Dr Ashira Roopnarain

is presently a researcher in the Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Research Group (MEBRG), at the ARC – Soil, Climate and Water. She obtained her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in 2014, focusing on Microbiology and Biotechnology. For her PhD research, she contributed to knowledge on using microalgal derived lipids as a feedstock for biodiesel production, as an environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This work has sparked her interest in environmental preservation by means of biofuel generation.

Roopnarain continued working in the field of bioenergy generation during her postdoc at the ARCl under the mentorship of Prof Rasheed Adeleke. She has gained expertise in various research areas including soil beneficial microbes, waste to energy research and biofertilizer research. She has contributed significantly to the establishment of the first biogas research laboratory

at ARC - Soil, Climate and Water.

Roopnarain is currently involved in the management and upkeep of the laboratory. She is the project leader for a Water Research Commission funded project K5/2543: ‘The utilization of water hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes) from Hartbeespoort dam in biogas and bio-fertilizer production, as a solution to water weed challenges’.

Roopnarain aspires to excel in her career as a researcher and to conduct research that will result in environmental remediation, upliftment of communities as well as food and energy security.