I am  a Microbiologist with background in Lipid Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, I completed my studies at the department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, UFS.

My research involved, the evaluation of eicosanoid production by pathogenic yeasts, representing Candida species using ELISA assays and LCMS/MS; the identification of possible genes involved in eicosanoid production in these species, using microarray analysis and RT-qPCR; evaluating the effect of changing the lipid profile of epithelial cells, as an infection model, on the ability of pathogenic yeasts, representing Candida species, to produce eicosanoids and inflammation.

As a Post-Doctoral researcher at the UFS, I evaluated the heterologous expression and characterisation of enzymes (i.e. Old Yellow Enzymes & Cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases) possibly involved in prostaglandin production by Cryptococcus neoformans. These enzymes could serve as potential drug targets in this pathogenic fungus.

I was appointed as a Scientist at the National Control Laboratory (NCL) in June 2013. My role at the NCL is to manage testing of specific vaccines, perform verification or optimization and statistical validation of new and existing assays (e.g. HPLC), update and writing of SOPs, documents and protocol checklists.

Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F., Albertyn, J., Hugo, A. & Pohl, C. H. (2012). Sciadonic acid modulates prostaglandin E₂ production by epithelial cells during infection with C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. Prostaglandins & other Lipid Mediators 97, 66-71.

Thibane, V. S., Ells, R., Hugo, A., Albertyn, J., Janse van Rensburg, W. J., Van Wyk, P. W. J.,Kock, J. L. F. & Pohl, C. H. (2012). Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause apoptosis in C. albicans and C. dubliniensis biofilms. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects 1820, 1463-1468.

Thibane, V. S., Ells, R., Van Wyk, P. W. J.,Kock, J. L. F. & Pohl, C. H. (2012). Stearidonic acid acts in synergism with amphotericin B in inhibiting Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis biofilms in vitro. Letter to the Editors / International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 40, 284-285.

Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F., Albertyn, J. & Pohl, C. H. (2012). Arachidonic acid metabolites in pathogenic yeasts. Lipids in Health and Disease 11, 100-106.

Ells, R., Kemp, G., Albertyn, J., Kock, J. L. F., Pohl, C. H. (2013). Phenothiazine is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin E₂ production by Candida albicans biofilms. FEMS Yeast Research 13, 849-855.

Ells, R., Kilian, W., Hugo, A., Albertyn, J., Kock, J. L. F. & Pohl, C. H. (201). Virulence of South African Candida albicans strains isolated from different clinical samples. Medical Mycology 52, 246-253.

12^th International Congress on Yeasts, Kyiv, Ukraine, August 2008. Effect of arachidonic acid on biofilm formation and antifungal susceptibility of two closely related Candida species. Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F., Botes, P. J., van Wyk, P. W. J. & Pohl, C. H. (Presentation)

The 17^th Congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM 2009), Tokyo, Japan, May 2009. Eicosanoids of Candida dubliniensis. Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F. & Pohl, C. H. (Presentation)

Gordon Research Conferences (GRC): Immunology of fungal infections, Galveston, TX, January 2011. Interactions of Candida species with sciadonic acid treated epithelial cells in vitro. Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F., Albertyn, J., van Wyk, P. W. J. & Pohl, C. H. (Poster)

17^th Biennial Congress of the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM), Cape Town, South Africa, November 2011. Sciadonic acid modulates prostaglandin E₂ and cytokine production by epithelial cells during Candida infections. Ells, R., Kock, J. L. F., Albertyn J., Hugo, A. & Pohl, C. H. (Presentation)

13^th International Congress on Yeasts, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, August 2012. Oxylipins of Candida albicans. Ells, R, Pohl C. H., Albertyn, J. & Kock, J. L. F. (Presentation)

18^th Biennial Congress of the South African Society for Microbiology (SASM), Bela-Bela, South Africa, November 2013. Characterisation of Old Yellow Enzymes from Cryptococcus neoformans. Pohl, C. H., Ells, R., Opperman, D. J. & Albertyn, J. (Keynote presentation)

11^th Vaccinology Scientific Congress, Fairmont Zimbali Resort, Ballito, South Africa, October 2014 (Attendee).