Biomedical Sciences

• Email the School
• General Inquiries

I graduated from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia with a PhD in Microbiology in 1994, and embarked on a career as a Research Scientist in Zimbabwe at the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), the Zimbabwean equivalent of the Australian CSIRO. After five years in research, I left to work for Olivine Industries, a Food Manufacturing Industry, which was then the affiliated company of H.J. Heinz International in Zimbabwe, as the Company's Product Development and Food Safety Manager. Yearning for further study, I returned to Australia and undertook a second Masters Degree in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. On completion, I returned to Zimbabwe and lectured at the University of Zimbabwe in Food Science and Nutrition. Towards end of 2004, I was appointed Director of the Biotechnology Research Institute of the SIRDC, the position of which I resigned from on taking up lectureship at Charles Sturt University.

Professional Membership

• Member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW) [formerly Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS]).
• Professional Member of the South African Association of Food Science & Technology (SAAFoST).
• Member of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA)
• Member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST)
• Member of the African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum (ABSF)

Current Research Interests

• My research interest is in fermentation technology - measuring folate levels of fermented condiments and other traditionally fermented foods. The objective of the research is to develop methods for analysis of folic acid and naturally occurring folates in fermented foods.
  

Areas of Expertise

• Folate extraction from cereal-based fermented foods and its analysis
• Fermentation and enzyme technologies for bio-ethanol production
• HACCP audit and implementation in Food Industries

Publications & Presentations

Publications

• Khosa, E. M. (2010). A Review on enhancement of micronutrient content of Southern African Indigenous Fermented Foods. Presentation to the 22nd International ICFMH Symposium. University of Copenhagen, Denmark 30th August - 3rd September 2010. http://www.foodmicro.dk/fileadmin/lmc_files/ICFMH_Presentations/8._Khosa_ICFMH_Symposium_30-08-10.pdf
• Parawira, W. & Khosa, E. M. (2009). Biotechnology research, development, applications and management in Zimbabwe: Review. Scientific Research and Essay Vol.4 (9), pp. 825-841, September, 2009. Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE. ISSN 1992-2248 - 2009 Academic Journals.
• Khosa, E. M. & Arcot, J. (2003). Indigenous fermented maize beverage (mahewu) from Southern Africa - its folate composition and public health significance. IX Asian Congress of Nutrition, New Delhi, India. 23 - 27 February 2003.
• Mawadza, C., Mpandi-Khosa, E., Zvauya, R., Gopo, J. & Holzapfel, W. (1999). Microbiological changes in production of Mutwiwa, a fermented maize meal of Zimbabwe. In: Proceedings of the Regional seminar on Traditional Fermented Food Processing in Africa, Accra, Ghana, July 1998. page 34-42.

Presentations

• Khosa, E.M. (2008). Current Status of Biotechnology in Zimbabwe. Presentation to the 1st All Africa Congress on Biotechnology. Nairobi Kenya 22nd-26th September 2008.
• Khosa E.M. (2008). Biotechnology Status in Zimbabwe. Presentation to the African Conference on Biotechnology. Tripoli - Libya. 22-24 June 2008.
• Khosa, E. M. (2006). Genetically modified organisms: Food Security versus Health and Safety Concerns. National Conference on Occupational Safety, Health And Social Security. 4- 6 October 2006. Meikles Hotel Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Khosa, E. M. (2006). The Use of Biotechnology in the Enhancement of Food Production. NECF Discussion Series. Sheraton Hotel, Harare. 2 February 2006.
• Khosa E. M. (2005). Research and the Food Industry - SIRDC Experience. Stakeholders Workshop for the Department of Food Processing Technology (FPT). Harare Institute of Technology Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Jameson Hotel, Harare. 18 ??? 19 May 2005.
• Khosa, E.M. and Arcot, J. (2004).Folate synthesis in mahewu - its consumption and public health significance. Research Council of Zimbabwe 7th Symposium on Science and Technology. 1st - 3rd September 2004. Sheraton Hotel, Harare.
• Khosa, E. M. (2003). Preventing disease and managing the health of a nation through nutrition. University of Cape Town. Cape Town, South Africa. 7-8 August 2003.