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Samantha Barichievy |
Samantha Barichievy from the CSIR has received the prestigious Sidney
Brenner Fellowship Award. The 28-year-old Barichievy joined the CSIR in
May this year to write up her PhD. She has immersed herself in a quest
to address one of the biggest socio-economic challenges of our time and
our country - HIV/Aids.
Working with Dr Musa Mhlanga in the CSIR's Synthetic Biology research group (an emerging research area), her research focuses on gene expression and biophysics. She currently holds a BSc, BSc Honours and MSc with distinction from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Barichievy hopes to uncover the answers to fundamental questions that are particularly relevant to Africa, such as: What is the genetic basis for the predominance of HIV subtype C, the local African subtype, worldwide? What are the genetic differences that allow certain highly-exposed, yet uninfected individuals, to remain HIV negative? What are the unique host factors that underlie these situations and can they be exploited as diagnostic tools or novel drug targets?
The tools and expertise available to her through the Synthetic Biology research group are unique to South Africa and will provide her with the opportunity to expand the field of gene expression in a highly creative manner.
At the awards function hosted by ASSAF (the Academy of Science of South Africa), Mhlanga, quoting Dr Sydney Brenner, said: "'Many have gone on to do important scientific work but all remember those wonderful times when we and our science were young and our excitement in meeting new challenges knew no bounds'. Dr Brenner's statement aptly describes the position in which the newest member of our laboratory [Barichievy] now finds herself. Sam's project will focus specifically on developing a visual screening platform to assess interactions between the HI virus and its human host."
Mhlanga continued, "Based on Dr Brenner's personal penchant for lateral thinking, recipients of these awards need to show clear evidence of ingenuity in addressing 'big' scientific problems. HIV certainly represents a big scientific problem in terms of sheer numbers of infected Africans and researchers have worked for decades to understand the virus.
"However, as Dr Brenner succinctly pointed out, 'Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in that order'. The high speed microscopy unit we have set up within our emerging research area will provide cutting edge new technology. New discoveries in human-HIV interactions have provided a solid foundation on which to build and the ideas that Sam wishes to address are novel. Thus, it seems that the order of things is as it should be and Sam should be well placed to fulfil her role as a Sydney Brenner postdoctoral fellow."
Barichievy concluded, "I strive to be in a scientific field that challenges me and allows me to make a difference, to improve my knowledge every day and to meet and interact with as many people as possible. I am delighted that this award speaks directly to that desire."
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