Dr Mthokozisi Simelane's undergraduate and postgraduate training was completed at the University of Zululand. After successfully completing his first degree in Biomedical Science at the age of 21, he continued to study biochemistry at the same university because of his deep interest in biochemical reactions and the quest for more scientific knowledge of traditional medicine popular in the culture around me in Zululand. His masters' project was on the study of the lactogenic activity of Gunnera perpensa L., a South African medicinal plant.
The successful completion of his master’s degree encouraged him to continue to pursue a PhD degree working on the anti-malaria activity of Hypoxis colchicifolia, Mimusops caffra, and Mimusops obtusifolia. The management of the University of Zululand recognised his hard work in research and his academic knowledge of biochemistry and employed him as a junior lecturer (Part-time) in biochemistry from 2011 – 2013. It was during these early years of teaching that he developed an undoubted love for academics. His research work was very fruitful that he published a refereed journal article in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Research in 2010. There was no turning back. He continued academic work very vigorously and completed his PhD degree in 2013. During the period of his academic career, he started a research collaboration with a Professor of Chemistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to expand his skills and knowledge of natural products chemistry.
After completing my PhD degree, Dr Simelane was employed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus, to teach biochemistry courses and carry out advanced research on plant-derived drugs for malaria, cancer, and diabetes control. He continued to collaborate with renowned scholars locally and internationally. A post-doctoral experience at the University of Michigan (USA) in 2017 has enabled him to gain experience and knowledge of advanced biochemistry.
Consequent to his dedication to academics, Dr Simelane attended local and international conferences, published several peer-reviewed papers, and contributions to textbook chapters. He has been fortunate to invent and acquire an international patent on the activity of an anti-malaria compound from a South African plant. He is in the process of developing a PCT patent for the invention. In recognition of his research and teaching achievements coupled with his international exposure, he was employed as a senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg. He shall continue to work hard and excel in his academic career and service to the community via his participation in the review of submitted manuscripts to scholarly journals, locally and internationally. Dr Simelane shall not minimise his support and knowledge sharing with the local medicinal plant's beneficiation industry.
