Dr Olga de Smidt is a research scientist and the deputy director of the Centre for Applied Food Sustainability and Biotechnology (CAFSaB) at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State.
She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of the Free State (UFS), BSc, BSc Hons: Genetics and MSc: Biochemistry.
Her experience spans more than 14 years, having done multidisciplinary research in Environmental and Food Microbial Ecology.
De Smidt leads the Food Industry Effluents Characterisation research initiative, which is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), and focuses on the diversity and functionality of microbiomes from food industry effluents.
She also oversees the unit for Brewing and Functional Fermentations, the so-called CUTbrU Beer Lab. The CUTbrU Beer Lab initiative established a product development value chain called “Malt to Moolah” which was awarded the vice-chancellor’s excellence award for innovation in 2020.
In her expansive career as a researcher, senior researcher and now associate research professor, De Smidt has received numerous grants from the NRF and authored scientific articles listed as the “most cited” and “editor’s choice” in prominent Microbiology journals.
De Smidt’s work has been recognised with the dean’s trophy for the best research publication in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences on five occasions.
De Smidt has also been awarded vice-chancellor medals for showcasing excellence as the winner of Novice Researcher of the Year award, in addition to being awarded medals for displays of innovations.
