Dr Cheikhyoussef a Syrian national obtained his BSc (Biology and Biochemistry) from Tishreen University in 1998 and MSc (Food Science) from Southern Yangtze University, China in 2004. In 2004, he obtained the Chinese Government Distinguished Student Scholarship to continue his PhD at Southern Yangtze University, now called Jiangnan University from 2005-2008. In 2008 he graduated with a PhD in Food Microbiology. Currently he is a senior researcher and the coordinator of the Indigenous Knowledge System Technology (IKST) Food and Beverages Program under the Science and Technology Division of Multidisciplinary Research Center (MRC), University of Namibia. His research focuses on the ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plants, traditional fruits and vegetables; development of food-grade supplements with biological activity for product safety and potential applications as well as examining the nutrition and safety of traditional food and beverages. He served one term as HoD for Science and Technology Division of MRC from January 2016 to May 2021. Currently, he is an associate research professor at the Multidisciplinary Research Unit of the Centre for Research Services, University of Namibia.