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Young PhD graduate receives prestigious bursary to advance cancer and antibiotic research

13 December 2024 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Stephen Collett

Dr Francois Jacobs, a 30-year-old PhD graduate, has recently returned from an intensive training workshop in Harwell, Oxford, courtesy of the David Blow Bursary. This prestigious award recognises outstanding African researchers making significant contributions to macromolecular crystallography.

Dr Jacobs earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry on Monday, 9 December. While earning a PhD by the age of 30 was not part of his initial plan, he always aspired to pursue higher education. “From a young age, I had a strong desire to study at university. Once I got there, my ambition shifted towards obtaining a PhD,” he says, reflecting on the journey that led to this remarkable achievement.

Groundbreaking research on cancer and antibiotics

Dr Jacobs’ research addresses some of the most pressing health challenges of our time: cancer and antibiotic resistance. Using crystallography, he investigates the interactions between newly developed anticancer and antibacterial compounds and biological structures such as proteins at the atomic level. This work is vital in combating the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and advancing cancer treatments.

"For me, it's about seeing humans thrive and reducing the suffering caused by illness," he explains. "I lost my grandmother to cancer, and I hope my work can spare someone else’s loved one from a similar loss."

Prestigious workshop with global experts

The "DLS-CCP4 Data Collection and Structure Solution Workshop," hosted by Diamond Light Source, offered Dr Jacobs an unparalleled opportunity to learn from leading experts in macromolecular crystallography. The workshop covered critical skills such as growing protein and DNA crystals, preventing degradation during data collection, and processing complex data. Participants also gained insights directly from the engineers and scientists behind the facility’s cutting-edge software and synchrotron technology.

“It was an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in the field,” says Dr Jacobs. “Not only did I acquire new skills, but I also forged new collaborations with potential research partners who can help take my work to the next level.”

The David Blow Bursary, which enabled Dr Jacobs to attend this workshop, is awarded to African researchers conducting impactful macromolecular crystallography studies.

"This training has been transformative," he adds. "It is a fantastic experience for any aspiring researcher, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to learn from these experts. Many researchers who attend workshops like this go on to work at the Diamond Light Source itself. I am eager to see where this training will take me."

A vision for the future

As Dr Jacobs continues his research, he remains driven by the hope that his work will lead to life-saving advancements in healthcare. “I want my research to provide hope and solutions for individuals battling cancer and bacterial infections,” he says.

His achievements exemplify the transformative power of education, research, and collaboration, and his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring researchers across Africa.

News Archive

UFS changes format of graduation ceremony

2011-04-17

The highest number of qualifications in the history of the University of the Free State (UFS) will be awarded at the autumn diploma and graduation ceremony from 9-11 May 2011, which will be held in the Callie Human Centre on our Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

From this year, the format of the ceremony will change to make it more visible to students and the public. For the first time, all the doctoral and master’s degrees from each respective faculty will be conferred during one ceremony on 11 May 2011, instead of each faculty handling these qualifications individually. Another change in the format is that the procession will gather on the Red Square in front of the Main Building and move to the Callie Human Centre from there. Both academic staff and graduands will partake in the procession.

A total of 3 674 qualifications will be conferred during this year’s graduation ceremony, including 629 diplomas, 2 613 Bachelors and honours degrees, 372 master’s degrees and 58 doctorates.

An honorary doctorate in Drama and Theatre Arts will also be awarded to theatre stalwart Mr Pieter Fourie. He is one of the most acclaimed Afrikaans playwrights in South Africa and probably the only person to have left his mark as an actor, director, artistic director and writer.

Mr Fourie was awarded the Gerhard Beukes prize for drama , was honoured for his contribution to the arts by the South African Academy for Science and Arts and was appointed as trustee of the Arts and Culture Trust of the State President in 1997. He has also served as a committee member of the South African Academy for Science and Arts.

Mr. Fourie has also been the proud recipient of the Hertzog prize for drama, two FNB-Vita awards and a Fleur Du Cap award.

The full programme for the respective ceremonies is as follows:

Monday, 9 May 2011:

At 08:30, certificates and diplomas, excluding PGED and PGES, will be awarded to graduates from the Faculty of Education and at 12:00 PGED, PGED and B and honours degrees will be awarded to students from the same faculty. At 15:30 on the same day, certificates and B and honours degrees will be awarded to students in the Faculty of the Humanities.

At 19:00, the Faculties of Education, the Humanities and Economic and Management Sciences will have their prize-giving ceremonies for outstanding achievers.

Tuesday, 10 May 2011:

At 08:30, students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences will graduate and at and 12:00 the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science will join them. This includes students in BML, B.Admin., B.Pub. and related honours degrees. At 15:30, 503 students from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will receive their certificates, diplomas and B and honours degrees.

At 19:00, the Faculties of Health Sciences, Natural and Agriculture Sciences, Law and Theology will have their prize-giving ceremonies.

Wednesday, 11 May 2011:

The Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Theology will be awarding their certificates, diplomas and B and honours degrees at 08:30. At 12:00, all faculties will award a total of 372 master’s degrees and at 15:30 a total of 58 doctorates will be conferred.

The Chancellor’s Dinner will take place in the Centenary Complex on the Main Campus of the UFS at 19:00.

The graduation ceremony of our Qwaqwa Campus will take place in the Rolihlahla Mandela Hall on the Qwaqwa Campus on 7 May 2011 at 10:00. All the faculties at this campus will confer their degrees, certificates and diplomas at this ceremony.

Media Release
21 April 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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