Prof Carolina Pohl-Albertyn
Microbial Biochemical and Food Biotechnology
Chair: Pathogenic Yeasts 2024-2028

Prof Carolina Pohl-Albertyn obtained her PhD degree in Microbiology in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State in 1999. In 2005, she was appointed as Researcher and established her research focus in the field of bioactive lipids in pathogenic yeasts. In 2008, she was appointed as Senior Lecturer and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013, and to full Professor in 2015. Her research focuses on the role of fatty acids and the production of immunomodulatory lipid metabolites (e.g. prostaglandins) in pathogenic yeasts. This eventually led to the establishment of the Pathogenic Yeast Research Group, which brought together expertise in yeast molecular biology, yeast lipid metabolism, and immune response. In 2019, she was awarded an NRF SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts.

Since 2003, she has supervised 21 PhD students, who have all completed their degrees successfully; she is currently promotor or co-promotor of seven more. She has also supervised 38 MSc students who have already graduated and is currently supervising 11 additional MSc students. She has co-authored 129 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, six chapters in books, and delivered numerous presentations, keynote addresses, and posters at national and international conferences. She is associate editor of Fungal Genetics and Biology as well as Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology – Biofilms. In addition, she is a member of various international microbiological societies.