MSIZI MHLONGO

About

Dr Msizi Innocent Mhlongo is a South African academic and researcher in Biochemistry. He grew up in the small village of Dirkiesdorp, Mpumalanga, where he attended both primary and high school. He matriculated in 2008 at Sinethemba Agricultural Technical School and, the following year, joined the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for an undergraduate degree in Life and Environmental Sciences, majoring in Biochemistry and Botany. He went on to complete his BSc Honours in Biochemistry in 2013, followed by an MSc in Biochemistry (Distinction) in 2015, and a PhD in Biochemistry in 2020. In 2022, he further completed a Leadership Development Programme with distinction. Dr Mhlongo’s research focuses on plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions, natural products, and drug discovery. He employs advanced techniques such as metabolomics, machine learning, transcriptomics, and network pharmacology to uncover bioactive compounds and biochemical markers. His work contributes to solutions for global health challenges, including malaria, COVID-19, and diabetes, and advances sustainable agricultural practices. Currently serving as Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Co-Director of the Research Centre for Plant Metabolomics at UJ, Dr Mhlongo has published widely in high-impact journals and has successfully supervised MSc and PhD students. His vision is to drive transformative, 4IR-inspired research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Agenda 2063, and South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP).