Sikhulile Moyo

Sikhulile M. Moyo is a Zimbabwean virologist working as the laboratory director of the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in Gaborone.^[1][2] He is a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.

Sikhulile Moyo
Born	Zimbabwe
Alma mater	University of Zimbabwe University of Botswana Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Stellenbosch University
Known for	Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
Children	3
Scientific career
Fields	Immunology, infectious diseases
Institutions	Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Thesis	HIV-1C Dynamics and Evolutionary Trends in Botswana
Doctoral advisor	Susan Engelbrecht Tulio de Oliveira

Early life and education

Moyo was born in Zimbabwe.^[1] He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 1996.^[3] He completed a master's degree in applied microbiology at the University of Botswana in 2000.^[3][4] In 2006, Moyo completed a M.P.H. at the University of Limpopo (MEDUNSA-campus). His thesis was titled Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic.^[5] Moyo completed a Ph.D. in medical virology at Stellenbosch University in 2016. Tulio de Oliveira was one of his professors.^[1] His dissertation was titled Evolutionary trends and dynamics of HIV-1C in Botswana.^[3]

Career

Moyo joined the Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in 2003 as a lab assistant. He later became the laboratory coordinator, deputy manager, and then lab manager in 2016.^[3] As of November 2021, Moyo is the laboratory director. He is also a research associate in immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.^[6]

In November 2021, Moyo and his laboratory were the first to identify the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.^[7] Upon discovery, they alerted the Botswanan Ministry of Health on November 22, 2021.^[8] In 2022, Moyo was listed in the Time 100 list.^[9]

Personal life

Moyo is married and has two sons and a daughter.^[3] He is a gospel singer and composer.^[3]

References

1. Associated Press (December 4, 2021). "Scientist Says Omicron Was a Group Find". VOA. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
2. Viana R, Moyo S, Amoako DG, Tegally H, Scheepers C, Althaus CL, et al. (March 2022). "Rapid epidemic expansion of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in southern Africa". Nature. 603 (7902): 679–686. Bibcode:2022Natur.603..679V. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04411-y. PMC 8942855. PMID 35042229.
3. "Sikhulile Moyo". Harvard AIDS Initiative. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
4. "Sikhulile Moyo". The Conversation. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
5. Moyo, Sikhulile (2006). Modelling the HIV / AIDS in Botswana: the representativeness of the ANC based estimates of HIV prevalence in Botswana and implications for monitoring the epidemic (M.P.H. thesis). University of Limpopo. OCLC 190866981.
6. "Harvard Catalyst Profiles: Sikhulile Moyo". Harvard Catalyst. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
7. Kew, Janice (December 4, 2021). "Omicron's speed of change worries director of Harvard lab in Botswana". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
8. Schrieber, Melody (2021-12-16). "The scientist in Botswana who identified omicron was saddened by the world's reaction". NPR. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
9. Nkengasong, John (May 23, 2022). "Tulio de Oliveira and Sikhulile Moyo: The 100 Most Influential People of 2022". Time. Retrieved 2022-05-23.