NRF Youth Month 2025: Nare Jessica Monareng

The NRF supports the growth of the next generation of researchers and scholars to sustain South Africa’s knowledge enterprise. June is Youth Month, and this year the NRF is celebrating the youth who are shaping tomorrow through research today. We thank all participants for sharing their stories with us.

Ms Nare Jessica Monareng is a Master’s student in Agricultural Sciences at the Tshwane University of Technology. She received funding from the NRF for her Master’s studies.

How did your journey start?

My academic journey started in 2019 at the University of Fort Hare, where I obtained my BSc Agriculture in Animal Production in 2023 and 2024. I then enrolled for my Master’s at the Tshwane University of Technology, where I am currently doing my second year in Agricultural Sciences, majoring in Animal Sciences.

I did not intend to study Animal Science. In fact, it was my last option, as I wanted to study commerce instead. I wanted to take a gap year to improve my marks and then try again the following year (2020). Unfortunately, or fortunately, my mother would not allow it, and off we went to the Eastern Cape!

It took a while for me to fall in love with my degree. However, I am glad I pushed through because I love and enjoy research.

How has your affiliation with the NRF impacted your studies/career?

I was recently awarded NRF funding, and although I am still in the early stages of receiving support, the impact has already been significant. This opportunity has brought a sense of financial stability and peace of mind that allows me to focus more deeply on my research, rather than worrying about daily expenses. Personally, it has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and affirmed that my work is seen and valued.

Professionally, the funding gives me the confidence and resources to pursue my research goals with more structure and independence. It will also support opportunities for academic growth, such as presenting at conferences or investing in tools and training that enhance my project.

I’m incredibly grateful, and I see this as the beginning of a long-term relationship with the NRF, one that will help me grow as a researcher and give back to the scientific community.

What is your research focus/area of expertise?

Animal metagenomics and microbiology are my areas of specialisation as a second-year Master’s student in Agricultural Sciences.

To find probiotic strains and microbial indicators that might affect milk quality, spoilage, and health benefits, my research focuses on the microbial communities found in goat milk and faeces. I want to describe these microbial communities’ taxonomic diversity and functional potential using shotgun metagenomics.

The goal is to enhance the safety and shelf life of goat milk and aid in the development of probiotic-based therapies, particularly in underserved regions where cold storage may not always be accessible.

How is your research helping to shape a better future?

By tackling social issues and technical limitations in small-scale dairy farming, my study helps to create a brighter future. Despite its nutritious and hypoallergenic qualities, goat milk is still not as well-known as cow milk. I want to improve goat milk’s reputation and acceptance in the fields of academia and public health by doing this study. Small-scale farmers may benefit from improved knowledge and resources to boost marketability and production, which would raise their income and sustainability in the long run.

Moreover, by exploring strategies to enhance the shelf life of goat milk without relying solely on refrigeration, my research could directly benefit rural and low-income communities. This is particularly important for individuals with cow milk allergies who need affordable and accessible alternatives. In this way, my study not only supports scientific advancement but also contributes to equity in nutrition and rural development.

Being a young researcher often means juggling numerous responsibilities and expectations. How do you stay motivated and/or balanced?

Although it’s not always easy, I keep myself motivated by focusing on my goals and my future vision. Being from a low-income family, I am aware that I must rewrite my own story since no one else will. Even on the difficult days, I persevere because of that knowledge. I also have a strong desire to show myself and other people that I am capable of succeeding, as well as to make my mother proud.

Balancing personal life, research, and self-care is a constant challenge. Sometimes it feels impossible to give every part of my life equal attention, but I’ve learned that each area needs care to avoid falling behind in any one. I give myself grace—progress doesn’t always mean writing a whole paragraph or reading five papers. Even a single sentence or one article read is still a step forward. That mindset helps me stay consistent without burning out.

What has been your proudest achievement to date?

Having my first systematic review published in a peer-reviewed publication is one of my finest accomplishments to date. Although difficult, the procedure was really gratifying.

While working on it, I became aware of the dearth of systematic reviews in animal science, particularly those that concentrate on microbiology and metagenomics. Being able to give a resource that may mentor and assist other new scholars in the field made me even prouder. I’m now expanding on that work by doing a parallel meta-analysis, and I’m thrilled to be a part of an expanding body of work that raises awareness of microbial science and animal studies.

The rights to this article (content and images) are reserved by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. This work is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED) license: this implies that the article may be republished (shared) on other websites, but the article may not be altered or built upon in any way. Credit must be given to the National Research Foundation and a link provided back to the original article.