Lyn-Marie Birkholtz is a Full Professor in Biochemistry and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Sustainable Malaria Control. She leads malaria parasite research within the University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control.
Prof Birkholtz’s research contributes to malaria elimination in South Africa by using systems biology to incite drug discovery towards blocking malaria transmission. Her research resonates with the ASSAf objectives to inspire, promote and recognize excellence in scientific practice, to remove barriers in sharing scientific knowledge and promote a culture of science in the population at large.
Prof Birkholtz has received numerous international scientific awards, including a Mellon Foundation Mentorship Grant for her PhD studies; Trends in Parasitology Best Poster Presentation award at the Molecular Approaches of Malaria Conference, Lorne, Australia; IUBMB and ACGT Fellowships and Exceptional Young Scientist Award, University of Pretoria 2010. She is a grant holder of EU PF7, NRF, NRF Thuthuka, MRC, SAMI as well as bilateral scientific exchange grants with Germany, Sweden, Australia and the UK.