After receiving donations from their communities, three master’s students from the department of microbiology at Stellenbosch University (SU) attended a major conference in Auckland, New Zealand.
Jessie Dixon, Kaylee Nobuhle Kambunga and Louis Burger, second-year master’s students in microbiology, were selected to attend the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) from 16 to 21 August.
All three of them do research in the laboratory of Professor Thulani Makhalanyane, who is also the director of microbiome innovation at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI).
With the help of crowdfunding from BackaBuddy, three second-year microbiology students from Stellenbosch University (SU) attended the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) held in Auckland, New Zealand. (From left) Jessie Dixon, Louis Burger and Nobuhle Kaylee Kambunga. PHOTO: Supplied/Nobuhle Kaylee Kambunga
The conference is held every two years, with the previous iteration held in 2024 in Cape Town. Dixon described it as the “Met Gala for microbial ecologists”.
“When I got the email of acceptance, [I got] so excited,” said Dixon. “But then also, as soon as you get excited, your heart sinks, because it’s always going to be extremely expensive.”
The students’ expenses included accommodation, daily stipends and flight tickets, as well as an ISME registration fee. According to the ISME website, these fees were between R9800 to R15000 per non-member student.
All three of them received funding from Prof Sibusiso Moyo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation. Two of them were also selected for travel grants from ISME.
The students then decided to also raise money through BackaBuddy, a South African digital fundraising platform, to cover the remainder of their costs.
The 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) is a scientific conference held every two years. Described as “a very prestigious conference” by Louis Burger, second-year master’s student from the department of microbiology at Stellenbosch University, who attended the 2026 iteration in Auckland, New Zealand. PHOTO: Supplied/Jessie Dixon
“I didn’t have much expectation for [the BackaBuddy], I think,” said Dixon.
Yet, within 48 hours, Dixon raised R25 000, funding expenses that her travel grant did not cover. Most of these donations came from friends, family and neighbours, she said.
Kambunga, on the other hand, initially felt unsure about starting a fundraiser on BackaBuddy.
“When you go on the app, you see people that are posting for, you know, helping with financial needs to go back to school, or maybe their parents are sick,” said Kambunga. “And in my mind, I thought, who would want to donate for me to just go to New Zealand for a conference?”
In reality, it was a different story. Kambunga also reached her BackaBuddy fund goal, and most of her donations were from “complete strangers”.
“It was just touching that people were willing enough to donate for me to go to a conference,” she said. “It just made it feel like it is important for this research to be seen and to be heard by people.”
Jessie Dixon, second-year master’s student from the department of microbiology at Stellenbosch University, reached her fundraising goal of R25 000 within 48 hours on the digital fundraising platform, BackaBuddy. These funds made it possible for her to attend the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) held in Auckland, New Zealand with two of her fellow master’s students. PHOTO: Supplied/Jessie Dixon
Prof Alf Botha, head of the microbiology department at SU, said that platforms like BackaBuddy are extremely valuable for researchers to get as much value out of these important – and often expensive – conferences as possible.
In many cases, travel grants are just enough to cover basic costs, said Prof Botha.
“Any extra funds are welcome,” he said. “It makes the visit potentially of much more value for the student, academically.”
At the conference, Burger presented his research in a short talk, while Kambunga and Dixon presented in the form of posters, the students told SMF News.
“You get to meet some of the best researchers in the field, people you look up to and aspire to be like,” said Burger. “They are almost like celebrities to you […]. I think that exposure is great.”
Jessie Dixon, second-year microbiology master’s student from Stellenbosch University, presented her research at the 20th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME) in Auckland, New Zealand. PHOTO: Supplied/Jessie Dixon
Dixon and Kambunga are both researching the gut microbiomes of stunted and non-stunted children living in informal settlements and the impact that environmental factors like housing, safe drinking water and sanitation have on their microbiomes.
Burger presented his research on the effect of Post-COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, on the gut microbiome in a South African cohort.