ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9184-1360

SCOPUS ID: 6505713815

Qualification & Institution: BSc (HONS), M.Sc. (Cum Laude) UDW, DTech (DUT).

Area of Expertise: Water microbiology, biostatistics, survey and treatment of microbial pathogens in water
.
Short Bio: Prof Swalaha is the head of an excellent team who are the Department of Biotechnology and Food science. He has worked extensively in the fields of biological wastewater treatment with the aid of mathematical modelling and statistical experimental design. Prof. Swalaha is has previously worked on modelling anaerobic digestion with genetic algorithms, applying constructed wetlands to urban water treatment and algal scrubbing of CO2 emissions from waste industrial gases. He is currently heading a unit for waterborne pathogens and is investigating the efficacy of pathogenic bacteria removal during wastewater treatment, risks of transfer of pathogens in agricultural products and development of standards for viral pathogen monitoring in rivers.

Academic Interests: Water and wastewater treatment, water -borne microbial pathogens, biostatistics, academic leadership and management.

Area of Expertise: Office Administration

Qualification & Institution: Advanced Diploma in Business and Information Management (DUT)

Area of Expertise: Office Administration

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5032-3092
SCOPUS ID: 15078201000

Qualification & Institution: PhD (UKZN)

Area of Expertise: Molecular Biology, Enzyme Technology

Short Bio: Prof Kugen Permaul obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His early research projects focused on bacterial molecular genetics, especially plasmid biology. He graduated with a Ph.D in 1999 and spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow before leads the Enzyme Technology Research Group – a focus area of research at DUT. He has steadily progressed up the academic ranks and was awarded full professorship in 2011. He was appointed as Head of the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology from 2014-2017. His research projects involved: detection and quantification of mycotoxins in food commodities; production of potable water by ultrafiltration; characterisation and production of amylase, inulinase and chitinase enzymes; directed evolution and expression of a xylanase enzyme and genomic sequencing of a thermophilic fungus. Current research projects focus on expression of carbohydrase genes; and the use of chitin as a bioresource. He was the principal investigator of a BRICS bioethanol project involving researchers from universities from all 5 BRICS nations and is involved in a new BRICS biohydrogen grant until 2025.

Academic Interests: Microbiology, Biotechnology, Science Awareness

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0958-9846
SCOPUS ID: 56056164600

Qualification & Institution: PhD (TUGraz, Austria)

Area of Expertise: Enzyme Biotechnology, Biocatalysis, Biomaterials
.
Short Bio: Professor Kudanga joined the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science as Associate Professor in September 2014 and was promoted to Full Professor in December 2018. His areas of expertise include enzyme Biotechnology, biocatalysis and biomaterials. His current research focuses mainly on enzymatic synthesis of bioactive compounds, enzymatic modification of food biopolymers, and development of green technologies for functionalization of lignocellulose materials. Readmore

Qualification & Institution: PhD Food Science (UP)

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6299-0466
SCOPUS ID: 26021735700

Area of Expertise: Functional food biopolymers
.
Short Bio: Prof Amonsou is currently a C2-Rated NRF Scientist in South Africa and the leader of the Food and Nutrition security research focus area at the Durban University of Technology. He won several awards including the DUT innovators of the year. Prof Amonsou research activities focused on plant protein characterisation and modification for improved functionality and application in emulsion stabilisation and formation of hydrogels. Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6283-8517

Qualification & Institution: PhD Food Science (UP)

Area of Expertise: Food Safety and Quality
.
Short Bio: Professor Ijabadeniyi is a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology. His current research focuses on incidence of food borne pathogens that constitute public health risk, including Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli OI57:H7 Salmonella and Aspergillus flavus. The use of different interventions to control persistent pathogens in foods also form a vital part of his food safety… Readmore

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4784-699X
SCOPUS ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=41361686800
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=w9MIhQUAAAAJ&hl=en

Qualification & Institution: DTech: Food Technology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Bioactive peptides, Nutraceuticals/functional foods, Starch functionality
.
Short Bio: Prof John Mellem is an Associate Professor within the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). His role at DUT focuses on capacity development through teaching, research, and postgraduate supervision, and is one of three leading researchers within a relatively newly created research focus area in DUT, “Food and Nutrition Security”. Furthermore, he is also involved in collaborative projects with various members of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) with research focused around the use of indigenous underutilized food crops for innovative product development in the form of value addition, technology transfer and market improvement. He has been involved in the area Food Technology/ Plant Biotechnology research since 2004 with projects that have being based on the use of an indigenous food crop for phytoremediation of heavy metals, production of wine from indigenous palms, and the use of indigenous grains/legumes to address non-communicable diseases. Currently, his research focuses on the characterization of biomolecules for the development of functional foods or nutraceuticals to address non-communicable diseases [viz. diabetes, cancer, CVD (cardiovascular diseases)], and malnutrition. Specific interests include the health benefits of antioxidants/ phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes against oxidative stress, and the development of bionanomaterials for the delivery of bioactive compounds.

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7209-9220
SCOPUS ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56530797400
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nr2-nNQAAAAJ&hl=en
WOS: https://publons.com/researcher/1456663/saheed-sabiu/

Qualification & Institution: Ph.D (UFS)

Area of Expertise: Computational Drug Discovery and Development, Phytotherapeutics, Computational and Systems Biology, Redox Biology, and Metagenomics
.
Short Bio: Prof. Saheed leads the Computational Drug Discovery and Development Research Group in the Department. The Group bioprospects for secondary metabolites against degenerative and microbial diseases for new small molecule targets discovery. He is also interested in the molecular dynamics of enteric and respiratory viruses using whole-genome sequencing, in silico and metagenomic approaches. His research has attracted funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Council (MRC). He has mentored several postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Besides holding the NRF Y-rating as an emerging researcher, Prof. Saheed is a Fellow of the Future Professors Program of the DHET and a member of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Focus Group on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD).

Academic Interests: Computational and Systems Biology, Biochemistry, Medical Biotechnology and Virology.

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0103-7089
SCOPUS ID: 14825471800
Web of Science Researcher ID: AAW-6205-2020

Qualification & Institution: B.Tech (Durban University of Technology)
Area of Expertise: Phytochemistry and Drug Discovery
.
Short Bio: Prof Viresh Mohanlall is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. Biochemistry, phytochemistry, indigenous plant knowledge, nanotechnology, drug discovery and development, and analytical chemistry are among his areas of expertise. The Plant Biotechnology Research Group, led by Professor Mohanlall has isolated new lead compounds from plant species and created chemical analogues of natural compounds to enhance their biological activity. Research in synthetic chemistry is currently focused on the development of novel benzopyridines and coumarins. A patent application was submitted in 2019 (PATENT APPLICATION NO. 2019/05328) for the newly synthesized coumarins that showed tremendous potential as a treatment for tuberculosis. Furthermore, we have recently concentrated on the synthesis and structural elucidation of analogues that mimic the biological activity of plant metabolites with important pharmacological properties. Prof Mohanlall’s group is currently conducting research on the synthesis and structural analysis of novel synthetic coumarin scaffolds in order to determine their potential pharmacological properties as well as the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, and anti-diabetic properties of Momordica balsamina. The group has also completed several other studies involving B.Tech, BAppSc (Hons.), M.AppSc., PhD., and Postdoctoral students, including the structural elucidation of novel secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, glycosylates, terpenoids, flavonoids, and anthraquinones.

Academic Interests: Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, Curriculum design and development, Blended Teaching and Assessment Strategies and Technologies.

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-3474-1555
SCOPUS ID: 57194010507

Qualification & Institution: DTech: Biotechnology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Microbial Biotechnology, Enzymology, Plant Pathology
.
Short Bio: Prof Santhosh K Pillai is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. His passion lies in teaching and training undergraduate students in Fermentation Science, Mycology and Bacteriology. Prof Pillai is actively involved in research, and his current research area encompasses bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to bioenergy and other value-added products (biohydrogen,… Readmore

Qualification & Institution: PhD (UFS)
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7209-9220
SCOPUS ID: 56530797400/56534012900

Area of Expertise: Drug Discovery/Development, Phytotherapeutics, and Viral Metagenomics
.
Short Bio: Dr. Saheed is an NRF Y-rated researcher and currently researching into the detailed concepts of therapeutic mechanisms of secondary metabolites in degenerative and microbial diseases while reporting health benefits in a way that will provide valuable data which will lead to new small molecule targets that could potentially be lead for drug discovery.  Readmore

Qualification & Institution: MTech: Biotechnology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Microbiology, Medical Mycology
.
Short Bio: Ms Juglal delivers the modules in Food Microbiology and Food Biotechnology, and team teaches Bacteriology 3 for the Degree program. She is the undergraduate staff-student liaison for Biotechnology and co-ordinates the admissions for the Advanced Diploma in the Biotechnology program. She is part of the team that developed, and hosts the short course on Good Microbiological Practices. Ms Juglal’s current research study involves filamentous fungal respiratory infections.

Qualification & Institution: PhD: Microbiology (UKZN)

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6129-1364
SCOPUS ID: 57212553406

Area of Expertise: Microbial Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Dr Pillay have graduated with a PhD in 2013 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2015, she has been employed at the Durban University of Technology as a lecturer and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Coordinator. She is part of a research group that focuses on therapeutic mechanisms of secondary metabolites in degenerative and microbial diseases. She is involved in many studies on drug discovery and development using computational bioinformatic software and associated in vitro studies. Dr Pillay has taught numerous modules at the undergraduate level with supervision of four BTech, 2 Honours and co-supervision of one Master student. She is currently the WIL Coordinator and academic mentor for both the Biotechnology and Food Technology Diploma programmes. Dr Pillay also serves as the SETA and Industry liaison. She is responsible for securing internships for the Bachelor of Applied Science graduates in both Biotechnology and Food Science. She has secured and upholds the strong relationship between the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, and the industry.

Academic Interests: Drug discovery and development, Biocorrosion, Bioremediation.

Qualification & Institution: PhD Biotechnology; Durban University of Technology

Area of Expertise: Microbiology: Food Microbiology and Medical Mycology
.
Short Bio: Teaching subjects: Food Microbiology, Food Biotechnology and Bacteriology.
Area of PhD research: Respiratory fungal infections.
Research area: Food Microbiology/Safety and Mycology.

Academic Interests: Alumni engagement to impact student development; Student mentoring; Industry liaison.

Qualification & Institution: PhD: Microbiology (UKZN)
Area of Expertise: Microbial Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Dr Pillay have graduated with a PhD in 2013 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2015, she has been employed at the Durban University of Technology as a lecturer and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Coordinator. Dr Pillay has taught numerous modules at the undergraduate level with supervision of four BTech students and co-supervision of one Master student. Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1107-7110
SCOPUS ID: 36504152900

Qualification & Institution: PhD (UKZN)
Area of Expertise: Genomics; proteomics
.
Short Bio: My current interests include the production of industrially relevant products using novel enzymes. The genes for that code for these enzymes are cloned are cloned into suitable host for high levels of expression.
.
Academic Interests: Conversion and use of spent algal biomass

Qualification & Institution: MAppSc: Food Science and Technology (DUT)

Research Links: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6741-4476

Area of Expertise: Research, Plant Polysaccharides

Short Bio: Ms Nyawose joined DUT as an undergraduate student in 2011. She completed her Masters in 2019 and currently pursuing her PhD in Food Science and Technology. Currently, her research focuses on the anticancer potential of plant peptides.
.
Academic Interests: Research, Food Chemistry, Food Science and Technology.

Qualification & Institution: Doctor of Food Science and Technology

Area of Expertise: Food product development, food processing and preservation, food quality assurance and control
.
Short Bio: Dr Beekrum is a graduate from DUT (MTech: Food Technology). Her teaching responsibilities include Food Quality Management, Food Product Development, Food Legislation and Advances in Food Science. In addition, she is the staff student liaison for the Food Science students. She is also involved in facilitating short courses for the food industry. Her current research area focuses on the valorization of agricultural waste into value added food products.

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2261-413X

Qualification & Institution: Ph.D. (Microbiology) – University of Delhi, India

Area of Expertise: Environmental Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology, Microbiology
.
Short Bio: Dr Puri joined the Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology as a postdoctoral fellow in the Enzyme Technology Research group during April 2013. His area of expertise include Enzyme Technology, Environmental Biotechnology, Fermentation and Microbiology. Readmore

Qualification & Institution: MAppSci – DUT

Area of Expertise: Enzyme technology
.
Short Bio: Mr Melvin’s academic background is on production, purification, characterization and application of enzymes. Currently, he is managing the research laboratories and actively involved in the day-to-day running of the labs. He assists research students with their experiments and operating laboratory equipment.
.
Academic Interests: Bioentrepreneurship

Qualification & Institution BTech: Bachelor of Technology: Biotechnology (DUT)

Area of Expertise: Microbiology
.
Short Bio: Ms R Brijlal is the senior technician in the undergraduate laboratory in the Biotechnology sector of the department. Prior to joining the department, Ms Brijlal worked as a Medical Technologist, specializing in Microbiology. In the department, Ms Brijlal assists in the teaching of the practical component in the following subjects, Bacteriology, Mycology, Virology and Immunology and Industrial Biotechnology.
.
Academic Interests: Microbiology, Bacteriology, Mycology

Qualification & Institution: MTech: Food Technology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Food processing, Food chemistry

Qualification(s): NHD Food technology (NT)
Area of Expertise: Food science & technology
.
Short Bio: Food technologist 21 years experience in Food industry and 20 years in Academia. Proficiency areas-Food product development, analytical testing of food products ,ingredients, packaging (microbial ,physical and chemical), industrial food processing and staff training. Working with food technology students and also assisting start up food companies and entrepreneurs.

Qualification & Institution: BTech: Food Technology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Food science & technology
.
Short Bio: Mrs Mohanlall joined the department in 2012 in the Food Technology department as a food technology laboratory technician. Her area of expertise is food science and technology, food product development, quality assurance in the food industry and food safety and legislation. Readmore

Qualification & Institution: MTech: Biotechnology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Ms Govender obtained her M.Tech in Biotechnology from the Durban University of Technology in 2011. She joined Department of Biotechnology and Food Science in 2003.She is currently a technician in the microbiology laboratory. Her area of expertise is Microbiology. Ms Govender is involved in consultancy, comprising testing of water, food and environmental samples.
.
Academic Interests: Bacteriology, Bioprocessing, Medical Microbiology and Biology.

Qualification & Institution: BTech: Biotechnology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Ms Naicker joined the Department in 1996 as a Biotechnology laboratory technician and currently holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Biotechnology. Her areas of expertise include Food Microbiology, Mycology and Bacteriology. She is the co-ordinator of the tutorship programme that recruits post graduate students to assist with ‘at risk’ students in specific modules of the Biotechnology and Food Science programmes. She is also part of the team that conducts the short course Good Microbiological Laboratory Practice for the department.

Qualification & Institution: MAppSc: Biotechnology
ORCID: 0009-0000-3579-4558

Area of Expertise: Molecular Biology, Recombinant DNA Technology
.
Short Bio: Mrs Mbamali joined the department as a Technician in 2010. She was previously employed as a Biology (DNA) Forensic Analyst. She obtained her MAppSc: Biotechnology (cum laude) in 2021 specialising in Molecular Biology. She is a current PhD Biotechnology candidate, with a specific focus on Genomics and Bioinformatics. Mrs Mbamali is passionate in helping students grasp practical knowledge in the area of Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology.
.
Academic Interests: Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics.

Qualification & Institution: MTech: Biotechnology (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Mrs Mellem joined the department as a Laboratory Technician in 2010. She was previously employed in industry as a Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor. She obtained her MTech: Biotechnology in 2010 within the Research Focus Area of Enzyme Technology. Mrs Mellem has supervised and assisted several undergraduate and postgraduate students. Readmore

Qualification & Institution: BTech: Biotechnology (DUT)

Area of Expertise: Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: Ms Naicker joined the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science in 1996 and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Biotechnology.  She is currently a technician in the Microbiology Laboratory. She is the co-ordinator of the departmental Graduate Assistant programme that recruits post graduate students to assist in the Biotechnology and Food Science practicals.  She is also part of the team that is involved in the planning, co-ordination and participation of short courses offered to Industry viz Good Microbiological Laboratory Practice.

Academic Interests: Food Microbiology, Mycology, Bacteriology, Research Projects.

Qualification & Institution: B-Tech Degree: Food Technology

Area of Expertise: Food Technology, Quality Assurance Food Technology, Quality Assurance

Short Bio: Mrs. Mohanlall is a qualified food technologist, at DUT, with 23 years of experience in the food industry. Mrs. Mohanlall has been in her current position for 11 years with DUT, as a laboratory technician helping students with practicals for several subjects. Specializing in Food Technology 1 and 2, Food Microbial Assurance, Food Safety and Toxicology, Research project, Microbial Biochemistry amongst several others.

Qualification & Institution: Post-Graduate Diploma, UKZN

Area of Expertise: Local Economic Development Specialist

Short Bio: 7yrs Industrial Laboratory Experience, 26yrs service in research laboratory assisting, a short course certificate in Good Laboratory Practice.

Academic Interests: Research Projects

Area of Expertise: Lab Assistant in Biotech and Food Science

• Maintains stock of general laboratory consumables (biohazard boxes, laboratory detergents, disinfectants).
• Maintains stock of and change LPG gas cylinders.
• Routinely cleans designated laboratory including all equipment.
• Product formulation based on the customers need a price and working on sodium reduction project that was successful. This includes seasonings, soups, snack dusting, paste and cook up sauces.
• Preparing mallard reaction and spray drying their reaction
• Development of the product that doesn’t causes problems for production when being produced by understanding the production equipment’s capability.
• Preparing shelf-life taste to see the product duration for it shelf life and changes during the taste. That can be taste and appearance even product reaction in different environment reaction.
• Achieved quality assurance operational objectives by contributing information and analysis, strategic plans, and reviews: preparation and completing action plans; implementing production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; identifying and resolving problems and implementing changes.
• Validates quality processes by establishing product specifications and quality attributes measuring production; documenting evidence; determining operational and performances qualification; writing and updating quality assurance procedures.

I am an exceptionally organised, methodical professional with experience in problem solving and developing in Research Development and Acquisition. I pay attention to detail, accuracy, and the quality of the product. I hold a broad range of responsibility, including maintaining the integrity of procedures and recording. I have acquired laboratory skills pertaining to (and not limited to) sample analysis techniques i.e., both wet lab techniques and use of analytical instruments, good laboratory practice, SHEQ principles and procedures. I have a positive and enquiring attitude that will add impact to any organisation.

Academic Interests: Lab Technician and Research

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8386-8056

Qualification & Institution: PhD Biology (UKZN)

Area of Expertise: Drug discovery, human cell culture, Electron microscopy, phytochemistry
.
Short Bio: Dr Depika Dwarka completed her PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and developed an exceptional grasp on the importance of medicinal sciences in the success of a nation and industry. Her extensive laboratory techniques are a tremendous advantage in designing and implementing new projects. Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5653-519
SCOPUS ID: 57193389390

Qualification & Institution: DEng Chemical Engineering (CPUT)

Area of Expertise: Chemical Engineering, Enzymology and Bioprocessing
.
Short Bio: I am a Chemical Engineer, and a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Durban University of Technology. I hold a Doctoral of engineering in chemical engineering from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. My current research interests are on bioprocessing, enzymatic technology, renewable energy, and biocatalysts. Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5790-7824
SCOPUS ID: 55817440600

Qualification & Institution: PhD Microbiology (Shivaji University)

Area of Expertise: Bioremediation, Microbial enzymology, Bioactive peptides
.
Short Bio: For a sustainable future, there is a call to increase the market share of bio-based products. Innovative enzyme solutions can potentially improve efficient biomass utilization by offering environmentally friendly technologies to produce bioactive products from biomass resources. Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5862-1465
SCOPUS ID: 39261289000

Qualification & Institution: PhD Biotechnology (DUT)

Area of Expertise: Computational and molecular biotechnology; Environmental health/virology; Bioenergy and phytoremediation

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9183-3379

Qualification & Institution: PhD (Molecular and Cell Biology); UCT
Area of Expertise: Microbial Ecology and Metabolomics
.
Short Bio: I received my undergraduate education at the University of Venda, where I completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology. I then moved to the University of the Western Cape, Department of Biotechnology, for further studies, earning both an MSc and then a PhD from the University of Cape Town. While waiting for my PhD results,… Readmore

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2310-9714

Qualification & Institution: PhD (UKZN)
Area of Expertise: Biotechnology

Qualification & Institution: Ph.D (Biological Sciences) UKZN, Westville
Area of Expertise: Plant Biotechnology
.
Short Bio: I attained an undergraduate and Honours degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth. I continued with a Master’s degree at the same University in the field of Nature Conservation. I then completed my Ph.D. at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the field of Biological Sciences focusing on medicinal plants.  Readmore