Hlashwayo Delfina Fernandes

Delfina Hlashwayo is a faculty member and researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), in Mozambique. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and health and a Master of Science in food safety, both from UEM. Hlashwayo earned a PhD in biosciences and public health from UEM, receiving the distinction 'excellent' for her thesis. Her research focuses on public health and One Health approaches. Passionate about science diplomacy, she collaborates with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Hlashwayo is an experienced consultant for the European Commission and has been an academic editor for the Public Library of Science (PLOS) since 2022. In recognition of her contributions to science and development, Hlashwayo was a joint winner of the 2024 Policy and Deliberation Challenge at the UN World Food Forum, and was named a Fellow of the 2024 UN Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship. In 2022, she received the Rising Star Award for emerging HIV investigators from the San Diego Center for AIDS Research.