Workshop participants at CTLGH training course, with Dr Matika pictured in back row (third from left) and Professor Mizeck Chagunda, Director of CTLGH (first left).
Dr Oswald (Ozzie) Matika’s research interests are in genetics of complex traits across many production livestock species such as pigs, horses, dogs, cattle, goats, fish, oysters, chickens, ducks and companion animals. He has extensive experience in dissecting the mechanisms that underlie complex traits using quantitative genetics and genomic tools, such as molecular marker data, in association studies and population genetics.
With more than 35 years experience, Dr Matika has during this time collaborated with scientists across the world, including India, Canada, USA, Brazil, South Africa, France, Iran and Zimbabwe.
Key research successes include:
- the discovery of a stop codon mutation that affects leg weakness in piglets;
- identifying a deletion responsible for achondroplasia in Cheviot sheep;
- the understanding of wool shedding and nematode resistance in sheep;
- studying mechanisms underlying tick resistance in cattle and carcass traits in sheep among others.
Dr Matika was a key member of the trainers’ team at CTLGH’s Genetic and Genomic Approaches for Livestock Improvement workshop, conducted in Nairobi earlier this year with participants from the five main compass-regions of Africa.
Dr Matika is pictured in the back row (centre) with Professor Mizeck Chagunda, Director of CTLGH (fourth from right).
As section editor for the British Poultry Science Journal, a role held 2010 to 2023 and now co-editor, Ozzie does not only bring scientific and academic skills and expertise, but also the dexterity in research management.
Before joining the Roslin institute, Ozzie worked for 18 years on internal parasites in indigenous small ruminants (sheep and goats) at Matopos Research Station in Zimbabwe. This research was also collaborative with international institutes – International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya, and University of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Ozzie also participated in Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Southern African regional (SADC) characterisation of Livestock genetic resources.
Dr Matika (second from right) with several participants on the CTLGH training course, and Professor Mizeck Chagunda, Director of CTLGH (first left), at the viewpoint for the Great Rift Valley Escarpments in Kenya, during a day excursion to the National Dairy Breeding Centre, Naivasha.
In his spare time, Ozzie is a very keen gardener producing a variety of crops, and planting and maintaining a community wild flower garden for bees and butterflies.
We very much look forward to working with Ozzie as part of Team CTLGH at the Roslin Institute.