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Rita Akosua Dickson is a Ghanaian Phytochemist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Upon completion of her Masters degrees, Prof. Rita Dickson was appointed to be a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy in the year 2000 and became a senior lecturer in 2009. She later received promotion to Associate Professor in 2014. As one of the outstanding and thriving females in Science,Technology,Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) she is the first female to occupy the position of the Pro Vice Chancellor in KNUST from her predecessor Professor Charles Ansah on 1st October, 2018.

Career
Prof. Rita Dickson is a member of several scientific groups including the Ghana Pharmacy Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Steering Committee of the Ghana National Medicines Policy Programme. Her research work includes the use of natural products in managing diseases as well the efficient and safe use of these drugs sources with major focus in Africa. Her current research is on the "Standardisation of medicinal plant materials". She has contributed to the knowledge of science discovery through her research and currently has about 61 journal publications in addition to being Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognocy.

Education and awards
Professor Dickson completed her Bachelor degree Pharmacy in KNUST in 1994 and obtained her masters degree in Pharmacy in KNUST in 1999. She obtained her PhD in Pharmacy in addition to a graduate certificate in Academic Practice from the King's College, London. Rita obtained three awards and fellowships during her quest to climb the academic ladder. Notably, she has been a recipient of prestigious wards including the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship Award in 2012, the Novartis/ Seeding Labs Fellowship Award in 2011 and the Association of Commonwealth Universities Scholarship Award in 2003.

Publications

 * In vitro Cercaricidal Activity of Fractions and Isolated Compounds of Erythrophleum ivorense (Fabaceae) Root Bark against Schistosoma haematobium (2019).
 * Toxicity and Safety Implications of Herbal Medicines Used in Africa (2019)
 * Protection effect of the anthraquinones, cassiatorin and aurantio-obtusin from seeds of Senna tora against cowpea weevil attack (2018)
 * Antioxidant, Glucose Uptake Stimulatory, α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitory Effects of Myrianthus arboreus Stem Bark (2017)
 * Antiplasmodial activity of selected medicinal plants used to treat malaria in Ghana (2016)
 * Medicinal plants and finished marketed herbal products used in the treatment of malaria in the Ashanti region, Ghana (2015)
 * A randomized double-blind study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a Ghanaian polyherbal product for the management of superficial mycoses (2015)
 * The Immunostimulatory and Antimicrobial Property of Two Herbal Decoctions Used in the Management of HIV/AIDS in Ghana (2014)
 * Quality and safety evaluation of a Ghanaian polyherbal product EAF-2011 for the management of superficial mycoses (2013)