Justine Germo Nzweundji

Dr. Justine Germo Nzweundjiis a plant biotechnologist from Cameroon. She is the president of the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists,[1] and was a 2011 fellow of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards.[2]

Dr. Justine Germo Nzweundji
CitizenshipCameroon
Alma materUniversity of Yaoundé I
Known forCultivation techniques for Prunus africana
AwardsL'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship
Scientific career
FieldsPlant biotechnology

Education

Nzweundji received her doctorate from the University of Yaoundé. During her studies, she also conducted research at the University of Florida Tropical Research and Educational Center and at Alabama A&M University between 2011 and 2013.[3] Her work abroad from Cameroon was supported in part by a L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science fellowship.[4][5]

Nzweundji's doctoral thesis was on the topic on Prunus africana, a tree which is harvested for medicinal products made from its bark. In addition to its long history in traditional medicine, it may potentially be used as part of a treatment for prostate cancer. Nzweundji worked on developing a technique to harvest sustainably, providing long-term income for the local community while maintaining a healthy tree population.[3] Over-exploitation is a threat to the trees in the wild, so for large industrial projects Nzweundji has considered the use of in-vitro production to preserve as many live trees as possible.[2][6]

Career

In 2022 Nzweundji received the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) for a project on Science policy. Nzweundji 2018, accepted a postdoctoral fellowship to work at Hochschule Geisenheim University.[3] She currently works at the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies/Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation in Cameroon. She began working there during her studies and returned after research projects abroad. She continues to investigate Prunus africana.[7]

Nzweundji has participated in international science forums.[8] She is keen to engage and mentor other young scientists and took on the role of president for the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists.[3] She organises public speaking events to foster science communication and outreach based on the "Three-minute thesis" format.[9]

Nzweundji is also sits on the steering committee for the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) Africa since 2016.[7][10] Nzweundji has collaborated with international researchers to discuss scholarly communication,[11] as well as inequities in research and how they are exacerbated by COVID-19.[12]

Awards and honours

References
  1. "Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists". Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  2. Ntaryike, Divine Jr. (2011-04-07). "Cameroonian Bags L". Cameroon Post. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  3. NOAYE, Yvan. "Dr Justine Germo Nzweundji, la spécialiste en biologie végétale qui veut sauver la médecine traditionnelle dans le continent - Genie d'afrique" (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  4. "Outstanding women scientists to receive 2011 L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards (3 March) and Fellowships (2 March) | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  5. "Femmes et sciences: 20 chercheuses à l'honneur - Elle". elle.fr (in French). 9 March 2011. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  6. "L'OREAL−UNESCO International Fellows from Africa, 2010" (PDF). unesco.org. 2010. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  7. "Justine Germo NZWEUNDJI". Global Young Academy. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  8. "Dr Nzweundji Germo". World Science Forum. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  9. Nsangou N., Aïcha (2020-12-09). "Recherche scientifique: la contribution des jeunes chercheurs". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  10. "INGSA Africa". www.ingsa.org. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  11. "Altmetric at the University of Sussex – An interview with Sahar Abuelbasher". Altmetric. 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  12. Lopez-Verges, Sandra; Urbani, Bernardo; Rivas, David Fernandez; Kaur-Ghumaan, Sandeep; Coussens, Anna; Moronta-Barrios, Felix; Bhattarai, Suraj; Niamir, Leila; Siciliano, Velia; Molnar, Andreea; Weltman, Amanda; Dhimal, Meghnath; Arya, Shalini S.; Cloete, Karen J.; Awan, Almas Taj; Sharma, Chandra Shekhar; Rojas, Clarissa Jazmin Rios; Shimpuku, Yoko; Ganle, John; Matin, Maryam M.; Germo, Nzweundji Justine; Badre, Abdeslam; Carmona-Mora, Paulina (2021). "Mitigating losses: How science diplomacy can address the impact of COVID-19 on early career researchers". osf.io. doi:10.31235/osf.io/f9tsw. S2CID 243680630. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  13. "Entretien avec Justine Germo Nzweundji, finaliste camerounaise des sélections nationales "Ma thèse en 180 secondes"". AUF (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2021-04-25.
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