Here at GA Jobs we are committed to helping enhance global mobility and international collaborations. One of the many brilliant academics we came across recently is Wesley Loftie-Eaton. Wesley works in the University of Idaho’s Life Sciences lab, part of the Bioinformatics & Computational Biology programme. His work on the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria and plasmids adapt to each other and aid the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, has made him a fierce advocate for good antimicrobial stewardship practices.
Being South African he is also keenly aware that Africa will be severely affected by antibiotic resistance so he is taking action to both return to Africa and publicise this issue. As he says in his blog ‘I am going back #MyOwnWay’ via Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia . . . by bike’
Wesley will be visiting universities and research centres along the way to talk about Antibiotic Resistance and encourage young African scientists to better understand and take action on this issue.
He is also raising money for Antibiotic Action. You can donate here. Your donations will help to educate people about the need for good antimicrobial stewardship and will support science in Africa aimed at understanding, surveying and beating antimicrobial resistance.
In June 2016 Wesley starts his six-month cycle journey through six African countries starting in Nairobi Kenya and going through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and down to Cape Town South Africa.
So far his confirmed talks are at:
Kenya
- The Centre for Microbiology Research and the Traditional Medicine and Drug Development Program at the Kenya Medical Research Institute
- International Livestock Research Institute
Zambia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zambia
South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine at the University of Cape Town
- University of Stellenbosch
- The University of the Western Cape
If you would like to host Wesley, please get in touch by emailing him at wloftie@gmail.com