The Royal Society of South Africa is the country’s premier multidisciplinary scientific organisation, comprising leading scholars across the sciences and humanities. Election to the Society recognises sustained excellence in research and contribution to scholarship.
Professor Ateba’s appointment affirms his established national and international research standing, as well as his extensive contribution to postgraduate supervision and research collaboration.
Prof Ateba is an NRF C2-rated researcher specialising in applied and environmental microbiology, with particular expertise in molecular microbiology and bacteriophage research. Over the course of his academic career, he has contributed to building microbiology research capacity in South Africa, including leadership in laboratory-based research focused on pathogen detection, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.
His current research centres on bacteriophage genomics, phage biocontrol and phage therapy applications as alternatives to antibiotics in agricultural systems. He investigates strategies to reduce faecal shedding of multidrug-resistant and virulent bacterial contaminants in food-producing animals and develops phage-based biocontrol and therapeutic agents for use within the food chain to enhance food safety.
This work aligns with global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance, including the World Health Organisation Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being.
His election to the Royal Society of South Africa reflects both his individual scholarly contribution and the continued strengthening of research excellence within UMP’s School of Biology and Environmental Sciences.
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