Vivian Chiamaka Nwokorogu, a doctoral researcher at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), has brought distinction to the university after winning first prize for Best Poster Presentation at the African Metabolomics Conference held at the Misty Hills Hotel and Conference Centre recently.
The science conference connected researchers, institutions, and industry partners to drive scientific discovery and innovation, fostering excellence in metabolomics research through collaborative networks and continuous education.
Nwokorogu, who is pursuing her PhD in Biotechnology, described winning at the prestigious African Metabolomics Conference as both an honour and a humbling experience. “It is encouraging to see our work recognised by experts in the metabolomics community. This achievement would not have been possible without the mentorship and guidance of my supervisor, Professor Sabiu Saheed, and my co-supervisors, Prof Aurelia Williams, Prof Martin Nyaga, Prof Kimesh Naidoo, and Prof Nathlee Abbai, whose support and scientific insight have been invaluable throughout this research journey. I am also grateful to DUT for providing a supportive and collaborative research environment,” she said.
She further acknowledged the National Research Foundation for supporting her doctoral studies through a scholarship, saying this recognition motivates her to continue working diligently and contributing to impactful research.
Nwokorogu’s research integrates molecular biology, microbial genomics, and human metabolomics, focusing on multi-omics approaches to understanding enteric and infectious diseases in human and avian hosts. She has previously completed her Master of Applied Science in Biotechnology at DUT, graduating with Cum Laude and receiving the Dean’s Merit Award for Academic Excellence in 2023. She has also contributed to international scholarly publications, including a Springer Nature reference work on targeted and untargeted metabolomics.
When asked how she first heard of the competition, Nwokorogu explained that she learned about the conference through the Metabolomics South Africa network, of which she is a member, when the call for abstracts was circulated. “The opportunity was also shared within our Computational and Systems Biology Research Group by my supervisor, Prof Saheed. Since the conference brings together researchers working in metabolomics across Africa, it provided an excellent platform to present part of my doctoral research. I submitted an abstract, which was accepted for presentation,” she said.
The competition formed part of the scientific programme of the African Metabolomics Conference, where researchers presented their work through poster and oral presentations evaluated by experts in the field. “The competition evaluated scientific content, novelty, and presentation quality, including clarity of the research question, appropriateness of methods, strength of interpretation, visual design, and how well the presenter handled questions. My presentation was titled Quality control-guided optimisation of stool extraction solvents for untargeted dual-polarity LC-MS metabolomics. The study focused on identifying the most reliable solvent system for extracting metabolites from stool samples to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of metabolomics analysis in microbiome and clinical research,” she explained.
Nwokorogu said she hoped to receive constructive feedback to improve the project. She also noted that the opportunity supports her development as an early researcher capable of communicating findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. “I also hope it helps increase the visibility of the research being conducted at DUT and contributes to advancing metabolomics research that can inform better health decisions,” she added.
Looking ahead, her immediate goal is to complete her PhD, strengthen the quality of her data analysis, and publish the findings in reputable journals. “I also aim to further develop my skills in metabolomics interpretation, reproducible workflows, and multi-omics integration. I hope to contribute to translational research that improves understanding of enteric and infectious diseases, supports better diagnostic and treatment approaches, and builds meaningful research collaborations,” she explained.
Her advice to future students who wish to enter similar competitions is to believe in the value of their work and not hesitate to share it. “Competitions like this are excellent opportunities to learn, receive feedback, and grow as an early researcher,” she concluded.
Pictured: Vivian Chiamaka Nwokorogu
Waheeda Peters
