Biography:Sikhulile Moyo

From HandWiki
Revision as of 05:40, 7 February 2024 by Scavis2 (talk | contribs) (simplify)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Sikhulile Moyo
Born
Zimbabwe
Alma materUniversity of Zimbabwe
University of Botswana
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Stellenbosch University
Known forMoyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Children3
Scientific career
FieldsImmunology, infectious diseases
InstitutionsBotswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
ThesisHIV-1C Dynamics and Evolutionary Trends in Botswana
Doctoral advisorSusan Engelbrecht
Tulio de Oliveira

Sikhulile M. Moyo is a Zimbabwean virologist working as the laboratory director of the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership. He is a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.

Early life and education

Moyo was born in Zimbabwe.[1] He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1996.[2] He completed a master's degree in applied microbiology at the University of Botswana in 2000.[2][3] In 2006, Moyo completed a M.P.H. at the University of Limpopo (MEDUNSA-campus). His thesis was titled Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic.[4] Moyo completed a Ph.D. in medical virology at Stellenbosch University in 2016. Tulio de Oliveira was one of his professors.[1] His dissertation was titled Evolutionary trends and dynamics of HIV-1C in Botswana.[2]

Career

Moyo joined the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in 2003 as a lab assistant. He later became the laboratory coordinator, deputy manager, and then lab manager in 2016.[2] As of November 2021, Moyo is the laboratory director. He is also a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.[5]

In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.[6] Upon discovery, they alerted the Botswanan Ministry of Health on November 22, 2021.[7] In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.[8]

Personal life

Moyo is married and has two sons and a daughter.[2] He is a gospel singer and composer.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Scientist Says Omicron Was a Group Find" (in en). December 4, 2021. https://www.voanews.com/a/scientist-says-omicron-was-a-group-find/6339275.html. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Sikhulile Moyo" (in en-us). 2016-06-16. https://aids.harvard.edu/sikhulile-moyo/. 
  3. "Sikhulile Moyo" (in en). 20 November 2017. https://theconversation.com/profiles/sikhulile-moyo-424505. 
  4. Moyo, Sikhulile (2006). Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic (M.P.H. thesis). University of Limpopo. OCLC 190866981.
  5. "Harvard Catalyst Profiles: Sikhulile Moyo". https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Person/93040. 
  6. Kew, Janice (December 4, 2021). "Omicron's speed of change worries director of Harvard lab in Botswana" (in en-US). https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/04/nation/omicrons-speed-change-worries-director-harvard-lab-botswana/. 
  7. Schrieber, Melody (2021-12-16). "The scientist in Botswana who identified omicron was saddened by the world's reaction" (in en). NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/12/16/1064856213/the-scientist-in-botswana-who-identified-omicron-was-saddened-by-the-worlds-reac. 
  8. Nkengasong, John (May 23, 2022). "Tulio de Oliveira and Sikhulile Moyo: The 100 Most Influential People of 2022" (in en). Time. https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2022/6177832/sikhulile-moyo-tulio-de-oliveira/. Retrieved 2022-05-23.