Prof. Uchechukwu U. Nwodo
Professor Nwodo is currently the Head, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Fort Hare and, an MSc (Medical Virology) and BSc (combined Honours; Microbiology/Biochemistry) respectively from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2013, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare for one year prior to his appointment as a faculty member. Professor Nwodo likewise hold other certificates in Bioentrepreneurship, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology and Molecular biology and Laboratory safety techniques from notable institutions. Professor Nwodo is an NRF rated (Y2) researcher and in 2016, he was a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Emerging Researcher award for the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare. And, from the international sphere, he served as a visiting Professor at the University of Tübingen, Germany (2016). He’s been recognised with prestigious awards for emerging and young scientists some of which includes the competitive German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)/ the World Academy of Science (TWAS) Cooperation Visit for Scientists (2016), the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene award (2015), the Biovision/TWAS Alexandria, Egypt Award (2013 – 2015), Biovision/TWAS Lyon France Award (2014 – 2015) respectively, and the Federation for European Microbiological Society (FEMS) Young Affiliate Award, Leipzig, Germany (2013). Professor Nwodo has to his credit one hundred and thirty five (135) publications comprising of sixty (60) peer-reviewed journal articles published in (ISI and Thomson-Reuters indexed) high impact factored journals, thirty five (35) international and national conference proceedings and forty (40) nucleotide sequences. His research focuses on the bio-molecules of added value, disease and antibiotic resistance determinants and natural product chemistry thematic areas. Some of Professor Nwodo’s active research collaborations are with the Gene Ecology Research Institute, University of Tromso, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany, University of Cairo, Egypt, University of Ottawa, Canada, Universitaire El Manar, Tunisie, Tunisia and Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization, Tanzania. Professor Nwodo has enjoyed immense funding support from the ESKOM power utility company of South Africa (TESP-ESKOM), the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), the Technology Innovation Agency of South Africa (TIA), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), German Research Foundation (DFG), the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre (GMRDC). Conclusively, Professor Nwodo is blessed with a beautiful and an amiable wife, a son and a daughter. Their love and support gives him ambient psychological balance for optimum work performance. |