Applied Sciences
Conservation and Marine Sciences
Business & Management Sciences
Education
Engineering & the Built Environment
Health & Wellness Sciences
Informatics & DesignBiotechnology and Consumer Sciences Research
Research Groups
Dr Vanessa Jackson - ORCiD The Functional Foods Research Unit (FFRU) was established in 2009 and is part of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Biotechnology & Consumer Science. The FFRU aims to translate research results on essential fatty acids and micronutrients into new and improved functional food products with functional food characteristics for health promotion and disease prevention in South Africa. The FFRU's strategic objectives are multifaceted, emphasising scientific innovation and community impact. Our research is focused on exploring the health benefits of essential fatty acids and selected micronutrients via clinical trials and exploration of food waste and indigenous plants for their potential beneficial health effects. We also foster partnerships with government agencies, other South African tertiary institutions, and international research institutions. These collaborations are important to ensure the practical application of research findings, secure funding for ongoing research studies, and align the unit's objectives with national and global health priorities. The FFRU team comprises the leader, Prof Maretha Opperman, laboratory technician, Ms Buhle Mpahleni and administrative assistant, Ms Angie van Niekerk. South African Government: Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment
Waste To Energy Lab (W2EL)
Medical and Plant Biotechnology
Plant Biotechnology
Environmental Biotechnology
BIOERG (Faculty with Chem. Eng.)
Functional Foods and Research Unit (FFRU)
Background
The FFRU team
Partnerships and collaborations
Other tertiary institutions: Unisa, University of the Free State, University of Cape Town
International research institutions: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France
Researcher Profiles
Email: Department: Department of Biotechnology & Consumer Science Office: Room 2.17 New Sciences Building, District Six Campus Telephone (Work): +27 21 460 3507 Qualifications: PhD Industrial Microbiology (UKZN), MSc (Natal), PGCE (Zululand), B.Tech (Hons) [Akure] Professional Affiliation: Research interest: Undergraduate teaching: Industrial Microbiology; Food Microbiology; Biochemistry, Biotechnology Introduction Publication profile: Google Scholar Office: Room 7, Applied Sciences Building Tel: +27 21 460 3961 Email: Academic profile/ profile: Dr Chidi is a Y2 NRF rated Researcher with more than 10 years industry, teaching and research experience. He is a guest editor of Applied Sciences MDPI: Special Issue (Wastewater, Solid Waste and Treatment Technologies). He is also a frequent reviewer for prominent international journals published by Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, the International Water Association (IWA) and Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). Research interest: Dr Chidi is passionate about Marketing, Research, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Fermentation, Aquaculture and Post-harvest Technology. His research interests are Waste Treatment, Biocontrol, Fermentation Technol, Enzymology, Water purification and Biofuels Selected Publications: Office: Room 3.7, Applied Science Building Tel: +27 21 460 3175 Email: Academic profile: Research interest: Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Plant Molecular Virology and Microbial biotechnology Selected Publications: Dr Liezel Gouws is a lecturer in Biotechnology. She holds a PhD in Plant Biotechnology from Stellenbosch University. Prior to joining CPUT, she worked at Biosafety South Africa as a project manager for eight years. There she gained extensive knowledge in food and feed safety assessment of GM crops and managing research project portfolios. The last few years she focused on science communication and engagement, with a particular interest in public engagement and fresh and innovative approaches to communicate issues around GM technologies. She was actively involved in developing a communication strategy in collaboration with Department of Science and Innovation to increase public awareness and confidence in South Africa’s regulatory system concerning GMOs. As part of this initiative, she conducted Postgraduate Science Communication Workshops across the country to teach students the necessary skills to communicate their science more effectively. Before taking on the role as project manager at Biosafety SA, she completed two postdoctoral fellowships at the Institutes for Plant Biotechnology and Wine Biotechnology at Stellenbosch University, respectively. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Ruprecht Karls University in Heidelberg (Germany) and concluded her MSc research at the Biosphere 2 Centre in Tucson (Arizona). Her research career mainly focused on plant growth analysis in combination with gene expression, metabolite and protein profiling. Dr Gouws is passionate about community engagement and wants to make a difference in her society. She enjoys the interaction with the students and strives to inspire them to reach their full potential in life. Publications: Awards: 2011: National Research Foundation Scare Skills Postdoctoral fellowship (NRF, South Africa) 2006 - 2007: National Research Foundation Scare Skills bursary for PhD studies (National Research Foundation, South Africa) 2005 - 2007: Merit bursary for PhD studies (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) 2005 - 2006: Harry Crossley bursary for PhD studies (Harry Crossley Foundation, South Africa) 2003: A bursary was awarded jointly by the Juelich Research Institute in Germany and Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center (USA) to complete the research for my master thesis. The University of Arizona assumed ownership of Biosphere 2 in 2011.
Prof Vincent Okudoh
Position: Associate Professor
ORCID Identity
Scopus
LinkedIn
ResearchGate
Google Site
Web of Science
Dr Boredi Chidi
Portfolio: Lecturer, Researcher and WIL coordinator
on recent disposal of hazardous sewage sludge via anaerobic digestion and novel composting, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 423, Part A,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126995.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389421019634)
Systems. Water Practice and Technology. 16 (10: 1-18. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2020.113
Dr Richard Mundembe
Portfolio: Senior Lecturer and Head of Programme - Biotechnology
Sithole-Niang, I. (ed): Genetically Modified Plants and Beyond. InTech Publishers pp 83 – 93,
ISBN Print ISBN 978-1-83969-875-0, Online ISBN 978-1-83969-876-7, eBook (PDF) ISBN 978-
1-83969-877-4. Also available from: DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101731.
gene (VsAMT1): Some Bioinformatics insights. Biotechnology Reports 8: 88 - 93.
I. (ed): Genetic Engineering. InTech Publishers pp 49 – 59, ISBN 978-953-51-1099-6. Also
available from http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56335.
Plants for Resistance to Viruses, Genetic Engineering - Basics, New Applications and
Responsibilities, Prof. Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-790-1, InTech. Pp
121 – 144. Also available from http://www.intechopen.com/books/genetic-engineering-basicsnew-applications-and-responsibilities/ geneticengineering-of-plants-for-resistance-to-viruses.
Dr Liezel Gouws
Lecturer in Biotechnology | Entrepreneur | Project Manager | Science Communicator
Liezel M. Gouws and Jan-Hendrik Groenewald (2015) GM food labelling – is there a solution to the impasse? South African Food Science and Technology Magazine, First Issue, February 2015, Pages 23 – 25.
Liezel M. Gouws and Jan-Hendrik Groenewald (2012) How safe are South Africa’s GM foods? South African Food Science and Technology Magazine, Second Issue, May 2012, Pages 21-23.