Get to know some of the researchers at the University of the Free State whose work is inspiring excellence and transforming lives globally.
In addition to the experts listed below, the UFS also boasts a unique research centre: The International Studies Group (ISG), which comprises a wide network of postgraduate researchers each with their own specialist field.
To arrange an interview with any of our experts, please contact our media office at news@ufs.ac.za.
Prof Patricks Otomo
Area of expertise: Invertebrate ecotoxicology, behavioural ecotoxicology, nanotoxicology, quality assurance in ecotoxicological testing and biomarkers
Faculty/Department: Department of Zoology and Entomology
Prof Patricks Voua Otomo, PhD, is an associate professor and Subject Head of Zoology and Entomology, and Director of the Centre for Global Change (CGC) on the Qwaqwa Campus. He has served on the editorial board of the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology since 2013. He is a member of the Subcommittee on Water Security and Water Quality, a component of the Science Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) under the auspices of the Academy of Science of South Africa. As a member of SAGE, he contributed in 2023 to writing a strategic advisory on wastewater management in South Africa in the wake of the 2023 cholera outbreak.
In the Ecotoxicology Research Laboratory, research is conducted on the toxicological evaluation of potential environmental contaminants. Selected invertebrates (such as ants, flies, snails, and earthworms) are used to investigate the ecotoxicity of emerging industrial and agricultural chemicals. Current projects focus on evaluating the impact of wastewater treatment plants on Afromontane aquatic invertebrates, the search for low-cost and environmentally friendly ways to mitigate chemical toxicity in soils, the use of DNA barcoding in ecotoxicological investigations, and the potential benefits of behavioural ecotoxicology in environmental monitoring.
Contact details:
Email: OtomoPV@ufs.ac.za
