Originally from Rwanda (currently living in South Africa), Fidele Tugizimana obtained his PhD in Biochemistry (summa cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). After the completion of a B.Phil. degree in Philosophy (magna cum laude) from the Urbaniana University, Rome in 2004, Fidele Tugizimana enrolled in a B.Sc. Biochemistry-Chemistry degree at the University of Johannesburg; and completed a M.Sc. degree in Biochemistry (cum laude) in 2012. He attended training in Metabolic Modelling and Pathway Analysis (WUR, Netherlands, 2014) and the EMBO course on metabolomics for life sciences (Cambridge, UK, 2013). 

 

Currently, Dr. Fidele Tugizimana is a research scientist at the University of Johannesburg, a specialist scientist in the international R&D management of the Omnia (Pty) Ltd company (SA) and a scientific consultant in the L.E.A.F. Pharmaceuticals LLC (USA & Rwanda). Dr. Tugizimana applies metabolomics approaches in interrogating cellular biochemistry at global level, specifically in plant-environment interactions (involving abiotic/biotic stresses, beneficial microorganisms, etc.). His research interests include metabolomics, host-pathogen interactions, immune response (at molecular level), data analysis, chemometrics, bioinformatics and metabolite identification. 

 

Dr. Fidele Tugizimana was involved in setting up the plant metabolomics research group at the University of Johannesburg. He is also involved in metabolomics training workshops in SA as an organizer and a trainer: e.g. SIMCA-based data analysis workshop (2015) and the annual Metabolomics training workshops (since 2016). He has gained extensive experience (skills and knowledge) throughout the metabolomic pipeline from experimental design to advanced analytical platform (GC-MS and LC-MS), and data analysis.

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Dr. Tugizimana is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society (since 2007) and SA scientific societies (e.g. ChromSA, SAAMS, SASBMB). He is an active member of the International Metabolomics Society: (i) secretary of the Early-career members Network (EMN) committee (2016-2017); (ii) member of the Data Standards and Strategy Tasks groups; and (iii) member of the International Organizing Committee for the International Metabolomics Conferences 2017 and 2019. He is an author/co-author of metabolomics papers in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals.