Tricia Naicker received her M.Sc. (cum laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2008 for her work in synthetic chemistry. In 2011, she completely her Ph.D. at the same institution, working on the development and application of novel tetrahydroisoquinolinebased organocatalysts. This resulted in a very successful, fully published thesis which was the first report from Africa in this blossoming field. Afterwards, she joined the research group of the world-renowned leader in the field, Professor KA Jørgensen, as a postdoctoral fellow at Aarhus University in Denmark. In August 2013, she started her academic career and independent research endeavours. Prof Tricia Naicker is now UKZN’s youngest associate professor and the current director of the Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She specialises in method development within the synthesis of biologically important intermediates/drugs within the field of antibacterials. Naicker was the first female to serve as editor- in- chief for the South African Journal of Chemistry and serves as an executive member for the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, South African National Chapter. She has also been inaugurated into the prestigious South African Young Academy of Science and the receipt of several esteemed national and institutional awards.
