Curriculum vitae: L. Steyn
General information
Title:
Mrs
Name:
Laurinda
Initials:
L
Surname:
Steyn
Maiden name:
van Niekerk
Identification number:
6604090020085
Citizenship:
South Africa
Gender:
Female
Race:
White
Contact Details
Organisation:
Department Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology
Faculty
of
Natural
and
Agricultural
Sciences
University of the Free State
Email Address:
steynl@ufs.ac.za
Work telephone number:
051 4012585
Work fax number:
051 4443219
Mobile number:
084 6085698
Website address:
uovs.ac.za
Qualifications
Degree/Diploma:
Medical Technician (Chemical Pathology), Central
University of Technology, Free State (1989)
MSc (Biotechnology), University of the Free State (2007)
Employment
Position:
Researcher (Jan 2007 – Current), Assistant Researcher (Apr
2000 – Dec 2006), University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
Development Fermentation Laboratory Manager (Jul 1999 –
Mar
2000),
Development
Fermentation
Program
Coordinator (Jan 1998 – Jun 1999, Development
Biotechnologist (Nov 1994 – Dec 1997), AECI Bioproducts,
Umbogintwini
Laboratory technician (Apr 1990 – Oct 1994), University of
the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein
Medical Technician (Dec 1983 – Mar 1990), Drs Voigt and
Partners, Bloemfontein
Research expertise
Fields of specialisation:
Fermentation
technology, Biotransformations, Yeast,
Secondary metabolites production, Bioethanol production,
Bioprocess engineering, Biotechnological process control,
Data processing, Process development, Fungal fermentations
Student supervision record
Supervisor:
Mr GB Akanni, BSc Hons (2008); Mr TAL Mohafa, BSc Hons
(2010)
Co-Supervisor:
Mr OO Kuloyo, BSc Hons (2007), MSc (2008 – Current); Mr GB
Akanni, MSc ( 2009 – Current); Mr AM Meyer, BSc Hons
(2009), MSc (2010 – Current); Miss A Mahlangeni, BSc Hons
(2007), MSc (2009 – Current); Mr TAL Mohafa, MSc (2011 –
Current)
Conference Outputs
du Preez, J.C., Steyn, L., de Smidt, O., Dukunde, A. and Albertyn, J. (2009) Phenotypic
characteristics of multiple ADH deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 27th
International Specialized. Symposium on Yeasts. Paris, France, 26-29 August. (Poster)
Albertyn, J., de Smidt, O., Dukunde, A., Henn, M., Steyn, L. and du Preez, J.C. (2009)
Molecular and physiological aspects of alcohol dehydrogenases in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 16th Biennial congress of the South Africa South African
Society for Microbiology, Durban, 21-23 September.
Steyn, L., O. de Smidt, K. Ntlhokoa, J. Albertyn and J.C. du Preez.(2008) The role of
alchohol dehydrogenase 1 and 2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 15th Biennial Congress of
the SA Society for Microbiology (Bio-08), Grahamstown, 21-25 January (Poster).
du Preez, J.C., de Smidt, O., Steyn, L. and Albertyn, J. (2008) The use of multiple deletion
mutants for determining the physiological role of alchohol dehydrogenase isozymes in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. IUMS 2008. Joint meeting of the divisions of the International
Union of Microbiological Societies. XIIth International Congress of Mycology. Istanbul,
Turkey, 5-9 August.
Biographic information
Currently working in the research group fermentation biotechnology for 15 years, with special
interest in continuous cultures, yeast physiology and the production of metabolites such as
bioethanol using filamentous fungi and bacteria, including genetically engineered micro-organisms.
Have a particular aptitude for computer usage: rapidly mastering a number of programmes for data
management and constructing graphs, statistical analyses, etc. Used small bench-top bioreactors to
conduct a series of fermentations and have rapidly learnt to handle all aspects of this research. Well
equipped with the setting up of bioreactors on a 15 litre scale. Keen on undertaking new tasks and
have a wide range of technical skills. Grasp the requirements for different investigations and able
not only to design the required experiment, but also to analyse the generated data. Active with
other departmental duties.
I have always been interested in research and started my career as a trainee Medical Technician with
the impression that working in a laboratory will satisfy my interest. Unfortunately this was not the
case as it was basically routine work with no research aspect. After completing my diploma I decided
to change my job and started working as a laboratory assistant at the Department of Microbiology
and Biotechnology at the University of the Free State. During this time I was also studying for my
B.Sc., unfortunately I had a contract position with no benefits. A permanent position at AECI
Bioproducts was presented to me and I made a decision to move. During my time at this company I
excelled as researcher and fermentation biotechnologist, but was limited for promotion as I had no
formal education as a researcher. Due to personal reasons I returned to the University of the Free
State and had the opportunity to complete my M.Sc. with coursework in Biotechnology earning a
distinction for my MSc script. I currently hold a permanent position as researcher at the University
and have registered for my PhD to further my expertise. I have always worked full time and studied
part-time.
Courses completed:
Self-governing, career-planning, career development and
general management (July 1994, U.F.S, Bloemfontein)
Fundamentals of Growth Kinetics with emphasis on
Chemostat Theory presented by Prof. J.C. du Preez (UFS)
(February 1995, AECI R&DD, Johannesburg)
The use, maintenance and calibration of pH and ion selective
electrodes (April 1997, Swiss Laboratories, Johannesburg)
OPTIMUS 6 – software program for image analyses (June
1997, UCT, Cape Town)
Basic Experimental Design and Response Surface
Methodology (July 1997, AECI, R&DD, Johannesburg)
The use of 3M Petrifilm organism identification system
(August 1997, Merck, Johannesburg)
Team Business education program (September 1998,
Business Education Design, Johannesburg)
Data Processing and Modeling (February 1999, U.O.F.S.,
Bloemfontein)
Industrial Quality Management (Statistical Process Control
(SPCC) and HACCP) (May 2001, UFS, Bloemfontein)
Microarray Data Analysis (September 2007, NBN, Cape
Town)
SPSS Introduction (January 2009, SPSS-SA, Bloemfontein),
SPSS Data Management & Manipulation (March 2009, SPSSSA, Bloemfontein)
STATISTICA intro training (June 2010, StatSoft Southern
Africa, Bloemfontein)
Special training:
First Aid (June 1996, St. Johns Ambulance, Durban)
Fermentation operation (February 1997 & January 1998,
AECI Bioproducts, Umbogintwini)
Team Achievement
Associates, Durban)
(June
1997,
Owen,
Adendorff
&
Basic Fire fighting Extinguisher (November 1998, AECI
Operation Services, Umbogintwini)
Microsoft Excel – Intermediate
Bioproducts, Umbogintwini)
Hazard Studies including
Engineering, Johannesburg).
HAZOP
(March
1999,
AECI
(May
1999,
AECI
Represented:
At AECI Bioproducts I also represented the company as
Safety,Health and Environmental representative (January
1997 – January 2000) and received training accordingly.
Member of South African Society of Microbiology (2001-present)