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Professor SABIU IS RECOGNISED FOR HIS STERLING RESEARCH ALIGNED WITH THE INSTITUTION’S VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
Pictured: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola hands over the award to Professor Saheed Sabiu.
Recognising staff and students who have had a significant impact on local, national and international communities through research and learning, teaching and exhibited exemplary behaviour, form an integral part of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) goals that demonstrate the institution’s values and principles.
The most prestigious academic event on the DUT calendar was the recent 2022 ENVISION2030 Institutional Awards, held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC).
This event honoured the DUT staff and students who, through their efforts, contributed to the development of their society to improve lives and livelihoods. Also, DUT is focused on transforming society entrepreneurially and improving the institutional culture, which should arise out of its Living Values Framework.
One of the sterling academics who made academic headlines received the Senior Researcher of the Year Award. The criteria for this award required at least six accredited publication units for the award year.
The award went to Professor Saheed Sabiu, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. Besides his active involvement in teaching and learning, including Collaborative International Online Learning (COIL), he currently leads the Computational and Systems Biology Research Group. Here they bioprospect for secondary metabolites against degenerative and microbial diseases for the discovery and development of new, small- molecule therapeutic targets.
When asked for his thoughts on winning such an accolade, Professor Sabiu commented that he was highly elated and humbled when his name was called. “This was particularly so when you consider the calibre of renowned and established researchers at DUT and the journey and preparatory works that eventually culminated in winning the award,” he said.
The magnetic professor also has interests in the molecular dynamics of enteric and respiratory viruses using whole-genome sequencing and metagenomic approaches. He further mentioned that his
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DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY