Professor Idah Sithole-Niang
PhD – Biochemistry (1988) Michigan State University, USA; BSc Hons Biochemistry (1982) University of London UK
Discipline: Biochemistry
Department: Biochemistry
Bio & Academic Appointments
- Professor, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry, Jan 2013
- Associate Professor, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry Jan 2004-2012
- Chairperson of Department, University of Zimbabwe, Biochemistry Dec 2008- June 2011
- Senior Lecturer, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry, 1998-2003
- Lecturer, University of Zimbabwe, Department of Biochemistry, 1992-1998
- Visiting Scientists, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA, 1993-1995.
- Visiting Scientists, University of Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France Nov 1992
- Research Associate, Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, 1988-1992
- External Examiner, Department of Applied Biology & Biochemistry, National University of Science & Technology, October 2005 -2016
- External Examiner, Chinhoyi University of Technology, October 2005 -2007.
- External Examiner, University of Namibia, Biology Department 2006- 2011.
- External Examiner, University of the West Indies, Department of Basic Biology 2008.
- Participated in several Expert Consultative & Strategic Planning meetings on Biotechnology & Biosafety globally.
Research InterestsMolecular Biology, Virology & Biotechnology
- Characterization of bacterial and fungal endophytes from Medicinal Plants of Zimbabwe
- Soil Microbiology of Zimbabwe & Metagenomics of Extreme Environments
- Crop Improvement With Special Emphasis on Genetic Engineering of Virus Resistance to Cowpea Aphis-Borne Mosaic Virus (CABMV)
Grants & Funding (Current & Past Projects)
- Provision of a Teaching Kit to Support Molecular Biology Training at the University of Zimbabwe: Kirkhouse Trust
- Rockefeller Foundation
- USAID Bean/cowpea CRSP
- GMASSURE
- African Soils Microbiology Project
- Molecular Reagents Manufacturers (MRM): Laboratory Equipment & Consumables (LEC)
Awards & Achievements
- STEMFem Award. Women Leading in STEM Research Biotechnology Education. 2018.
- Winner 2017 Science in Africa: Celebrating African Scientists advancing the continent and the world.
- Rockefeller Biotechnology Career Fellow, June 1992-1995.
- The first William L. Brown & Inaugural ISAAA fellowship awarded to outstanding biotechnologist, 1990.
- Outstanding Graduate Woman of the Year, Michigan State University, 1988
Consultancy & Advisory Work (Current & Past)
- IFPRI/PBS
- World Bank
- USAID
- FAO
- AATF/NGICA Cowpea Productivity & Utilization Project
- IMAS-CIMMYT
- IITA
Supervision Information
- 58 Honours Students completed 6 ongoing
- 48 Masters Students completed and 3 ongoing
- 1 MPhil: supervisor: ongoing
- 5 DPhil: Supervisor /co-supervisor on going
- 8 DPhil Completed
Professional Memberships & Boards
- Fellow World Academy of the Sciences (TWAS)
- Fellow Zimbabwe Academy of the Sciences (ZAS)
- Vice Chairperson, Research Council of Zimbabwe
- Member of the University of Zimbabwe Council. July 2015- June 2018. & Sept 2018 to 2021.
- Chair, UZ Publications Committee
- Editorial Advisory Board for Acta Scientific Pharmaceutical Sciences Jan 2018
- Committee member of the Education Committee for Higher Life Foundation 2018 –
Formerly:
-
Member of the International Advisory Board on the Horticulture Innovation Lab at University of California, Davis, Jan 2014-2017. -
Member of the Independent Review Panel of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Mid-Term Review Panel chaired by Professor Sir John Beddington. Nov 2013-2014 -
Formerly Advisor to Mr. Kofi Annan when he was Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Board of Trustees; and I now serve as a Member of the Grants Review Committee (GRC) of the AGR) and. Oct 2012- Jan 2018. -
Board Chair and Trustee of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) 2009, and Chair 2011- 2015; and now serve as Ambassador to AATF Board, 2016-2018. -
Member of the Inaugural Oversight Committee for the Improved Maize for African Soils (IMAS) 2010- 2015. -
Chairperson of the Inaugural African Women for Agricultural Research & Development Steering Committee (AWARD-SC), 2008, Vice Chairperson 2010-2011, and Chair 2011- 2016. -
Member of the Rhodes scholarship Committee 2008- 2013. -
Editorial Advisory to the journal, Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 2004 –present -
Member of the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Governing Council 2003-2008, and Chair of the Nominations Committee and Vice Chairperson Jan 2006-2008. -
Co-coordinator of the Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea for Africa (NGICA), 2001-
External Profile Links (Google Scholar, ResearchGate, LinkedIn, other social media links)
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Contact Information
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- +263-733412801
- +263-771674711