Control Technical Assistant (Field Trial & Horticulture Unit): Innovation Africa @UP Campus

Whelma is a Control Technical Assistant for the Field Trials and Horticultural unit at the Innovation Africa @UP campus. She is a registered member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Profession (SACNASP). Whelma has 12 years’ experience in agricultural research, in particular conventional breeding and is a co-author in published scientific papers. She previously worked for the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) as a Senior Research Technician. Whelma holds a MSc Agric (cum laude) and BSc (Hons) in plant breeding from the University of the Free State, and a BTech in Agricultural Management from the Tshwane University of Technology.

Whelma's daily tasks include managing research field trials and different fruit orchards such as citrus, avocado, pecan, and moringa. She also mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students, and assists with practicals when required.