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With graduation and stories of success in the air, a fitting story of the quest for growth and learning brought a recent University of the Western Cape (UWC) graduate to the Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM), where he currently works as a Research Affiliate.

The IMBM offered Nigerian-born Osorachukwu Brian Anugwom from Belhar in Cape Town, a UWC graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology, an opportunity to work on the IMBM Biobank, which aligns perfectly with his objectives of gaining research experience and enhancing his skills. 

The institute has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, which he previously had little exposure to, making the decision to join IMBM an easy and exhilarating one. Anugwom is on a mission to further his studies by pursuing a master’s degree.

Having this opportunity with the IMBM has been a big step for him. In the past various factors have impeded this goal, leading him to seek alternative ways to develop his skills and gain relevant experience. 

He is pleased to be working at the institute which boasts some of the best facilities and equipment required by any lab in the field of microbial biotechnology. 

Dr Anita Burger from the Biobank said, “He completed his Honours degree in 2023 and shortly after, accepted an opportunity as Research Affiliate at the Biobank”.

This offered Anugwom an opportunity to further develop his microbiology skills through the culturing and characterisation of various bacterial species isolated from different parts of South Africa. 

This work is part of the DIPLOMICS (a research infrastructure programme funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation) 1KSA project which aims to sequence 1000 genomes of species unique to South Africa, thereby generating a treasure trove of genetic information that would hold the key to understanding the incredible diversity of life in South Africa. “Anugwom was part of the team at the Biobank who provided 500 of the 1 000 genomes towards the project,” said Dr Burger.

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Anugwom said, “One of the most exciting parts of my work to date was working with photography professionals to capture high-quality images of different bacterial strains. A special camera setup was used to capture up-close images of the different bacterial colonies cultured in the laboratory. The high-quality images show the distinctive colours and textures of the different bacterial strains, providing valuable insights into their characteristics.”

At the IMBM, Anugwom has recently moved on to another project involving protein expression and purification. While he is still familiarising himself with the different aspects of this project, he remains confident that his new role will help him achieve his primary goal of gaining insight into various fields of biotechnology and acquiring essential skills to expand his skillset as a scientist.

He is truly grateful for this opportunity, which many can only dream of, and hopes to utilise it to the best of his abilities to realise his fullest potential with IMBM.

He said, “The most important thing is to never give up on the desire to study further, if that is the path you wish to take. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, but if you have secured such an opportunity as I have, the best thing to do is to give it your all and take advantage of the new learning experience to broaden your technical skills set and enhance your experience”. 

His message to current students is to have the same mindset, as it would contribute tremendously to their studies whenever such an opportunity presents itself.
“I hope my parents can one day look back and feel like all they've sacrificed and contributed to my journey so far, was worth it. I think this is what I would consider my greatest dream as of this moment,” he said. 

Anugwom believes that his decision to take up the position at IMBM allowed him to develop vital skills that might have eluded him had he hastily jumped into a Master’s programme.

While he hopes to pursue this Master’s study in the near future, he sees his current venture into the world of microbial biotechnology with IMBM as a necessary and worthwhile step.