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Dr Ereck Chakauya, senior scientist and research group leader of the CSIR Biosciences plant expression group, was born 33 years ago in Chiredzi, a small town in the sugarcane growing area south-east of Zimbabwe. Although he excelled in all subjects as a student, he developed a passion for nature. Growing up in a farm set-up further influenced his decision to follow a career in plant science. Ereck was educated at the University of Zimbabwe where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in agriculture crop science, passing it with distinction in 1999 and an MPhil in agriculture crop Science in 2001. In the same year, he received a Cambridge Commonwealth Scholarship to study towards a doctorate in plant sciences at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK), a degree awarded in May 2005. Currently, Ereck is due to complete his MSc in project management with the University of Pretoria.
He started his career in 2003 at the Biogemma UK Ltd, a biotechnology company at Cambridge Science Park in the UK, responsible for the transformation and analysis of canola plants to express Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) for commercial exploitation. From May 2005 to March 2006, he was involved in the South African Aids Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) Post-doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Cape Town (UCT), responsible for the expression of HIV antigens in plants as vaccine targets against HIV.
In April 2006, Ereck secured a position as research scientist and a year later elevated to senior research scientist in the plant biotechnology group at CSIR Biosciences until April 2008. He later moved to the position of senior project manager, managing a portfolio of research and development (R&D) projects worth more than R50 million, with a team of more than 50 people under his supervision; he held this position until January 2010. In February 2010, he moved to the position of research group leader in the plant biotechnology, where he is currently leading a team of 22 scientists on plant expression and plant performance projects.
His accomplishments that make him stand out among his peers include – but are not limited to – the first prize winner of the 2008 SA Bio Plan competition worth R15.1 million investment money for GreenPharm start-up company; royal society international visiting scientist, Cambridge University; Frank Smart Studentship (Cambridge Philosophical Society) Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship (2001 to 2004); and the 1999 seed company (Seed-Co) prize for plant breeding and genetics. He was also awarded university book prizes in 1996 and 1999.
Since 2006, he has been one of the youngest scientists to serve on the scientific advisory Council of the Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) Act of 1997, and has contributed towards the sustainable adoption of this technology in South Africa. He has published 12 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is also one of the few scientists in the area of plant-made pharmaceuticals in South Africa. He is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientists (SACNASP); fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust; and a Fellow Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
“My source of inspiration is my father, who used to say, ‘if you work hard, you will reap the benefits’. Although he was not well-off, he worked very hard and managed to provide enough for his eight children. His strong persona and optimistic attitude towards life, even during difficult times, contributed to my achievements. These were accomplished through ambition, perseverance, courage and hard work,” says Ereck.
Ereck’s areas of expertise include plant sciences and project management. To balance these two areas, he aspires to ensure that they complement each other for business rationale. “I see myself managing a big cross-boundary, high-impact project and retiring as a professor at UCT – possibly replacing my former boss,” he says jokingly.
He also finds his work at the CSIR very challenging, where science and people issues are equally important in his everyday life. He is married to Rumbi and has two children – a five-year-old daughter, Tinevimbo, and a two-year-old son, Tinashe. “I am a Christian, a family man and a soccer fanatic. I am a supporter of the local football team, Orlando Pirates and Manchester United,” concludes Ereck.
CSIR Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relations :
Josephine Moiloa, email: JMoiloa@csir.co.za
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