OWSD Zimbabwe National Chapter Presents "Intellectual Property: Crucial for a Scientist", a WhatsApp talk by Rumbidzai Mlambo

When I got my OWSD fellowship, it was an amazing feeling. Before getting the letter, my academic career was a dream, the letter made it possible.

I found my niche, and I have not looked back.

Due to the war in Yemen, I had stopped studying for two years. This opportunity gave me the chance to complete my postgraduate studies.

What fascinated me is that only 5% of microorganisms are harmful, and the rest are beneficiary.

OWSD fellowship represents a real empowering difference in my life and career

I wanted to do applied physics, not theoretical physics… I really wanted to use all of the knowledge that I acquired at university to explain our environment.

What has surprised me is the way technology is emerging and affecting the current state of research. We are encountering a fourth industrial revolution that entails advances in computing power, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, which has already been shown to alter the way we conduct research.

The main problem in radiotherapy is that most cancer cells are resistant to radiation.

I desire to see my country, Nigeria, become a leading destination for impactful clinical studies.

When I am seeing an impact, that’s what makes me as a scientist feel an achievement

I have to think of something that can help us, that we can use based on resources that we have. The lack of things is the biggest inspiration in my life. I want to help my country.

In today’s scientific environment, in which most PhD scientists concentrate on a single specific discipline, I might shift toward a more systemic view to approach the challenge in infectious diseases.

My position is that we should acknowledge what we are lacking of, so that we can keep working.

You must first be safe to be able to think about the environment.

Biomedicine represents the future of healthcare, aiming to intercept diseases before they arise and tailoring solutions to each individual's unique needs. It's not just about treating illnesses; it's about preventing them before they take root.

My dear girls in science: be strong, inquisitive, curious, assertive, resilient, and focused. Go for gold!

The fellowship has really impacted my career. I was working in a university as an Assistant Lecturer, but with the OWSD fellowship I am undertaking a PhD that will allow me to reach the grade of Senior Lecturer.

I owe ‘what’, ‘who’ and ‘where’ I am in my career and professional practice today to OWSD because without the PHD Fellowship, all my achievements today would have been nothing but bleak.

All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.