Andrew
Online Reporter
BIOCHEMIST and professor at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)’s department of Biochemistry, Professor Idah Sithole-Niang, has won a global scientific award.
Professor Sithole-Niang was named as the 2021 Scientist of the Year (Natural Sciences/Agricultural Biotechnology) by the International Achievements Center, Montreal Canada.
In a statement, the UZ said the acting dean in the Faculty of Science was honoured among other prominent scientists for significant contributions to research that impacts society and the planet.
“Her research includes working on the genetic improvement of cowpea by conferring resistance to the cowpea aphid mosaic potyvirus using genetic engineering tools.
“Her work also focuses on endophytes, bacteria, and fungi that live within plants without causing any discernible harm, as well as bacteriophages isolated from the environment and matched to clinical isolates,” the University said.
Professor Sithole-Niang holds a BSc Hons Biochemistry (1982), which she obtained at University of London UK and a PhD in Biochemistry (1988) from State University, USA.
She has been working on biotechnology and biosafety capacity development for over two decades within Zimbabwe and several sub-Saharan African countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia.
Online Reporter