Patricia Berjak graduated with the B.Sc. (Hons) in biochemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand, and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees (in mammalian physiology and seed cell biology, respectively) from the University of Natal. Vice President of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), Patricia Berjak is a cell biologist specialising in recalcitrant seed biology and cryopreservation of germplasm of recalcitrant-seeded species, particularly those indigenous to southern Africa.

In her present capacity as Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Associate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, she heads a research group comprising colleagues at that and other institutions, and many post-graduate students. To date, she has supervised 39 M.Sc. and 16 Ph.D. graduates. Berjak, who is currently President of the International Society for Seed Science (ISSS) and an ‘A’-rated scientist and life-time achiever in the system of the National Research Foundation, has published 139 papers in the international literature, comprising 77 on non-orthodox/recalcitrant seeds, of which 19 cover aspects of cryopreservation, and 60 book chapters and peer-reviewed conference proceedings.

She has been the recipient of several honours, including the Gold Medal of the South African Association of Botanists, and the National Order of Mapungubwe: Silver, which is South Africa’s premier award for excellence. She was made the award particularly for contributions to knowledge in seed biology and raising the international profile of S.A. science.