Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
14 June 2024
|
Story Anthony Mthembu
|
Photo Suplied
Jeremiah Hlahla, a UFS student completing his PhD in Botany at the University of Debrecen as part of an exchange initiative funded by the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme.
As part of an exchange initiative facilitated by the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme, Jeremiah Hlahla, a student at the University of the Free State (UFS), is nearing the completion of his PhD studies at the University of Debrecen in Hungary. Hlahla’s journey, which began in February 2024 and is set to conclude in July 2024, has been a remarkable learning opportunity. “As a first time-traveller to Europe, I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with people from different countries and cultures,” he said.
The benefits of international collaboration
Hlahla is currently pursuing a PhD in Botany, focusing on plant stress physiology. “My current PhD project investigates the physiological, biochemical and morphological responses of vegetable-type soybean, or edamame, to combined drought and heat stress,’’ he explained. He considers the University of Debrecen the ideal institution to complete his research due to its extensive expertise and resources in similar projects. He noted that his colleagues at Debrecen conduct significant work on plant protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, including salt and drought stress, as well as proteins and amino acids in barley and other legumes.
Given the vast knowledge available on similar projects, Hlahla has found substantial engagement with his work at the University of Debrecen. “Upon arrival, I delivered an introductory lecture presenting my UFS project on the synergistic effects of combined drought and heat stress on the physiology and biochemistry of edamame. It was an engaging session as everyone could relate to my work and asked many questions,’’ he said.
Insights gained from the exchange
Hlahla has also gained valuable lessons that will assist him in his research career, including biotechnology and physiology tools. “I learned how to prepare samples and use high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) to quantify proteins and amino acids,’’ he said. These techniques are beneficial not only for his current work but will also support future soybean research.
As his experience at the University of Debrecen nears its end, Hlahla reflects on the collaborations and friendships he has formed, which stand out as a significant highlight.
Grant of almost R3 million from the NRF for researchers
2007-02-13
The Research Directorate at the University of the Free State (UFS) received a grant of almost R3 million this year from the National Research Foundation (NRF) for the development of young researchers from the designated groups through the Thuthuka capacity building programme. The amount of grant holders increased during the past four years from five successful applications in 2003 to a phenomenal 44 this year. The Thuthuka programme is a partnership programme in which the UFS contributes two thirds of each grant holder's funding. This year, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS is also taking part in the programme for the first time.
Here are, from the left: Ms Lizelle Janse van Rensburg (grant holder), Mr Antonie Pool (grant holder), Mr Arno van Niekerk (grant holder), Ms Annelize Venter (programme co-ordinator at the UFS Directorate of Research Development), Prof Phillipe Burger (chairperson of the Department of Economics at the UFS), Mr Johan Coetzee (grant holder) and Prof Lucius Botes (chairperson of the faculty's research committee).