Prof Nanganedzeni Mapholi

Prof Nanganedzeni Mapholi
Acting Executive Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UNISA

Professor Ntanganedzeni (Olivia) Mapholi is a distinguished Animal Genomics scholar and Acting Executive Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UNISA. She holds an NRF C2 rating and was honoured as the Excellent Young Emerging Researcher in 2021.

Prof Mapholi has led major continental and global genomics initiatives, including chairing the 2023 ISAG Conference and serving as Co-Chair of the African BioGenome Project. She contributes to the Earth BioGenome Project and previously chaired ISAG’s Livestock Genomics for Developing Countries Committee.

Her research advances genomic technologies for livestock improvement, conservation genetics and anti-poaching applications. She has secured significant research funding, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and published extensively, shaping genomics and sustainable livestock systems in Africa.