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During her African STARS fellowship at CERI, Celestine combined laboratory research with industry experience, technology transfer and entrepreneurship. Working across South Africa and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, she gained the skills and networks to help translate scientific discoveries into real-world biotechnology innovations for Africa.

 

“I had built strong technical skills in biomedical research but wanted to grow beyond conducting research,” she says. “I wanted to build international collaborations and learn how scientific discoveries are translated into biotechnology innovations that improve healthcare.”

The African STARS Fellowship's structure stood out immediately. “The combination of leadership, research, innovation, entrepreneurship training, and industry placement offered experiences I knew I wouldn't get in a typical research programme.”

A year at CERI as an African STARS YPP fellow placed Celestine at LaunchLab CERI Bio, working with industry partner Fluorobiotech on a technology transfer collaboration with Professor Brian Fox's laboratory at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“The goal was to transfer the process and produce the proteins to the same standard,” she explains. “The Fluorobiotech team provided hands-on training, mentorship and support, giving me the confidence and practical skills to contribute effectively.” Weekly meetings with Professor Fox kept the collaboration on track: “By the time we were ready to put it all into practice, I already understood the project and the techniques inside out.”

Rather than choosing one project, Celestine took on two: recombinant protein production and enzymatic valorisation of kelp biomass. “In simple terms, the kelp project looks at how enzymes can break down kelp into useful products for healthcare, agriculture and other industries, instead of treating much of it as waste,” she explains – adding that she took on both because she wanted to build different skills. “The protein project gave me hands-on experience in production and technology transfer, while the kelp project challenged me to think beyond the science.” That meant testing the idea in the real world: “We spoke to potential users, refined the concept based on feedback, developed a business model, pitched the idea and prepared funding applications.”

After months of remote collaboration, the fellowship took Celestine to Madison for two weeks in Professor Fox's lab. “Spending time in his lab helped me connect all the different parts of the project. I carried out enzyme kinetics experiments, which gave me a much better understanding of how the proteins we'd produced in South Africa would eventually be tested and characterised. Before the visit, I understood how to produce the proteins. The training helped me understand what happens next.”

What struck Celestine most was how natural the transition felt. “We had spent months working together remotely, so by the time I arrived, there was already trust and a shared understanding of the project. The experience showed me that meaningful international collaborations don’t begin when you meet in person – they begin by consistently showing up, communicating well and building trust over time.”

Beyond the lab, visits to Illumina, Promega, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), and the Global Infectious Disease Laboratories rounded out the picture. “I had used reagents from Promega and Illumina in my research, and I was always curious how they were developed. Visiting gave me the chance to see that process firsthand.” She saw how WARF supports research beyond the lab, from protecting new ideas to backing startups. “And at the Global Infectious Disease Laboratories, I saw how genomic surveillance is carried out at scale and how research supports public health,” she says.

Conversations with faculty introduced Celestine to a possibility she hadn’t considered: a PhD at UW–Madison itself. “Before the fellowship, I had never considered Wisconsin as somewhere I could pursue a PhD. After meeting the faculty and seeing how research, industry and innovation are closely connected, I could genuinely picture myself continuing my training there,” she says.

Celestine also brought the African STARS Fellowship model to Wisconsin, and people took notice. “One thing that came up repeatedly was the fellowship structure – how it combines research with leadership development, industry experience and entrepreneurship. They were particularly interested in the entrepreneurial component, where fellows develop an idea and learn how to evaluate whether it could become a viable venture,” explains Celestine. “I got the sense there was genuine interest in continuing these conversations, and that they could be the beginning of a lasting exchange between Stellenbosch and Wisconsin, with opportunities for collaborative research, student exchanges and shared training.”

Celestine says the fellowship has broadened how she thinks about a career in science. “Before, I saw research as the main goal. Through LaunchLab and my placement at Fluorobiotech, I learnt what it takes to move an idea beyond the laboratory. I now want to build a career that combines research with developing technologies for healthcare and biotechnology, working with industry to bring those ideas closer to real-world application – especially in Africa, where we need them the most.”

For her, dignified and fulfilling work means building a career where she can make a meaningful contribution through science while creating opportunities that extend beyond her own success. “This fellowship has shown me that research can become practical solutions that improve people's lives,” she notes. “I hope to contribute to biotechnology innovation in Africa while helping open doors for other young scientists through mentorship, collaboration and, ultimately, creating opportunities for employment. If my journey encourages even a few young people to pursue science and believe in what they can achieve, I will feel that the investment made in me has created an impact far beyond myself.”

The greatest value of African STARS, for Celestine, is the community of people who will inspire and challenge you. “You’ll learn from scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who are generous with their experience and genuinely invested in helping you grow, while becoming part of a network that extends well beyond the fellowship.”

 

By Katrine Anker-Nilssen

News date: 2026-07-27

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