Philisiwe Nompumelelo

To use my hands-on experience and knowledge to support research and other activities that contribute to the prestige of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). I am a highly motivated and dedicated Field Research Assistant with a strong commitment to achieving goals, even with very minimal supervision. I have interpersonal skills and a friendly demeanour that have enabled me to effectively work with local and international students and staff and build lasting relationships.

I am passionate about plants and the natural environment, and I hope to use my knowledge and experience with plants to build clean and aesthetically appealing landscapes.

Field Research Assistant at University of KwaZulu Natal, Plant Breeding (2009 – Present)

• Ensuring timely planting, weeding, and harvesting, and general crop management on research plots of the various crops including maize, sorghum, Bambara nut and soybean in the field and greenhouses, tunnels, and pots.
• Ensuring appropriate and crop-specific pre-emergent and post-emergent weed management including using herbicides such as RoundUp®, Gramoxone®, 2,4-D and Dual®
• Maintaining a clean and aesthetic environment around research plots and farm research offices
• Maintaining inventory and appropriate storage of inputs such as seed, fertilizers and pesticides/herbicides and tools/equipment such as hoes, knapsack sprayers and hand-held shellers
• Carrying out technical activities such as self-pollination, cross pollination, detasselling and rogueing out off-type plants.
• Recording plant growth data such as flowering, maturity, disease susceptibility score and yield
• Identifying and reporting pests, diseases and poor nutrition on research plots to post-graduate students and their supervisors.
• Identifying and reporting faults on irrigation, seed storage and other facilities to the Farm Manager and Line Manager

Seasonal / Casual Labour at University of KwaZulu Natal, Plant Breeding (2006 – 2006)

• Worked in the fields to following duties: planting, irrigation, hoe-weeding, fertilizer application
• Applied herbicides and pesticides
• Assisted with setting out and laying out field experiments
• Assisted with recording experimental plant data
• Carried out other duties assigned such as clearing bushes around research plots

National Senior Certificate – Georgetown High School (2004 – 2007)