Alumni of the University of the Free State belong to a distinguished network of graduates whose competencies, successes and contributions enable them to make their mark wherever they may be. Postgraduate qualifications from the Department of Microbiology & Biochemistry lead to careers in different sectors of the economy in South Africa and abroad as demonstrated by the following real-life examples of alumni.
BSc (Hons)
Sales
Samantha Erasmus - Microbiology (2004)
Product specialist at Scientific Group
Fulufhelo Siphugu - Biochemistry (2016)
Technical assistant at Johnson & Johnson
Industry
Khanyisile Sibisi - Biochemistry (2017)
Quality assurance technician at Orange Grove Dairy
Happiness January - Microbiology (2017)
Analyst at Johannesburg Water
Research Support
Kimberley Conroy - Biochemistry (2016)
Technical advisor (Patents and Trademarks) at Merizzi Ramsbottom & Forster, Canada
Jacques Rossouw - Biochemistry (2018)
Account business analyst at Parexel
MSc
Industry
Gerhard Potgieter - Biochemistry (2019)
Environmental specialist at iWater
Mercy Ogunyinka - Biochemistry (2020)
Processing technician at Bio Analytical Research Corporation South Africa
Research Support
Jacobus Brink - Microbiology (2020)
Junior associate clinical data coordinator at Clindata
Liese Swart - Microbiology (2020)
Clinical data analyst at Parexel
Sales
Elias Thomas - Biochemistry (1999)
Sales representative at Stargate Scientific
Entrepreneur
Butana Mboniswa - Biochemistry (1997)
Director Sereko Technology and Innovation Advisors
Shirleen Coetzer - Microbiology (2013)
Director SMT Labs
Academia
Armand Bester - Biochemistry (2007)
Medical scientist at University of the Free State
Precious Letebele - Biochemistry (2020)
Lecturer at University of the Free State
PhD
Academia
Thabiso Motaung - Biotechnology (2015)
Lecturer at University of Pretoria
Errol Cason - Biochemistry (2015)
Senior Lecturer at University of the Free State
Science Councils / Research Institutes
Sechaba Bareetseng - Microbiology (2002)
Manager: IKS and Biodiversity Management at CSIR
Entrepreneur
Elsabe Botes - Biochemistry (2008)
Director at Test-it-Labs
Christopher Rothmann - Microbiology (2021)
Director at LiquidCulture
Industry
Michel Labuschagne - Microbiology (2005)
Associate consulting manager at ClinVet
Wouter van der Westhuizen - Microbiology (2017)
Specialist: Research & Development at Clinomics
Research Management
Corli Witthuhn - Microbiology (1999)
Vice-rector at the University of the Free State
Ntsoaki Malebo - Microbiology (2010)
Senior Director, Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching at the Central University of Technology
Research Support
Desmond Ncango - Microbiology (2011)
Director at the National Research Foundation of South Africa
Ruan Fourie - Microbiology (2020)
Medical writer at IQVIA
International
Conrad Schoch – MSc (Microbiology,1996) PhD (Microbiology; Stellenbosch Univ)
Research Scientist , NCBI, National Institutes of Health, USA
Frank von Delft – BSc (Hons) (Biochemistry,1996) – PhD (University of Cambridge, UK)
Principle Investigator: Oxford University, United Kingdom
Adrian Brüning – PhD (Microbiology,1997)
Assistant Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, USA
Celeste Linde – PhD (Microbiology,1998)
Associate Professor, Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Len van Zyl – PhD (Microbiology,1999)
Research Assistant Professor in the College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University & CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ArrayExpress, USA
Ilze Brüning – BSc(Hons) (Microbiology, 1996); LLB Medical Jurisprudence
Principle Scientist: Skin Care Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, USA
Hannes Strauss – MSc (Microbiology,1996) PhD (Environmental Sciences; North-West University, 2003)
Project Leader: Base Metals Technology Group, BHP Billiton, Chile
Rietie Venter – MSc (Food Science,1996) PhD (Leeds University, UK, 2000)
Senior Lecturer: University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Isak Pretorius – PhD (Microbiology,1985)
Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President: Research and Innovation, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
Pierre Venter – PhD (Microbiology,1999)
Researcher: Fonterra Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Students should apply to the National Research Foundation for Bursary support. Contact the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry for more information.