SAMRC UFH Center

10/02/2026

We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our exceptional postgraduates, Ongezile Nkalane and Khanya Nomnganga, were honoured with congress awards at the prestigious BIO26 South Africa Congress. Their recognition at such a significant event highlights not only their individual hard work but also the strength and dedication of our entire group. We couldn’t be prouder.

10/02/2026

The recent BIO26 South Africa congress served as a dynamic and influential platform that fostered knowledge exchange, collaborative efforts, and the celebration of African excellence in research. Our doctoral candidates truly shone, delivering impressive presentations that highlighted their innovative research endeavors.

10/02/2026

We kicked off the academic year with an exhilarating experience at the BIO26 South Africa Congress! Our team represented the SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre in Makhanda with immense pride, and what a remarkable week it was!

Our leaders, research fellows, and students showcased their groundbreaking research in dynamic oral and poster sessions. A major highlight was our Director, Prof. Anthony Okoh, delivering an inspiring keynote that shed light on the vital role of genomic approaches in water quality and public health. His message was clear: science-driven solutions and capacity building are essential for achieving sustainable water management in Africa and beyond!

Feeling proud to witness our leadership sparking conversations that truly matter!

08/01/2026

Applications are still open, join our dynamic team!

NOW OPEN! Pursue Master's/PhD in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication or Social Science. Funding available for selected projects!

The Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at the University of Fort Hare invites students to apply for our prestigious Studentship Programme. Apply now and take the first step towards an exciting career in research!

25/11/2025

Celebrating excellence in our center! We are proud to announce the achievements of two of our students who represented us at the SACI Eastern Cape Postgraduate Seminar hosted by Rhodes University on 3 October 2025.

We congratulate both students for their hard work, commitment, and valuable scientific contributions. Their success reflects the strength and dedication within our research group, and we look forward to seeing their continued impact in the fields of chemistry, energy, and environmental research.
Well done, Nolufefe and Yandisa! We are incredibly proud of you! 👏👏

21/11/2025

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Bioinformatics 2026

The SARCHi Chair in Water Quality and Environmental Genomics at the University of Fort Hare seeks to appoint a postdoctoral research fellow with strong bioinformatics background as part of its environmental genomics research agenda.

Requirements:
•PhD in Bioinformatics or Genomics.
• Strong wet-lab microbiology skills including extraction of nucleic acids and library preparations.
• Expertise in bioinformatics pipelines (Illumina, MiseQ, Sanger, etc); and analysis of meta-omic datasets.
• Statistical analysis of next-generation sequencing data.
• Detailed understanding of microbial metabolism and regulation.
• Hands on 16s RNA and ITS sequencing data analysis
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Evidence of relevant publications in the bioinformatics domain.

The value of the fellowship is R300,000.00 per annum (tax-free)
Deadline: 31 January 2025

Apply to Prof. Anthony I. Okoh at aokoh@ufh.ac.za and copy Ms. Piwe Ntlati at pntlati@ufh.ac.za.
Attach the listed documents in the post.

Don't miss this chance to advance your research career!

21/11/2025

NOW OPEN! Pursue Master's/PhD in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Communication or Social Science. Funding available for selected projects!

The Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at the University of Fort Hare invites students to apply for our prestigious Studentship Programme. Apply now and take the first step towards an exciting career in research!

18/11/2025

Huge congratulations to Mbasa Dlamini on her remarkable achievements!

We’re thrilled to announce that Mbasa has graduated with her MSc from the SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre!

To top it off, she’s had her review article published in the prestigious PLOS ONE journal. The article, titled “A systematic review on the incidence of influenza viruses in wastewater matrices: Implications For Public Health”, is a testament to her dedication and expertise.

We’re beyond proud of Mbasa’s accomplishments.

15/11/2025

𝗨𝗙𝗛’𝘀 𝗦𝗔𝗠𝗥𝗖 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) is calling on ambitious, high-achieving young scientists to apply for three prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in 2026.

The Centre, located on UFH’s Alice Campus, is renowned for its groundbreaking research on microbial water quality, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental health. Successful candidates will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary research team and will contribute to cutting-edge projects at the intersection of microbiology, environmental science, and public health.

READ MORE | https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/ufhs-samrc-microbial-water-quality-monitoring-centre-invites-applications-for-2026-postdoctoral-research-fellowships

21/10/2025

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Available

The SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at the University of Fort Hare is offering three exciting fellowships for 2026 in:

1. Environmental Microbial Genomics
2. Environmental Toxicology
3. Predictive Microbiology

Requirements:
- PhD in relevant fields (within the last 5 years)
- Strong publication record
- Ambitious and goal-oriented researchers

Fellowship Details:
- R300,000.00 per annum (tax-free)
- 1-year duration (renewable up to 3 years)
- Deadline: 31 December, 2025

Apply to Prof. Anthony I. Okoh at aokoh@ufh.ac.za and copy Ms. Piwe Ntlati at 201506704@ufh.ac.za.

Include your thesis title, CV, and contact details for two referees (one must be your supervisor).

Don't miss this chance to advance your research career!

26/09/2025

Thank You for Celebrating International Microorganism Day with Us!
What an incredible day of microbes, minds, and marvel! 👏🦠 We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us for our International Microorganism Day educational event. From inquisitive high school learners to passionate students and lifelong microbiology lovers. Your enthusiasm made the day unforgettable!

A HUGE thank you to our amazing sponsors and exhibitors who helped bring microbiology to life. Your support made this event possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Here’s to microbes and the massive impact they have on our world. See you all next year for even more microscopic magic!

Ohh, stay tuned for the IMD dump 🤭 you might spot yourself!



Bumb'INGOMSO
Lovedale TVET College
Boxer Superstores
Champs Chicken

23/09/2025

Let’s take it back to IMD 2025‼️ Huge thanks to all the schools who attended International Microorganism Day 2025! Your participation and enthusiasm made this event a huge success. We’re grateful for your presence and look forward to future collaborations! 🎉🔬