Rate My Professor Thulani Makhalanyane

Thulani Makhalanyane is a Full Professor in the Department of Microbiology and the School of Data Sciences and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. He holds the SARChI Chair in African Microbiome Innovation. Makhalanyane joined Stellenbosch University in November 2023. He previously held positions at the University of Pretoria, where he was appointed lecturer following a postdoctoral fellowship and promoted to associate professor in 2019. He earned an MSc (cum laude) in 2009 and a PhD in 2013 from the University of the Western Cape. His research focuses on microbial ecology, microbiomes in extreme and African environments, and antibiotic resistance. Makhalanyane has authored numerous publications and maintains an active research program involving postgraduate supervision. He received the Silver Medal from the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2024 for his contributions to the field. Additional honors include an NRF P-rating, the TW-Kambule-NSTF Award for Emerging Researcher, and recognition as a Fulbright Scholar. He serves on editorial boards, including as senior editor for the ISME Journal, mSystems, and Communications Biology, and has held board positions with the International Society for Microbial Ecology. In 2024, he delivered his inaugural lecture at Stellenbosch University.

Makhalanyane contributes to national and international panels and advocates for equitable African-led microbiome research. His work emphasizes the roles of microorganisms in ecosystems and human health, with emphasis on African contexts.