Dr. Lerato Pertunia Nephali
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Project Name/Description:
Scientist, Omnia Nutriology
Dr. Lerato Nephali is a scientist at Omnia Nutriology, specialising in biochemistry, metabolomics, and sustainable agriculture. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Johannesburg, where her research focused on the molecular effects of bio-stimulants on crop plants. Her work revealed how microbial (Bacillus strains) and non-microbial (humic substances) bio-stimulants synergistically enhance plant growth, yield, and drought resistance—advancing the development of more effective formulations for resilient agriculture. In her career, she has published ten peer-reviewed journal articles and two book chapters, with over 290 citations. Notably, her work has appeared in prestigious journals such as Nature Microbiology, Frontiers in Plant Science, and Plants. These publications reflect her contributions to both fundamental and applied science, with a strong emphasis on metabolomics, plant-microbe interactions, and agricultural innovation. Dr. Nephali’s research has been part of international collaborations, including a UK-funded Agri-tech Catalyst project, conducted in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, University of Johannesburg, ACGT, and Omnia. Her role included sample preparation, LC-MS data analysis, and interpretation—contributing to the development of novel PGPR-based bio-stimulants for maize cultivation. In 2018, she was awarded a prestigious research opportunity at the University of East Anglia in the UK, for studying the effects of seaweed bio-stimulants on Arabidopsis by profiling small RNAs. She has also been awarded the UJ PG and PDRF Conferences in 2022 and 2023, scooping the People’s Choice Award in the 4IR PhD category and taking second place in the 4IR PhD category. She mentors postgraduate students, having co-supervised over fourteen Honours and master’s candidates, and also serves on the Early-Career Committee of Metabolomics South Africa. At Omnia, she leads R&D projects focused on product development and agribiological innovation. Her technical expertise includes LC-MS instrumentation, chemometrics, molecular networking, and project management. She says: “I believe my career journey is a testament to living by faith and purpose. As 2 Corinthians 4:8 reminds us, ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.’ And Colossians 3:23 calls us to ‘work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’ She concludes that these scriptures guided her through every challenge and triumph. She concludes: “I will always aspire to empower young women and men to rise with resilience, lead with integrity, and serve with excellence.”
