Ricardo Smart ( 30 ), a 2022 graduate intern in PPS ’ s Life Broker Services Division ( Boland ), recently graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy ( PhD ) from Stellenbosch University ’ s South African Grape and Wine Research Institute ( SAGWRI ). We chatted to him about his academic journey and how it aligns with the PPS Group value of eternal curiosity .
PPS encourages staff members to be eternally curious . Having qualified with a PhD from SAGWRI , how do you relate to this value ?
I am a firm believer in the power of knowledge in achieving peak performance . A degree is not only the key to unlocking a specific professional career path , it is the extra effort of being eternally curious that will allow you to thrive on your journey . Being eternally curious encourages you to experiment , explore and discover new things . As a result , being insatiably curious may lead you on a journey beyond what you have envisioned or imagined you were capable of doing .
What inspired you to pursue your studies and what drew you to this qualification ?
In conversation with ...
Dr Ricardo Smart
Wine and talking investments might not sound like a good combination . PPS ’ s Dr Ricardo Smart , however , believes his interest in both these fields , will open doors for him in future ..
I aspired to be a medical doctor , but instead , I was accepted into the Natural Science Faculty at Stellenbosch University . I had the option of returning to study medicine after my first year at varsity , but I was truly inspired to become a microbiologist . The research on microorganisms – including bacteria and fungi , as well as their diversity and importance in the human gut microbiome and plant health and growth – has been and continues to be impressive . As a microbiologist , I earned a Bachelor of Science ( BSc ) in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology , a BSc Hons in Medical Microbiology , a Master of Science in Microbiology and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences ,
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