Lindah Chido Matsapa
Coming from a land locked country I had limited experience with marine life. I was well versed with freshwater fish owing to my previous studies in Biotechnology at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe. As I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Biology at Nord University, I was intrigued by the ability of fish to adapt to different environments hence my interest in adaptations of fish when moved from salty water to fresh water. I am mainly interested in the changes the fish go through in order to adapt to these environments and if these changes are beneficial to both the fish and the environment. Given that they are used for farming what adaptations would be necessary for their survival. The whole rounded Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and the kapenta Limnothissa miodon are a great part of the Zimbabwe diet and my aim is to help increase abundance and availability of these in the market so as to provide more protein in the diet.
I have dedicated my third year of study to try a find a way to boost the diet by providing more fish without disrupting the quality of the fish. I am also doing a self-study on probiotics and fish health focusing mainly on the microbiome, this again will expand the scope on production of quality fish.
I believe as part of the genomics team I will gain enough relevant knowledge to further my studies and acquire useful skills along the way. I am always open to new ideas and I am eager to learn as much as I can.
