RACHEAL
NINSIIMA
Daphne Nyachaki Bitalo was cut out of for an
academician’s life. At 26, she is pursuing a PhD in molecular genetics at
Stellenbosch University in Cape Town. As a molecular geneticist, she is in the habit
of analysing DNA levels in plant, animal and human species. Bitalo can also
work on paternity tests, forensics and genetically modified foods (GMOs) which
can withstand drought, pests and weeds.
Her love for sciences was bread at an early age
when she excelled in Mathematics and Chemistry.
“Whenever my parents asked me whether I was going
to be in the academia for long, I replied in the affirmative and this dream has
stuck until today,” she says.
After finishing her A’Level with 17 points in
PCB/M from Ntinda View College, she applied for admission to a research group
in Stellenbosch University that university. Luckily, she was admitted. In 2006,
she moved to South Africa for an undergraduate degree in molecular genetics, a
programme she has carried forward to the PhD level. As a PhD holder, Bitalo is
set to become the next science icon, a road less travelled by young women.
Earlier
days:
Her initial days as a student were however a
bitter pill to swallow. Apart from the ravaging homesickness, problems like racism
also prevailed.
“Racism at the university comes mainly in form of cultural
differences. Once, a South African student verbally attacked me, calling me ‘kaffir’, an equivalent of nigger (contemptuous
term for a black or dark-skinned person),” Bitalo recalls.
But she lived through the torment by ignoring the
attacks and remained focused on her studies.
There was also difficulty in raising tuition for
her undergraduate degree because as a foreign student, it is hard for one to
acquire a scholarship as priority is accorded to South African students who are
the majority. However, her father paid her tuition until she finished in 2008.
After her undergraduate, she tutored at the
university as is required of every graduate and the money she earned helped her
pay her bills. As her former classmates went in search of jobs, Bitalo decided
to rejoin the same university for an honours and later masters in the same
program which she completed last year.
To underscore her determination of being an
academic would be folly because the vibrant bespectacled iconic scientist in
the making is back for a PhD.
“I applied for a scholarship from the
International Foundation for Science based in Germany which sponsors female
scientists below 35 years and luckily again, I was chosen,” Bitalo says, her
face lightening up.
She struck another luck jackpot when the
university’s genetics department offered to pay half her tuition on the pretext
of being the only student out of the master’s class to apply for a PhD.
Her current PhD project is population genetics on
tope sharks where she is exploring the genetic differences between the on and
in shore shark species and conservation species.
Most
Memorable moment:
“During my master’s project, I developed molecular
markers (sequences of DNA that can be used to finger print species or traits)
which are being used within the plant breeding project at the university,” she
says.
Also, seeing her master’s thesis titled,
‘Implementation and Evaluation of molecular markers Triticale cultivar
Identification’ being used as an online reference makes her proud.
Future
plans:
After completing her PhD, Bitalo wants to
establish a research laboratory in Uganda. This she says will help her take on
young people especially S.6 vacists whom she will impart practical skills that
will help them later in their careers.
Also, to publish some of her works for public
reference and do more research for the university.
Molecular
genetics in the market place:
Bitalo admits that in South Africa, a molecular
biologist with a master’s degree or even PhD will not get the salary they are
worth because of competitiveness. This is one of the reasons she wants to establish
a lab in Uganda.
“In establishing the lab, I want to teach people
to pursue what they love and not what is marketable because once the later is
one’s push, he or she might end up quitting or hating it,” Bitalo says.
Her
free time:
During her leisure, Bitalo enjoys watching
football and says she is a strong Arsenal fan. She also practises martial arts
locally known as Tai-Chi in South Africa and loves reading novels.
ninsiima@observer.ug
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