Winner. Scientist of the Year 2020

Alsácia Atanásio Nhacumbe

Academic title, degree: Ph.D. in Veterinary Science, Post-Doct Biotechnology
Fields of science: Veterinary Parasitology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology
Research interest: Epidemiology of parasites / parasitic infections of ruminants, particularly goats (Gastrointestinal Nematodes, Haemoparasites, Genotyping of F167Y and F200Y SNPs in Haemonchus contortus
Institution: Biotechnology and Biosciences National Centre (CNBB), Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education (MCTESTP)
Position: Director
Country: Mozambique

Education:

Dr. Alsácia Atanásio Nhacumbe holds a Degree in Veterinary Medicine from Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique, since 1990; a PhD in Veterinary Science from the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), Pretoria, South Africa, since 200; and a Post-doctoral Degree in Molecular Biology by the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, in 2018.

Work Experience:

Dr. Alsácia Atanásio Nhacumbe was a Researcher as Parasitologist from 1988 to 2005 at the National Institute of Veterinary Research (INIVE), Executive Secretary of the Technical Council of Agricultural Research (CTIA) from 2003 to 2005, Executive Director of the National Research Fund (FNI) from 2006 to 2013, and currently she is the Director of the Biotechnology and Biosciences National Center (CNBB) / MCTESTP, since 2015.

Past Achievements:

Dr. Alsácia Atanásio Nhacumbe has attended scientific meetings/conferences as Speaker and published scientific papers:

• Atanásio, A. & Boomker, J. (1997). Preliminary Study of the Parasitism Pattern of Goats in the Family Sector in Mozambique. In Proceedings: 16th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, Sun City, África do Sul, page 5.

• Atanásio, A. (2000). Helminths, Protozoa, Heartwater, and the Effect of Gastro-intestinal Nematodes on the Productivity of Goats of the Family Sector in Mozambique. PhD thesis. Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of Southern Africa, África do Sul.

• Atanásio, A. (2001). Variações sazonais de infecções por helminthes em caprinos do sector familiar em Moçambique, O Agrário, 21: 25-30.

• Atanásio, A.,Boomker, J. & Sitoe, C. (2001a). Ocorrência de resistência de nemátodos gastrointestinais aos anti-helmínticos em caprinos de Moçambique, O Agrário, 21: 20-24.

• Atanásio, A.,Boomker, J. & Sitoe, C. (2001b). A survey on the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in gastro-intestinal nematodes of goats in Mozambique. In Proceedings: 18th International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, August 2001, Stresa, Milan, Italy.

• Atanásio, A. (2002a). Prevalência de hemoparasitas e anticorpos Cowdria ruminantium em caprinos do sector familiar em Moçambique. In Proceedings: 18th Brazilian Congress of Veterinary Medicine, São Salvador da Bahia, Bahia, Brasil, Page 263.

• Atanásio, A., Boomker, J. & Sitoe, C. (2002). A survey on the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in gastro-intestinal nematodes of goats in Mozambique, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 69: 215-220.

• Matos, C., Sitoe, C., Afonso, S., Banze, J., Baptista, J., Dias, G., Rodrigues, F., Atanásio, A., Nhamusso, A., Penrith, M-L. & Willingham, A. L. (2011). A pilot study of common health problems in smallholder pigs in Angónia and Boane districts, Mozambique. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, Vol. 82 (3): 166–169 (En.).

Dr. Alsácia Atanásio Nhacumbe has visited, both as Researcher or as Policy & Decision Maker, around 26 countries worldwide as, for example, Austria, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arabic Emirates (UAE), Uganda, United States of America and Zimbabwe, and she has been working extensively throughout all the Provinces of Mozambique.

She is a member of many organizations, such as:

• Member of Editorial Board of the Global Journal of Veterinary Care and Research, based in Illinois, Chicago, USA since 2019;

• Member of the Mozambican Veterinary Association since 1990;

• Member of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology from 1997 to 2003;

• President of Scientific and Deontological Council of the Mozambican Veterinary Association from March 2000 to December 2009;

• Expert of the Global Design Team of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) from December 2004 to December 2008;

• Expert of the Sub-Saharan Design Team of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) from December 2004 to December 2008;

• Mozambique Representative as Bureau Member of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), from August 2004 to December 2008;

• Member of the IAASTD Bureau sub-committee selection for the IAASTD Authors (Coordinating and Lead authors);

• External Peer Review Member for several Competitive Grants;

• Evaluation Panel Member of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program, through The Africa-America Institute Office in Mozambique, for selection the Post-Graduate Candidates from Mozambique for the years 2009 and 2010;

• Executive Secretary of the Mozambican Science & Technology Council (CNCT), an Advisory Council to the Cabinet, from January 2010 to December 2012;

• Founder Member of the Mozambican Academy of Science (ACM) since 2010;

• Member of the Administration Board of Fundação Manhiça in representation of the honorary member and founder Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi from January 2011 to March 2019;

• Member of the Board of the Order of Veterinarians of Mozambique since May 2013.

The researcher has the following achievements in scientific publications:

• Atanásio-Nhacumbe, A., Ribeiro-Andrade, M. (Eds), (2019). Handbook on Elements of Standards and Specifications of Tete Goat. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing: 53pp, ISBN 978-3-330-33054-2.

• Atanásio-Nhacumbe, A., Cavele, A., Cala, A.C., Uzêda, R.S., Bárbara Paraná Souza, B.P., Luis Fernando Pita Gondim. L.F.P., Ribeiro-Andrade, M., Ornelas-Almeida, M.A., Matos, C.A. & Maricoa, N. (2017). Serological survey of Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti in cattle and goats from smallholder farms in Angónia, Tete Province, Mozambique. African Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 2 (2): April - June 2017: pp. 303-31, ISSN 2415-2838.

• Atanásio-Nhacumbe, A., Ayres, M.C.C, Sabrina Mota Lambert, S.M.& Bárbara Paraná Souza, B.P. (2017). Anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of goats in southern Mozambique. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Vol. 9 (11), November 2017, pp. 313-319.

• Atanásio-Nhacumbe, A., Sabrina Mota Lambert, S.M., Bárbara Maria Paraná da Silva Souza, B.M.P.S. & Ayres, M.C.C. (2018). Molecular detection of benzimidazole resistance levels associated with F167Y and F200Y polymorphisms in Haemonchus contortus of goats from Mozambique. Parasitology Research, 11pp, ISSN 0932-0113, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6162-6

• Atanásio-Nhacumbe, A., Sitoe, C.F. (2019). Prevalence and seasonal variations of eggs of gastrointestinal nematode parasites of goats from smallholder farms in Mozambique.

For many years, Dr. Atanásio Nhacumbe has been actively attending various international scientific meetings and conferences. So recently she participated in the 40th General Conference of UNESCO, as focal point for Natural Science at the National Commission of UNESCO of Mozambique, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France in November 2019; the Africa Summit on Women and Girls in Technology, held in Accra, Ghana, as panellist, and presented the poster "Women’s Rights Online: Reality of Women’s Internet Use in Mozambique"; also the XIX Brazilian Congress on Veterinary Parasitology & 8th Novel Approaches to The Control of Helminth Parasites of Livestock, held in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, and presented the poster "Serological survey of Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti in cattle and goats of the family sector in Angónia, Tete, Mozambique", etc.