Genetics researchers receive fellowships

SCIENCE Two researchers from the Department of Genetics at the University of Pretoria (UP), Dr Vinet Coetzee and Dr Sanushka Naidoo, have been selected as Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Fellows. As an initiative of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the NEF mobilises leading scientists to look into global problems through the lenses of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as the social sciences. Coetzee’s research focuses on developing fast, affordable and noninvasive methods to screen children for nutrient deficiencies and inborn conditions by training computer models to recognise the links between physical features and these conditions. Naidoo focuses on the facilitation of increased impact of plant biotechnology on society.