medical Biological Scientist HPCSA (MW 0009687) Expertise:  Medical Microbiology, Molecular Epidemiology, Antimicrobial drug resistance mechanisms Responsibilities:  Lecturing to undergraduate BSc, honours & Pharmacy students. Supervision of research projects allocated to Honours, Masters and doctoral students.

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Dr Adivhaho Khwathisi Position:  Lecturer Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120302 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2359 Email:  Adivhaho.khwathisi@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (UniVen) Expertise:  Mass Spectrometry, Computational Metabolomics, Microbial Chemistry & Environmental Microbiology

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Siyanda Mazibuko Mazibuko Position:  Associate Lecturer in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120302A Location:  South Campus Email:  siyanda.mazibuko@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  BSc Honours in Biochemistry (NMU) Expertise:  Antimicrobial resistance, Wastewater surveillance

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Ms Jabulisile Madubedube Position:  Laboratory Technician Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  Room: 0328 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2237 Email:  Jabulisile.Madubedube@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  MTech (Rhodes)

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Mr Kenneth Oosthuizen Position:  Laboratory Technician Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120330 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2839 Email:  kenneth.oosthuizen@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  MSc (NMMU)

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Mrs Wendy Wilde Position:  Laboratory Technician (Microbiology) Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120221 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2351 Email:  wendy.wilde@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  BSc Hons (Microbiology) (RU)

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Dr Sharon Pelo Position:  Laboratory technician Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  0224 Location:  South Campus Email:  sharon.pelo@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  DTech in Biotechnology (University of Johannesburg)

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Lynne Geseba Position:  Lab Assistant (Microbiology & Biochemistry) Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120219 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 4238 Email:  lynne.geseba@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  Matric

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Mr Lawyer Mabulu Position:  Lab Assistant (Biochemistry) Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120326 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 4238 Email:  mmabulu@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  Matric

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Dr Gerhardt Boukes Position:  Research Associate in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120331 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2234 Email:  Gerhardt.Boukes@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (NMMU)

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Dr Trevor Koekemoer Position:  Research Associate Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120331 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2234 Email:  Trevor.Koekemoer@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (NMMU)

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Prof Ryno Naudé Position:  Research Associate in Biochemistry Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120331 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2234 Email:  ryno.naude@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (UPE) Expertise:  Enzymology, Protein Chemistry, Meat Science

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Dr Kaitlin Sprong Position:  Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120331 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2234 Email:  Kaitlin.Sprong@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (NMMU)

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Dr Luanne Venables Position:  Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Department:  Biochemistry and Microbiology Room:  120331 Location:  South Campus Phone:  041 504 2234 Email:  Luanne.Venables@mandela.ac.za Qualifications:  PhD (NMMU)

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