DUT student achieves first
Master’s converted to doctoral degree
DURBAN University of Technology (DUT) student Ghaneshree Moonsamy, 34, became the university’s first student to have a master’s degree converted into a doctoral degree.
This was because of the “superior quality” in her thesis for a master’s in biotechnology.
Moonsamy is a senior researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The PhD in biotechnology was conferred on her on May 7 in Durban.
Moonsamy said the idea of upgrading her master’s to a PhD came up during a meeting with both her supervisors – Dr Raj Lalloo from CSIR, and Professor Suren Singh from the university.
“They were happy with the progress made with the Mmaster’s study, and Prof Singh suggested that we add a few more study objectives and apply to the university to grant a degree conversion from a master’s to a doctoral degree.
“The application had to go through a rigorous assessment process and thereafter I was granted a conversion,” she said.
Moonsamy said the journey had been a hard one and that hard work and dedication were the drivers of her success.
“It was not an easy journey at all, it came with a lot of pressure. I had to put in extra hours for my studies and it becomes very difficult when you are working, studying and parenting at the same time. I am proud to be an employee of the CSIR, and am grateful for the opportunities awarded to me to enable my progression from an inservice trainee to a senior researcher,” Moonsamy said.
She started her career at the CSIR in 2006 as an in-service trainee, was appointed as a researcher in December 2011 and was promoted to the senior researcher position in 2016.
Moonsamy’s study focused on the development of a bioprocess technology for the production of Vibrio midae, a probiotic of value in abalone aquaculture.
In this study, a cultivation process, medium composition and product formulation were tailor made to produce this probiotic in a high-efficiency production process.
Probiotics can be used in abalone production as a mechanism to boost growth rate and limit disease proliferation.
The demonstration of this technology at full manufacturing scale resulted in patented technology and has highlighted the attractiveness and commercial feasibility of this production process.
Dr Lalloo congratulated her, saying: “It is my wish that she carries forward the values, moral integrity, scientific excellence and professionalism of this journey into the future,” said Lalloo.