Professor Grace Mugumbate

Profession: Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research Innovation and Industrialisation

Qualifications:

• Associate Professor (Chemistry), October 2017 – present
• PhD (Chemistry ), 2007 – 2010: Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
• MSc, Analytical Chemistry (Merit), 2003 – 2004: Department of Chemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
• Graduate Certificate in Education (Grad C.E), 1997: Department of Education, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
• BSc. Honours in Chemistry, 1985 – 1987: Department of Chemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Experience:

• Pro Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, March 2021 to present: Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbawe
• Director, Research and Graduate Studies, October 2019 – February 2021: Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
• Acting Director, Research and Graduate Studies, January 2019–September 2019: Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.
• Scientific Training Officer, January 2017-October 2017: EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
• Data Curator, May 2016 – Dec 2016: EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
• Postdoctoral Research Scientist, April 2013 – April 2016: EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
• Visiting Research Scientist, September 2015 – April 2016: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Prof Tom L. Blundell’s lab, UK
• Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Scientist, March 2010 – March 2013: Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Kelly Chibale Research group and Holistic Drug Design and Discovery Centre (H3D)
• Lecturer, 2005 –2006: Department of Chemical Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
• Teaching Assistant and Staff Development Fellow, 2000 – 2004: Department of Chemical Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.
• A ‘Level Chemistry Teacher, 1990 – 2000: Fletcher High School, Gweru, Zimbabwe
• Laboratory Technician in the analytical laboratory, 1988 – 1989: Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Institute of Mining Research, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

Other Experience and Competencies:

• Experienced senior leader and manager in academics, research, innovation and commercialisation/industrialisation at higher education and research institutions.
• Experienced academic strategic leader in academic programme and module development
• Experienced researcher in data-driven computer-aided drug discovery, design and development, Medicinal/Pharmaceutical chemistry and Health Sciences.
• Versatile researcher able to apply acquired knowledge and skills across disciplines.
• Prolific writer of manuscripts for publication, experienced reviewer of manuscripts for publications with several peer-reviewed journals and an external examiner.
• Proficient user of a variety of computer tools
• Capable of designing, managing and delivering training workshops
• Project management skills acquired from more than ten years of research and managing innovative projects.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and engagement skills
• A good team player who inspires and motivates others.
• Experienced mentor to upcoming researchers and leaders.
• Building and managing international collaborations and partnerships.
• Able to develop and nurture intercultural relationships and able to operate across different cultures.
• Morally sound, and uphold respect, integrity, and hard work.

Selected Publications

1. Douglas A. M. Ruhwaya, Brilliant Nyathi, Gadzikano Munyuki, Ryman Shoko & Grace Mugumbate (2023) Controlling drug resistance by targeting Plasmodium falciparum heat shock protein 70-1, a chaperone at the centre of protein quality control mechanism: a review, All Life, 16:1, 2202301, DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2023.2202301
2. Tukulula, M., Olasupo, I. A., Mugumbate, G. C., Lobb, K. A., Klein, R., Sayed, Y., … & Kaye, P. T. (2022). Synthesis, Stereochemistry and In Vitro STD NMR and In Silico HIV-1 PR Enzyme-binding Potential of MBH-derived Inhibitors. Journal of Molecular Structure, 133716.
3. Mugumbate, G., Nyathi, B., Zindoga, A., & Munyuki, G. (2021). Application of Computational Methods in Understanding Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Resistance. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 837.
4. David Mendez, Anna Gaulton, A. Patricia Bento, Jon Chambers, Marleen De Veij, Eloy Félix, María Paula Magariños, Juan F. Mosquera, Prudence Mutowo, Michal Nowotka, María Gordillo- Marañón, Fiona Hunter, Laura Junco, Grace Mugumbate, Milagros Rodriguez-Lopez, Francis Atkinson, Nicolas Bosc, Chris J. Radoux, Aldo Segura-Cabrera, Anne Hersey and Andrew R. Leach, (2018), ChEMBL: Towards Direct Deposition of Bioassay Data, Nucleic Acids Research, 1-11, doi: 10.1093/nar/gky1075.
5. Mugumbate, G., Mendes, V., Blaszczyk, M., Sabbah, M., Papadatos, G., Lelievre, J., Ballell, L., Barros, D., Abell, C., Blundell, T.L. and Overington, J.P., 2017. Target Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phenotypic Hits Using a Concerted Chemogenomic, Biophysical, and Structural Approach. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8, 681.
6. Mugumbate, G., & Overington, J. P. (2015). The relationship between target-class and the physicochemical properties of antibacterial drugs. J. Bioorg. Med. Chem., http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2015.04.063
7. Mugumbate G, Abrahams KA, Cox JAG, Papadatos G, van Westen G, et al. (2015) Mycobacterial Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors Identified Using Chemogenomic Methods and In Vitro Validation. PLoS ONE 10(3): e0121492. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121492.