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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

Faculty of Law establishes unique panel of advisors

2005-11-11

Photo: Stephen Collett

Some of the panel members who attended the Collegium Iurisprudentium of the Faculty of Law at the UFS were from the left His Honorable Judge of Appeal Lex Mpati (Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Appeal), His Honorable Judge of Appeal Joos Hefer (former Chief Justice of South Africa), His Honorable Judge of Appeal Frits Brand (Supreme Court of Appeal) and Mrs Alet Ellis (lecturer at the UFS Faculty of Law).

At the back from left were Prof Johan Henning (Dean: Faculty of Law at the UFS), His Honorable Judge Faan Hancke (High Court of the Free State and chairperson of the UFS Council) and Adv Jannie Lubbe Sc.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) has established a panel of advisors comprising of all the honorary and extraordinary professors of the faculty.

“The faculty has been known for its excellent practice-orientated training as well as the involvement of law practitioners in the training of LL B-students,” said Prof Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS.

“The faculty was greatly dependent on the services of advocate lecturers, full-time members of the Bar and Side Bar who lectured on a part-time basis at the faculty. For this reason lecturing in the faculty was mainly done after-hours to part-time students,” said Prof Henning.

With the shift in emphasis to full-time lecturing and the appointment of full-time lecturers, especially because of the increasing student numbers, the full-time LL B-programme and the increasing pressure on students for quality research inputs, a greater need for meaningful contributions of judges and senior law practitioners to the faculty was experienced.

“To comply with this urgent need, three honorary professors and nine extraordinary professors were appointed. This group of experts deliver an indispensable contribution to the practice orientation of the faculty by means of formal lectures, public inaugural lectures and guest lectures, direct lectures to graduate and post-graduate students, participation in research projects and the constant evaluation of lecturers, modules and the content of modules and learning material. The international exposure of students and lecturers is also promoted by their contribution,” said Prof Henning.
“A need to have the involvement of this special class of professors structured in a more organised way was identified and a decision was made to establish an advisory panel called Collegium Iurisprudentium. It is a privilege to us that all the honorary and extraordinary professors accepted the invitation,” said Prof Henning.

The panel will provide the faculty with continuous, distinguished, practice- orientated capability and capacity as well as international expertise, not only for direct inputs to students but also to advise lecturers about the curriculum, the compilation of the content of the LL B and M module, learning material and others, as well as to strengthen the research capacity of the faculty.

“The panel will also deliver a decisive contribution to the faculty’s preparation for the constitutional audit of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council for Higher Education (CHE) that will take place in October 2006,” said Prof Henning.

The Collegium Iurisprudentium, which has been formally constituted, comprises of:

Appeal Court Judge J J F Hefer,
Appeal Court Judge L Mpati
Appeal Court Judge F D J Brand
Appeal Court Judge I G Farlam
Prof B A K Rider
Judge S P B Hancke
Judge A Kruger
Judge D H van Zyl
Adv S J Naudé
Adv J Lubbe Sc
Prof M M Katz
Prof R J Cook
Mr S van de Merwe
Mr W van der Westhuizen
Mr D C M Gihwala

Media release
Issued by:Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
11 November 2005

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