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Department of Biochemistry & Sports Science
Call for Applications: Admissions to Postgraduate Programmes 2021/2022
The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications for admission to Graduate Programmes (Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters and Doctoral Degree Programmes) for the 2021/2022 Academic Year.
Applicants should have obtained at least a first or second class degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized and chartered university/institution at the time of completion. Applicants should also possess a Ugandan Certificate of Education with at least five passes (or its equivalent) and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with at least two principal passes and one subsidiary pass obtained at the same sitting (or its equivalent). Click for more details
Biochemistry Seminar Series
Title: Domesticating the edible grasshopper, "Ensenene"
Presenter: Dr Karlmax Rutaro, Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Sports Science, CONAS
Date: Thursday 25 March 2021
Time: 12 noon - 1 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 999 1083 5842
Passcode: 104642
World Bank Scholarships Program
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic. Subject to available funding, JJWBGSP offers scholarships for the Participating Programs at universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
PhD Fellowship in Hybrid Polymer Electrolytes for Solid State Batteries
A PhD Fellowship in Energy Storage is available at the Basque Center for Macromolecular Design and Engineering, POLYMAT Fundazioa and at CIDETEC Foundation. The main goal of this PhD thesis will be to develop novel hybrid block polymers stable to high voltage cathodes (> 4.5V Li/Li+), with special attention to micro homogeneity, self-healing, and Li protection.
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
The Fund has been established to provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate. Its focus is global and eligibility for grants will extend to all plant, animal and fungi species conservation efforts, without discrimination on the basis of region or selected species.
Eligibility
Math icon wants people to fall in love with numbers
Betty Kivumbi Nannyonga, a staff in the Department of Mathematics strongly stresses the importance of mathematical proficiency in our lives, an article published in the Daily Monitor news paper on 15th March 2021. She believes crucial, and major changes need to be made in its instruction, instructional materials, assessments, teacher education, and the broader educational system. Source
An algorithm for computing a stationary flow in a binary bifurcation tree
The Development of Nutraceuticals and Traditional Medicine
PhD Public Defense By Ms. Florence Nantaba
Title: Selected Emerging Organic Chemical Pollutants in Water and Sediments of Lake Victoria, Uganda
Date: Tuesday, 23rd March 2021
Time: 10: 00 am
Venue: Chemistry Board Room
Supervisors: 1. Dr. John Wasswa, Department of Chemistry, Makerere University, Uganda
2. Prof. Henrik Kylin, Department for Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University, Sweden
Abstract:
The occurrence of emerging chemical pollutants (ECPs) including; 25 pharmaceuticals, 11 personal care products, 6 plasticizers and 8 organophosphorus flame retardants was investigated in water and sediment samples collected from five bays in the Ugandan part of Lake Victoria. In addition, the potential environmental risk of the target emerging organic pollutant compounds to aquatic organisms in the lake ecosystem as well as sorption and degradation kinetics of the predominant ECPs in the lake sediment were evaluated. Moreover, the environment fate of the predominant ECPs was simulated using a Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI) model.
Samples were extracted for pharmaceuticals using solid phase method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Personal care products, plasticizers and flame retardants were extracted from water and sediment samples using liquid-liquid and soxhlet extraction respectively and analysed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The potential ecotoxic risk of the target ECPs to aquatic organisms in the lake ecosystem was assessed based on risk quotients (RQs), following the European Commission’s Technical Guidance Document on risk assessment. Sorption kinetics parameters and equilibrium sorption coefficient (KD) of selected pharmaceuticals on sediments from Lake Victoria were determined using batch sorption experiments. A two-site nonequilibria (TSNE) batch sorption kinetic model was used to describe the sorption kinetics data. Degradation studies were performed according to OECD Guideline 308, followed by solid phase extraction and LC-MS/MS analysis.
Eighteen pharmaceuticals occurred in Lake Victoria waters at quantifiable concentrations, with sulfamethoxazole (1-5600 ng L-1), trimethoprim (1-89 ng L-1), tetracycline (3-70 ng L-1), sulfacetamide (1-13 ng L-1), and ibuprofen (6-780 ng L-1) occurring in all water samples. Murchison Bay, the main recipient of sewage effluents, industrial and municipal waste from Kampala city recorded the highest concentrations of pharmaceuticals. All the target pharmaceuticals were detected in sediment samples with ciprofloxacin (2.8-116 ng g-1), levofloxacin (2.2-133 ng g-1) and ibuprofen (6-50 ng g-1) being the most predominant. Most of the target PCPs were found in all the water samples with Triclosan (89-1400 ng L-1), benzophenone (36-1300 ng L-1), and 4-MBC (21-1500 ng L-1) being the most predominant PCPs. Similarly, all the target plasticizers were found in all the water samples with dibutyl phthalate (350-16 000 ng L-1), and bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (210-23000 ng L-1) being detected in highest concentrations. With respect to OPFRs, TCP (34-9657 ng g-1) was the most predominant followed by TEHP (39-5652 ng g-1), TPP (66-5218 ng g-1) and tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (8.7-946 ng g-1).
Likewise, with the exception of DBP and BEHA (98 % detection frequency), all target plasticizers were quantifiable in all the sediment samples. Generally, the concentrations of all the target ECPs in the lake sediments were several orders of magnitude higher than their respective concentrations in the aqueous phase (water). Ecotoxicological risk assessment for pharmaceuticals showed that sulfamethoxazole, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, and diclofenac pose a high toxic risk to aquatic organisms in both the lake´s water and sediment. A similar assessment showed that; PCPs (triclosan, musk ketone, 4-MBC, BP, TBHA, BHT, 3-MI), plasticizers [dibutyl phthalate, bis-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate] and OPFRs (TPP, TCEP, EHDPP, TCP, EHDPP, TEHP) pose a high ecotoxic risk to lives of aquatic organisms in the lake (risk quotients, RQ >1).
The sorption behaviour of pharmaceuticals on the sediments was found to depend on the amount of organic carbon with corresponding sorption coefficients being higher for sediment with higher organic content. Diclofenac showed the highest sorption coefficient whereas sulfamethoxazole showed the lowest sorption capacity and is therefore likely to be highly mobile in the aquatic environment. Degradation of selected pharmaceuticals in the lake sediments followed first-order, zero-order and zero-bicameral order kinetics. Carbamazepine showed the longest half-life in both Nakivubo (91days) and Luzira sediments (61days). Carbamazepine was therefore found to be persistent in Lake Victoria sediments since its half-life exceeds the U.S EPA persistence criterion of more than 60 days. Sulfamethoxazole showed the lowest half-life ranging between 2.31 days for biotic degradation to 5.77 days for abiotic degradation.
The fate of the selected ECPs within Lake Victoria was simulated using a Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction (QWASI) model. The model predicted the residence times (years) of sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, carbamazepine, triclosan, dibutyl phthalate, bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate and tricresyl Phosphate within the lake system as 2.62x10-4, 3.04x10-4, 2.12x10-4, 5.36x10-4, 4.79x10-3, 2.29x10-3, 3.91x10-4, 1.34x10-3 , 3.15x10-4 and 7.8x10-4 respectively.
Chinese Scholarship for Mak Continuing Students
CHINESE EMBASSY SCHOLARSHIPS TO MAKERERE UNIVERSITY FOR CONTINUING STUDENTS 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR
The Chinese Embassy in Uganda has offered Makerere University a second cohort of 30 scholarships to be awarded to continuing students offering various courses in the Colleges at Makerere University Main Campus for Academic Year 2020/2021. These scholarships are administered by the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, Makerere University.
ELIGIBILITY:
Scholarship applicants should meet the following criteria:
a) Should already be a student of Makerere University in their second year of study
b) Successfully completed their first year of study and has complete results (first and second semester results of first year 2019/2020 academic year.
c) Should have a minimum CGPA of 2.80 and above based on 2019/2020 academic year results
d) Student should be from a genuinely poor socio-economic background.
e) Should not be admitted on the Uganda Government sponsorship to any public university
f) Should not hold any other scholarship e.g. District Scholarship, Mastercard, etc.
g) Must be willing to participate in a selection process as shall be determined by the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate Scholarship Committee
YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
a) A fully completed application form
b) Approved academic results for semester one and two, Year One, 2019/2020 Academic Year
c) Photocopies of ‘O’ and ‘A’ level Academic Documents
d) Two Passport size photographs
e) A copy of your Birth Certificate
f) In case of deceased parents, copies of death certificate(s)
g) A hand drawn physical map of LC I /Village of residence with clear directions of how to get to the home of residence from the nearest main road (indicate approximate distances in kilometres).
The scholarship will cover tuition and functional fees for 2020/2021 academic year ONLY. Renewal of the Scholarship shall be subject to availability of funds and excellent academic performance.
Interested and eligible applicants should pick application forms and submit the completed applications to Room 402 Senate Building, Level 4, Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, by Thursday 1st April 2021 at 5:00pm.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
a) Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
b) FEMALE STUDENTS ARE PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Source: Dr. Euzobia M. Mugisha Baine (PhD), DIRECTOR, Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, Makerere University, Senate Building, Level 4, Room 402.
Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship
The Developing Solutions Scholarship Programme is designed for international students from Africa, India or one of the selected Commonwealth countries who want to pursue a Master’s Degree in the University of Nottingham and make a difference to the development of their home country.
Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany • DAAD
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is happy to announce Research Grants Doctoral Programmes in Germany for the academic year 2021/2022. This study award is open to provide financial support to foreign doctoral candidates, young academics and scientists who wish to pursue Doctoral programmes in Germany. The aim of this grant programme is to support doctoral projects in Germany.
Friedrich Ebert Foundation: Scholarship for International Students
BiodivERsA and Water JPI Call
BiodivERsA and Water JPI are pleased to announce that their transnational 2020-2021 joint Call on “Conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems and their biodiversity, including a focus on aquatic systems” is now open.
Research Grants – Short-Term Grants • DAAD
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is happy to announce Short-Term Research International Grants for the academic year 2021/2022. This study award is open to provide financial support to foreign doctoral candidates, young academics and scientists who wish to pursue a short-term research education program in Japan. The primary aim of this grant is to promote research projects within the context of doctoral programmes.
Grace Chisholm young fellowships
These Fellowships, named after Grace Chisholm Young, will give an endorsement of the holder's status as a mathematician, so that a break in formal employment should not prevent them from resuming a career as a mathematician at a later stage. The Fellowships aim to provide some support when a mathematical career is interrupted by family responsibilities, relocation of a partner, or other similar circumstance, making possible some continuous mathematical activity and so enabling the fellow to be in a position to apply for posts when circumstances allow.
Eligibility
Argelander Scholarships for doctoral candidates from universities in the Global South
The aim is to provide funding for doctoral candidates from countries in the Global South in order to promote scientific exchange with partners, particularly in regions that have been relatively marginalized in terms of scientific production. In order to promote international cooperation in the priority regions indicated in the partnership strategy, the University of Bonn is especially calling on doctoral candidates from Africa, South America, and Asia to participate. The funding is for a period of at least 3 and not more than 12 months.
2021 Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Astrophysics Pre-Doctoral Program
Webb Fellowship using the James Webb Space Telescope
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)supports research in astronomy, physics, space science and operates world-class research facilities for the UK.STFC is thus inviting application s for the Webb Fellowship using the James Webb Space Telescope. The role of the fellows will be to undertake their own research programme utilising the capabilities of the JWST (around 70% of their time) and to enhance the UK community use and wider impact of the JWST (around 30% of their time).
Biochemistry Seminar Series
The Department of Biochemistry and Sports Science has organized a research seminar/webinar on Diagnostic and treatment response biomarkers for respiratory diseases: from bench to practice by Dr Wilber Sabiiti, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews, UK.
Title: Diagnostic and treatment response biomarkers for respiratory diseases: from bench to practice
Date: Thursday 11th March 2021
Time: 12 noon-1 pm
Zoom Meeting ID: 978 2967 8161
Passcode: 404549
Dr Wilber Sabiiti PhD MSc BSc DipEd
Dr Sabiiti is a biomedical scientist with interest in translational research, working on the interface of applied biological science and healthcare provision. His work takes a holistic approach from primary discovery and optimisation in the laboratory to addressing barriers of translating biomedical research innovations into policy and practice. Achieving this kind of work requires interdisciplinary approach and expertise, which he has achieved by bringing together international minds in various research consortia primarily between UK and Africa but also continental Europe, Asia and North America. He has led and/or co-led over 5 multinational research consortia attracting over £3 million in research grants between UK, EU and Africa. He sits on several international professional committees and/or panels: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Academic Adviser Panel, UK National Institute Health Research (NIHR) College of Experts for the Global Effort on COVID-19 (GECO), COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition Virology, Immunology & Diagnostics Working group, TDR/WHO AMR Knowledge Management Consultants and Newton Fund Biomedical Sciences Review Panel. He has a PhD in Bioscience from University of Birmingham UK, MSc. Molecular Biology (Great Distinction) from Free University of Brussels (Flemish) and BSc. Biochemistry/Zoology (Hons) from Makerere University. He is the first African to win the Darwin International PhD studentship at the University of Birmingham.