Dr Marijke Fagan-Endres

Senior Lecturer
c-Phycocyanin from Spirulina extraction and purification process design
Development of probiotic for treatment of bacterial vaginosis in South African women
Heap bioleaching hydrology studies

My research interests lie in bioprocess engineering, initiated during my time as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research (CeBER) in 2009 when I investigated algal carbon uptake mechanisms. My subsequent work focussed on biohydrometallurgical processes, namely heap bioleaching and bioflotation, and the development of novel techniques for their study including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray μCT and isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC). More recently I have begun to specialise in formulation and production of probiotics specifically targeted at the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and of fine chemicals such as c-Phycocyanin pigment from Spirulina.

In my position as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering I am also deeply involved in the teaching of the undergraduate curriculum. I currently lectures in both 1st and 3rd year core chemical engineering courses (CHE1005W and CHE3005W), specialising in Reaction Systems and Design in the latter. Other teaching activities have included involvement in the final year design project supervisory team (CHE4036Z), supervision of 2nd year field trip and 4th year thesis projects and teaching into the Bioprocess Engineering elective course (CHE3068S).

Current Supervision Doctorate                   3                                    
Graduated Supervision Doctorate              2             
Current Supervision Masters                      5                                    
Graduated Supervision Masters                 3             
In refereed Journals                                  14                                   
In refereed Books                                      n/a         
In refereed Conference Proceedings          4                                    
Presented at International Conferences    16           
Technical Reports                                       1                                     
Patents                                                       1             

Professional History

2016 – present         Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town
2014 – 2015             Lecturer, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCT
07/2013 – 12/2013   Assistant Lecturer – Reactor Design II, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCT
2011 – 2012             Supervisor – Chemical Engineering Part I Separations Course, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, UK
2009                        Research Assistant, CeBER, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCT
2009                        Tutor – Chemical Engineering Mass Transfer Course, Department of Chemical Engineering, UCT
11/2007 – 02/2008  Intern, Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, Sonning Common, UK

Awards

2019                  NRF Y1 rating
2016                  WISA MWD Symposium 2016, Best Speaker Session Award
2014                  Woman in Engineering and the Built Environment (WiEBE) Excellence Award: Most Promising Young Woman – Research
2010                  Best Poster Prize, Magnetic Resonance and Porous Media (MRPM) 10 Conference

Qualifications

2009 – 2013          PhD – Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge
2005 – 2008         BSc – Chemical Engineering, UCT (with first class honours)

View Curriculum Vitae.