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From curiosity to contribution: A PhD journey in Plant Stress Biology

08 April 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

Sellwane Moloi — Sellwane Jeanette Moloi celebrates graduating with a PhD in plant stress biology, contributing vital research toward global food security through drought-tolerant wheat studies.

Embarking on a PhD is a transformative journey, one filled with intellectual challenges, personal growth, and the potential to contribute meaningfully to one's field. For Sellwane Jeanette Moloi – who has graduated with her PhD on Friday 4 April during the afternoon session – the path was illuminated by a deep fascination with plants and a determination to address the critical issue of global food security.

A spark of curiosity

"The initial spark came from a deep curiosity about plants," Moloi shared. "I was intrigued by how plants function and the key mechanisms that help them survive when exposed to various environmental stress factors. Learning different techniques used to study and analyse plant responses to environmental factors made me even more intrigued." This curiosity fuelled a rigorous exploration into plant stress biology, focusing on how wheat thrives under drought conditions.

Navigating the challenges

Reflecting on the experience, however, the PhD journey was not without its hurdles. "One of the most challenging aspects was staying motivated and managing pressure," Moloi confessed. "Setbacks and slow progress can also be overwhelming." Overcoming these obstacles required a strategic approach: "I had to break down larger tasks into manageable tasks and also seek support from my supervisors."

Doubts inevitably arose, especially when experiments did not go as planned. "There were moments when I asked myself what I had actually gotten myself into," she admitted. However, the unwavering support of supervisors, colleagues, friends, and family provided the necessary reassurance. "They always assured me things would work out; I needed to hang in there."

Key discoveries and achievements

Amid the challenges, significant discoveries were made. Notably, Moloi found that a drought-tolerant wheat variety suppressed photosynthesis as a potential strategy to avert oxidative stress damage, maintaining cell membrane integrity during stressful conditions. This unexpected turn stressed the complexity of plant survival mechanisms.

Moloi’s dedication and hard work culminated in significant achievements, including winning the best PhD poster in plant physiology at the 46th South Africa Association of Botanists Conference in 2020, 3rd Prize at the University of Johannesburg Postgraduate Symposium in 2023 and publishing two research articles in high-impact journals. These accomplishments are a testament to her research prowess and contribution to the field.

Developing essential skills

Beyond the research itself, the PhD journey fostered critical skills vital for future success. ‘Critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem-solving’ were highlighted as key takeaways. "As a PhD student, your mind is constantly engaged in critically analysing results and providing logical reasoning. I believe these skills are valuable in tackling certain situations and providing solutions to problems."

Balancing life and research

Balancing research with other aspects of life proved challenging. "That was challenging, but I created a schedule that worked for me," the graduand explained. "This included dedicating certain days (weekends or holidays) or hours to specific tasks, such as lab work or writing. One thing I would advise a PhD student is that they should make time to rest to avoid burnout."

Contribution to food security

Moloi's research holds significant implications for global food security, a pressing issue in the face of climate change and a growing population. "I hope my research will provide insight into how wheat as a cereal crop thrives under drought stress conditions, and the information can be used by plant breeding initiatives in developing more drought-tolerant crops," she stated. "The opportunity to contribute to the field of plant stress biology – my research focuses on understanding plant response mechanisms under drought, and acquiring such information can address issues related to global food security."

Advice for future PhD candidates

For students embarking on their PhD journey, Moloi offered valuable advice: "This degree requires one to be highly motivated and ask for help whenever there are setbacks. There will always be setbacks in research; you need to go back to the drawing board and look for solutions." She also emphasised the importance of seeking support for mental and emotional well-being. "It is okay to feel overwhelmed; the work can be too much at times. Students need to ask for help. We have professionals on campus who can assist with mental or emotional issues."

Furthermore, Moloi shared personal lessons: "Time management and prioritising important tasks. I also learned that it is important to allow yourself to rest. This degree can affect your mental or emotional health." And a candid reflection: "I did not have much of a social life, and I spent most of my time in the lab."

Looking ahead

With a PhD in hand, Moloi aspires to become an expert in her field, collaborating with other researchers and mentoring future students. Her journey exemplifies the dedication, resilience, and intellectual curiosity required to excel in academia and contribute to addressing pressing global challenges.

The university provided essential support throughout her studies, ensuring access to facilities even during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I always had access to the facilities on campus to do my research, even during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Celebrating milestones along the way was crucial, with fellow postgraduates sharing in each other's achievements. "My fellow postgraduates and I often went out for lunch to celebrate everyone's achievements." And the support system was extensive: "Everyone – family, supervisors, friends, and colleagues.”

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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