2018 Training Initiative Meet the presenters Vicon neuromechanical

2018 Training Initiative Meet the presenters

§ § Vicon neuromechanical analysis Noraxon mobile neuromechanical analysis Presenter: Dr John Cockcroft John is the managing staff scientist at the Neuromechanics Unit. His main area of expertise is in musculoskeletal biomechanics research using optical and inertial motion capture technologies, electromyography, force and pressure mapping and mathematical modelling techniques. John’s current research interests include wearable sensor systems, computational modelling and motor control theory.

§ § Vicon neuromechanical analysis Noraxon mobile neuromechanical analysis Presenter: Ms Tamsin Purkis Tamsin is a mechanical engineer with a passion for all things that integrate humans and engineering. After developing an active pneumatically-powered prototype knee prosthesis for her undergraduate studies (BEng) at the University of Pretoria, she did course work in line with her interests in numerical methods, optimization and control systems (BEng. Hons). She then continued her postgraduate studies, developing a prototype wearable sensor system along with its processing algorithms for quantitative gait analysis for her Master’s degree (MEng). During this time she worked at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, contributing to several projects in the biomechanical field including the design of a low-cost paediatric prosthetic knee. She believes that in her current role as analyst in the unit for Human Movement Analysis, she will further develop her knowledge and understanding in the field of musculoskeletal biomechanics, specifically in clinical applications. Using new and existing technologies and models employed to analyse such parameters, she hopes to contribute to advancements in the field for both normal and pathological gait.

§ § Vicon neuromechanical analysis Noraxon mobile neuromechanical analysis Presenter: Mrs Cara Mills Cara is a biomedical engineer with a passion for human movement and has been working in the biomedical field since 2013. She attained a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. She worked in digital broadcasting before her passion for sports and a curiosity about the functioning of the human body lead her to pursue a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cape Town focussing on motor control, specifically Electromyography. During her postgraduate studies she also contributed to the development of several medical devices and worked for a start-up focussing on the development of a TB diagnostic device and the associated research. She is currently an analysist in the Neuromechanics Unit in Stellenbosch.

§ Whole genome sequencing of 600 bp libraries; from specimen to analysis Presenter: Ms Alvera Vorster Alvera is a senior analyst in the DNA sequencing unit in the Central Analytical Facilities. She qualified with an MSc in Medical Microbiology in the year 2000. Following her qualification she worked as a senior technical officer in the field of human genetics. Her primary focus was on cancer genetics, whilst she has a particular interest in the genetic determinants of skeletal dysplasia. She joined the DNA Sequencing Unit at the start of March 2017 and is responsible for the massively parallel sequencing service on the Ion Torrent S 5 and Proton platforms.

§ Whole genome sequencing of 600 bp libraries; from specimen to analysis Presenter: Mr Carel van Heerden Carel has been involved in sequencing for the past 20 years with Next Gen Sequencing being part of the mix for the last 6 years. After finishing his MSc in human genetics he had a short stint working as a researcher at the ARCOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute before coming back to Stellenbosch to manage the DNA sequencing facility. In addition to managing the DNA sequencing unit he is currently doing a Ph. D looking at genetic resistance of grapevine to fungal pathogens, but he is also involved in several other research projects ranging from human Exome sequencing to microsatellite development for fish. He has a passion for service and good technique. “You cannot do good research if you don’t have good data” is one of his mottos.

§ § Cell sorting on the BD FACS Melody Flow Cytometry Data Analysis Presenter: Ms Rozanne Adams Rozanne is a flow cytometrist with a very strong interest in the immune system and epigenetics. For her MSc, which she completed in 2012, she focused on the immune profile of infants and optimised an 8 -colour flow cytometry assay for this purpose. She is now busy with a Ph. D, which still focuses on immune responses. She joined CAF in 2012 as an analyst and has experience in a wide variety of flow cytometry applications, such as multi-colour analysis, cell sorting, cell cycle and ploidy analysis, apoptosis assays and bacterial viability assays.

§ § Super-resolution Microscopy: SR SIM and PALM/STORM Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy Presenter: Mrs Lize Engelbrecht Lize joined the CAF Fluorescence Microscopy Unit in 2011 and took over the role as manager in 2012. She has an MSc in Physiological Sciences, where her main focus was the regeneration of skeletal muscle after injury and the role of satellite cells in this repair process. She has expertise in primary cell culture, multiple-colour immunocytochemistry, and various flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy applications. She is currently focusing on implementation and advancement of fluorescence techniques, including correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) and superresolution microscopy.

§ § § Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy Introduction to Biological Electron Microscopy Advanced applications in Biological Electron Microscopy Presenter: Prof Lydia-Marie Joubert Lydia-Marie matriculated as dux scholar at Outeniqua High School in George, obtained 4 degrees at Stellenbosch University and then obtained her Ph. D at the University of Pretoria, spent some time doing research at the Indiana University (USA) and started off her career as lecturer in Microscopy Techniques and Plant Sciences at Stellenbosch University. She also studied at Weizmann Institute in Israel during her post-graduate years. After a few positions as researcher, doing world-class research in botany, microbiology and microscopy, Lydia-Marie headed to Stanford University in 2006. After more than 10 years as Electron Microscopist and Senior Research Professional at the Cell Sciences Imaging Facility (CSIF) at Stanford University (USA), she came back to South Africa to manage CAF’s Electron Microscopy unit.

§ Introduction to Hyperspectral imaging and chemometrics Presenter: Dr Janine Colling Janine obtained a joint Phd degree in Plant Biotechnology in 2016 between Ghent University (Belgium) and Stellenbosch University. After completing her Ph. D she joined the Department of Horticultural Sciences in 2016 to do a Post Doc studying the effect of lack of winter chilling on certain biochemical processes in the shoots of apple trees. Janine started working as the manager of the new Vibrational Spectroscopy unit in December 2017. She trains students in the use of the new hyperspectral imaging equipment and to analyse their results using multivariate image analysis software.

§ Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy Presenter: Ms Madelaine Frazenburg Madelaine is a biologist with experience in biological and mineralogical research and various diverse fields. She worked for 15 years in the geological industry and has taken on the challenge in the Electron Microscopy unit of Stellenbosch University. Her own research interests are in the Palynological diversity in the Oxalis hirta species in the Cape floral region and she’s currently focusing on the anatomical and elemental survey in the reproductive apple bud. She also focuses on developing protocols for the SEM and TEM application for different types of materials.

§ Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy Presenter: Dr Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius Elrika joined the CAF Electron Microscopy unit early in 2017. She has an MSc in Polymer Science and Ph. D in Polymer science, where her main focus is the synthesis of functional polymeric nanoparticles and various applications thereof. One of the applications are templating Pickering emulsions for capsule formation and the encapsulation of live bacteria. She is currently focusing on using her polymer background to optimize visualization of nanomaterials and develop various applications for correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM).

§ Mass Spectrometry of Small Molecules: LC-MS Presenter: Dr Marietjie Stander Marietjie obtained her Ph. D in Chemistry in 1999 at North-West University under Prof Piet Steyn where she acquired her first experience on LC-MS. She did a postdoc at Stellenbosch University on mycotoxin research and was appointed Applications Specialist by Microsep in 2001. In 2003 she moved back to the Western Cape to become an Analytical Chemist for Synexa Life Sciences and in 2005 she took up her current position at Stellenbosch University where she manages the Mass Spectrometry Unit.

§ Mass Spectrometry of Small Molecules: LC-MS Presenter: Mr Malcolm Taylor Malcolm started out as an analytical chemist at Mintek, Johannesburg in 1986. He obtained a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Pretoria in 1994 and a Diploma in Datametrics from Unisa in 1996. From 2008 -11 he worked as a research analyst at Shimoda Biotech in George where he developed and validated numerous methods using HPLC, LC-MS and GC-MS to pharmaceutical and biological samples. He gained significant experience in the application of different sample preparation techniques including precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction to biological samples such as urines, blood and plasma generated during various drug trials conducted at Onderstepoort. He is currently working as a Senior Analyst in the LC-MS Laboratory of the Mass Spectrometry Unit at the Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) at Stellenbosch University.

§ Mass Spectrometry of Small Molecules: LC-MS Presenter: Mr Erick van Schalkwyk Erick started working as a temp at Synexa Life Sciences in 2012 and acquired first experience on LC-MS. He started working full time at Hortec in 2013 as an LC-MS analyst and acquired his MSc in Biochemistry in 2016 at Stellenbosch University. He started working in his current position as LC-MS analyst at CAF (LC-MS Lab) in 2016.

§ Mass Spectrometry of Small Molecules: GC-MS Presenter: Mr Lucky Mokwena Lucky is an experimental Analytical Chemist with a Master’s Degree in Analytical Chemistry obtained at Stellenbosch University in 2009. He has acquired extensive experience and know-how in GC-MS in the last 15 years as Analytical Chemist in the employ of the ARC, KWV, CSIR and Stellenbosch University (SU). His research interest is in chromatographic method development and validation. Currently he is employed as a Senior Analyst at the Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) at SU, managing the GC-MS Division of the Mass Spectrometry Unit.

§ Mass Spectrometry based Proteomics Presenter: Dr Maré Vlok Maré graduated with a Ph. D in 2005 under Prof Marina Rautenbach at Stellenbosch University using mostly LC-MS in his research into natural and synthetic peptides. He was appointed proteomic platform manager and application specialist at the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR) in 2007. During his time at the CPGR he gained further experience in sample preparation related to proteomics as well as proteomic analysis – both qualitative and quantitative. In 2014 he moved back to Stellenbosch University to man the Proteomics laboratory. The MS unit consists of 2 Orbitrap based instruments, an Orbitrap Velos and a Fusion coupled to nano-LC systems. Both systems represent the state of the art in proteomic data acquisition.

§ Solution State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Presenter: Dr Jaco Brand Jaco is an organic chemist with a keen research interest in the application of NMR to solve various chemistry research questions. He completed his Ph. D in Organic Chemistry (2007 -Bruker prize) at The University of the Free State. He then worked 3 years at Farmovs Parexel International, doing LC-MS/MS quantification of drugs in human plasma. As manager of the NMR Unit he is involved in the repair and maintenance of the NMR instruments, development of new methods for clients and is available for consultation and experimental design with clients, tailored to their needs. He also runs the in house Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter and integrates the results with NMR data to provide absolute stereochemistry information on molecules. He is also involved in the running, consultation and setup of Solid State NMR experiments for external clients.

§ Introduction to X-ray Micro- and Nano-CT Presenter: Mr Stephan le Roux Stephan is a geologist with a mine rehabilitation and environmental geochemistry background. He completed his MSc in 2012 at Stellenbosch University. After his studies he started as a NRF Intern at the CAF CT Scanner Facility where he is now permanently employed as an analyst. Currently he is focusing on using his roots as a geologist to find and develop various applications for Micro-CT in the geological sciences.

§ Solution ICP-MS in Environmental analysis of major and trace elements Presenter: Mrs Riana Rossouw Riana obtained her Master’s degree in Geochemistry from Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2000. During 2001 she was a research assistant within the Earth Sciences department of SU. After completing a course in ICP Spectrometry, she was put in charge of the developing ICP-AES laboratory with the Central Analytical Facilities in 2002. She has since then grown her expertise in ICP-AES, ICP-MS, laser ablation ICPMS & HPLC ICP-MS. Due to her expertise on the Agilent ICP-MS instrument and software, the laboratory has been included in the worldwide network of Agilent Partner Laboratories. Her research interest is the measurement of trace elements in seawater and its role in climate modelling.

§ Practical XRF Spectrometry Presenter: Mrs Mareli Moolman Mareli is a geologist specializing in facies modelling, sedimentology. She completed her MSc degree in 2015 at Stellenbosch University. Towards the end of her studies she joined the ICP-XRF unit at CAF where she is now permanently employed as the XRF analyst and overseeing the mineral separation laboratories for their Geochronology service. Currently she is using her geological background to develop the XRF service for optimal results on a wider range of geological sample types.

§ Introduction to U-Pb Geochronology and data processing Presenter: Dr Laura Bracciali Laura is the new division manager for geochronology at the ICP-MS & XRF unit. She is an Earth Scientist with 5 years of post-doctoral experience in the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory (British Geological Survey), Keyworth, UK. Her main research interests lie in the fields of multi-technique, multi-proxy sedimentary provenance (applied to constraining the co-evolution of continental margins, palaeodrainages and sedimentary basins) and single grain U-(Th)-Pb dating by LA ICP-MS, including the development of the technique and refinement of best practice.