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Innocensia Mangoato off to Germany for her PhD studies

27 October 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Supplied

Innocensia Mangoato_web read more — Innocensia Mangoato, Lecturer/ Researcher in the Department of Pharmacology, will visit the University of Bonn from 1st March 2021 until November 2021 for her PhD in Pharmacology.

A lecturer and researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) says she is looking forward to working with Dr Gudrun S Ulrich-Merzenich from the University of Bonn in Germany, after being selected for a Argelander scholarship to complete her doctoral studies at the AG Synergy Research and Experimental Medicine research unit.

Innocensia Mangoato, Lecturer/Researcher in the Department of Pharmacology, will visit the University of Bonn from March until November 2021 to work with Dr Ulrich-Merzenich, who heads the working group on Synergy Research and Experimental Medicine. Mangoato’s PhD in Pharmacology, under the direct supervision of Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, focuses on cannabis and cancer drug resistance reversal through studying various efflux transporters that play a major role in anticancer drug resistance.

According to her, this is because anticancer drug resistance plays a major role in the failure of standard chemotherapy when treating human cancer.

Excited and honoured

“I am extremely excited and honoured to have my proposal selected for the scholarship. I am thrilled and look forward to be working with Dr Gudrun S Ulrich-Merzenich,” says Mangoato, who initially wanted to study medicine and specialise in gynaecology.

Dr Ulrich-Merzenich specialises in synergy research and experimental medicine. While at the University of Bonn, Mangoato will register as an international student of Bonn so that she can attend classes and academic programmes to enhance her studies, including attending the Synergy Conference in Switzerland.

Will change her attitude towards science

Regarding Mangoato’s visit to Germany, Prof Matsabisa says, “I really feel she deserves it. She has been a very consistent young lady in her science research studies. I am very proud of her. This move will strengthen our existing collaborative research with the University of Bonn and Dr Gudrun Ulrich-Merzenich.”

Prof Matsabisa continues: “This exposure will change Mangoato’s attitude to science, research, and training for ever. She will be in good hands, as she will be working with an excellent scientist of the calibre of Dr Ulrich-Merzenich. I want to see more of my students travelling abroad, spending good research time with my collaborators all over the world to get the necessary exposure, and positive change in research attitudes,” says Prof Matsabisa.

He concludes by saying: “I want to create researchers of international standing.”

Message to other students?

Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, with the right amount of discipline and dedication.

News Archive

UFS experimental farm to be redesigned as a training facility

2004-10-25

Back fltr:
Dr Léan van der Westhuizen, Manager: UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm; Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS and Councilor Thami Stander, Chairperson: Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development

Front fltr:
Mr Hanz Nketu, Chairperson: Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture and Mr Peter Frewen from the Free State Legislature

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the University of the Free State will soon sign a tri-partite cooperation agreement with the National African Farmers Union (NAFU) and the Mangaung Local Municipality with the aim of providing training and mentorship to small-scale and emerging farmers, including those recently settled under the on-going land redistribution programme.

The agreement is part of the Faculty’s strategic plan to support the on-going reform process in the country, of which Black Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (Agri-BEE) is an important part. The Free State Provincial Department of Agriculture is also actively supporting this initiative.

Under the plan, the Faculty is redesigning its experimental farm, located about 12 kilometers south of Bloemfontein, as a training facility to build up skills in among others broiler and egg production, dairy farming, animal husbandry, piggery, sheep and goat production. The idea is to introduce a comprehensive package that empowers the small and emerging farmers and the local communities adjoining the farms through simultaneous investments in research, extension, and practical agricultural training.

Learnerships are also being drawn up to provide productive skills in order to contribute to addressing the national skills gap and enhancing opportunities for both self and wage employment.

The residents of the adjoining informal settlement known as Mangaung Phase II where unemployment is currently at extremely high levels are primary targets of this component of the project. The Faculty intends for this project to service the farming communities of the Free State Province and gradually spread to other Provinces in the country.

Having recognised this training programme as a potential instrument for achieving “a united and prosperous agricultural sector”, the Free State Legislature has shown considerable interest in the programme.

Following a preparatory visit to the farms by the Agriculture Committee of the Free State Legislature a request was made to the Faculty to host a larger visit by the Legislative Committees of the Free State, North West and Eastern Cape Provincial Legislatures on Monday 25 October 2004 and present details of the training programme.

The President of NAFU in the Free State Province, Mr Nox Nonkonyana, the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, the Chair of the Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development, Councilor Thami Stander, and the Chairperson of the Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture, Mr M Nketu, will address the Legislators during the occasion.

Prof Herman van Schalkwyk

Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
25 Oktober 2004

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