Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is strengthening its presence in South Africa’s scientific community following the selection of Dr Clarissa Marcelle Naidoo, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, as a member of the 2026 cohort of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS).
Dr Naidoo was formally inaugurated at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Awards and SAYAS Inauguration Ceremony, held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng. The ceremony formed part of ASSAf’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, bringing together scientists, academics, research leaders and policymakers to recognise scientific excellence and contributions to society.
A notable moment for SMU was Dr Naidoo’s inauguration by Dr Gold Matlou, an SMU academic and Co-Chair of SAYAS, alongside Professor Maurine Musie, SAYAS Co-Chair from the University of Pretoria. Their participation reflected SMU’s contribution to leadership and representation within the country’s scientific community.
Established in 2011, SAYAS brings together emerging scientists who demonstrate academic excellence, research achievement, leadership potential and a commitment to advancing science for societal benefit. Dr Naidoo’s selection into the 2026 cohort, comprising 20 new members, marks an important milestone in her academic career.
Her professional journey at SMU reflects significant academic progression, from Postdoctoral Research Fellow in 2022 to Lecturer and subsequently Senior Lecturer in December 2025. She holds a PhD in Biology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has developed a multidisciplinary research portfolio spanning medicinal plant sciences, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, metabolomics, nanotechnology and applied biological sciences.
Her research investigates the chemical composition and biological properties of medicinal plants, including the potential applications of their active compounds in healthcare, antimicrobial discovery and sustainable biotechnology. Through interdisciplinary approaches, she combines advanced microscopy, phytochemical analysis, metabolomics and biological assays with green nanotechnology to explore South Africa’s botanical diversity and indigenous medicinal plant resources.
Dr Naidoo’s scholarly contributions include more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications and eight book chapters. Her research has appeared in internationally recognised journals, including Plants, Molecules, Pharmaceuticals, PLOS ONE and the South African Journal of Botany. She has also secured research support through a South African Medical Research Council Researcher Development Award, Technology Innovation Agency support and National Research Foundation funding.
Beyond research, she contributes to postgraduate supervision, academic mentorship and scientific capacity development. She has supervised and co-supervised Honours, Master’s, and doctoral students, while also contributing to undergraduate curriculum development, including establishing SMU’s BSc Botany programme. Her commitment to science extends to school outreach, environmental awareness, career guidance and initiatives promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education among young learners.
Reflecting on her selection, Dr Naidoo described the recognition as both a personal milestone and an acknowledgement of the support she has received throughout her academic journey.
“I am deeply honoured to have been selected as a member of the South African Young Academy of Science. This recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the mentorship, collaboration and support I have received throughout my academic journey,” she said.
She acknowledged her mentor, Professor Nqobile Mkolo, as well as her colleagues, collaborators, students and family, expressing her eagerness to contribute to SAYAS’s mission of advancing scientific excellence, empowering emerging researchers and ensuring that science creates meaningful societal impact.
Dr Naidoo’s inauguration reinforces SMU’s commitment to research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of emerging scientific leaders. Her achievement also highlights the university’s contribution to advancing scientific knowledge and nurturing researchers whose work can help address healthcare and broader societal challenges.
By Dimakatso Modise
