Professor Thulani Makhalanyane is a full professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; and DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Marine Microbiomics; at the University of Pretoria (UP).

His research focuses on understanding the ecology of microbial communities in extreme environments like the Antarctic Dry Valleys, the Namib Desert, and the human gut microbiome. Makhalanyane has an increasing focus on South African geographically strategic regions such as the Southern Ocean, too.

Professor Makhalanyane was educated at the North West University (Mafikeng Campus), where he completed his BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology.

He then moved to the University of the Western Cape to begin his microbial ecology research and earned his MSc (cum laude) and PhD qualifications in 2009 and 2013, respectively.

Makhalanyane previously taught undergraduate modules in microbiology and genetics and now supervises 20 postgraduate students at master’s and doctoral levels.

He also has over 70 publications and over 2,500 citations.

In this Business Talk interview, Professor Makhalanyane unpacks his field of expertise, and why he chose to specialise in it.

He then talks about his upcoming presentation on 4 May, where he will be speaking at the 31st Expert Lecture hosted by the University of Pretoria.

Professor Makhalanyane also details how microbiome research is used in the human health field, as well as the various other areas where it can contribute.

He expands upon why the microbiome field is so important – particularly in an African context – and discusses whether there is enough funding for research in this area.

Watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmv3M5z5J1M&t=7s

The article first appeared in BusinessTech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/683311/business-talk-professor-thulani-makhalanyane-on-his-upcoming-expert-lecture-hosted-by-the-university-of-pretoria/