Dr Shonisani Ramashia
Dr Shonisani Ramashia has risen through the ranks in academia and research from the technical side to the academic side spanning over 20 years since her postgraduate studies. This exposure to the academic and research environment has seen her develop competencies in the setting up and implementation of research projects in the various sub-disciplines of Food Science and Technology.
She gained serious industrial experience while she worked with renowned value addition organisations in South Africa. Although a new entrant into the academia, she has already successfully supervised and continues supervising final year students, postgraduate students and mentoring postdoctoral fellows. She is also teaching undergraduate students. She published some articles (19), encyclopaedia article (1) book chapters (3) that were peer reviewed and has made presentations at national and international symposia/conferences. She is also a reviewer of international journals. Dr Ramashia also travelled international countries such as Germany and others.
Dr Ramashia has attracted funding from many bodies among which are: (i) LEAP-Agric project, (ii) Water Research Commission, (iii) Agricultural Research Council (iv) France and South African Agricultural Institute, (v) BankSeta (Women in Entrepreneurship).
She is serving as a Senior lecturer (2019) and Head of the Department (2020) in the Department of Food Science and Technology in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda. She is an Assistant Professor at Shoolini University, India through six (6) months staff-student exchange.
She holds a PhD in Agriculture (Food Science and Technology graduate in 2018), graduated with her BSc in Food Science and Technology (UNIVEN, 2004) and MTech in Food Technology Cum Laude (Tshwane University of Technology, 2013). She also graduated Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (University of Kwazulu-Natal) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Leadership within Higher Education.
Dr Shonisani Ramashia joined the University of Venda as a one-year contract Senior Laboratory Technician in 2013- 2014. She then became a Teaching Assistant in 2015-2016 and later a lecturer in 2017.
Ramashia was born and bred in Miluwani (Tshitangwe village) Sibasa in the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. She matriculated at Mbilwi High School. She started her primary school at Makwarela primary, moved to Tshishonga primary and finished her senior primary education at Lufule primary school. Dr Ramashia said “I was mentored by my late uncle Prof. Victor N. Ralushai at an early age. I was raised by a single parent who worked at government department. My father passed away when I was two (2) years old”.
She finally thanked her supervisors Prof. Afam Jideani, Prof. Eastonce Gwata and Prof. S. Meddows-Taylor for her PhD work.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding & Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 /8710
Date: 23 August 2022
