Congratulations to Dr Nwabisa Mehlomakulu, UP lecturer in the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, who’s been selected as a Fulbright Research Scholar for the 2023 – 2024 academic year! The South African Fulbright Foreign Student Program continuously gives South African students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds and fields the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to important. The program was founded by United States Senator William Fulbright in 1946 and is considered to be one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world.

Dr Nwabisa Mehlomakulu, a lecturer in food processing and preservation, has been selected as a Fulbright Research Scholar for the 2023 – 2024 academic year. This scholarship programme offers students and staff an opportunity to strengthen the University of Pretoria’s (UP) efforts to advance internationalisation and expand endeavours towards engaged scholarship.

This international academic exchange programme is sponsored by the US government, and offers academics and professionals lecturing and research opportunities at host institutions in the US. These opportunities foster collaborations and networks with international scholars and Fulbright alumni. Through the programme, scholars can teach and/or do research at the host institution for three to nine months to develop their research niche and expand on their projects, skills and network. Upon their return, scholars are expected to infuse curricula with cross-cultural perspectives and facilitate international research and engagement opportunities at their home institutions.

“I am pleased with the selection as it means I have an opportunity to grow my research niche on yeast interactions in fermented foods and beverages by working with an established researcher in the field,” Dr Mehlomakulu said. “It also gives me a platform for international collaborations, which will be of benefit to my students and the department.”

A Fulbright scholarship adds credit to an individual’s résumé in two ways, says Dr Mehlomakulu.

“It shows the researchers’ international profile through their collaborative work (publications and research grants) with the host and other international scholars; and it opens up opportunities for postgraduate student co-supervision and exchange.”

“The Fulbright Research Scholar Programme is highly prestigious and successful candidates are selected after a very rigorous review process,” said Prof Gyebi Duodu, Head of the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences. “As a department, we are extremely excited and very proud of Dr Mehlomakulu for this excellent achievement. It is a clear demonstration of the excellence of her research and the giant strides she is making in her research and academic career. This award will contribute tremendously towards her efforts at establishing a research niche in the department on yeast interactions in fermented foods and beverages. She has our very best wishes!”