The first major turning point in my career came when he decided to send me to Kole, in Sankuru province, to participate in a research project on Monkeypox, funded by USAMRIID. At the time, this decision caused incomprehension and concern within my family. Why go and isolate myself in the middle of the equatorial forest, when so many young doctors dreamed of Europe or the United States? I didn't understand it yet, but this immersion in a rural setting, in the heart of the Congolese bush, laid the foundations for the expert I have become. Kole shaped me. I acquired irreplaceable field experience there, learned to conduct complex research projects in extreme conditions, and developed a scientific rigor rooted in the realities of the field. Today, with Monkeypox recognized as a global public health emergency, I realize just how far ahead of his time Professor Muyembe was, twenty years in the making.

After my doctorate (PhD), true to his logic of anticipation, he pushed me towards a new scientific frontier: genomics. His words still resonate strongly in my memory: "Placide, we must learn sequencing, because it is the science of the future." Thanks to this visionary advice, I have now forged collaborations with researchers on all continents and I lead large-scale international research projects.

Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe is an exceptional mentor, endowed with such a far-reaching vision that it sometimes takes years of hindsight to grasp its full depth.

A mentor who deeply believes At potential of his students

Jean-Jacques Muyembe is not just an academic advisor. He embodies a true culture of perseverance and knows how to transform failure into a springboard for progress. After my initial rejection from the IMT master's program, he encouraged me to try again, making me understand that failure is never an end in itself, but an essential step on the path to excellence. 2. A long-term strategic vision. Faced with the dilemma between a prestigious and well-paid position in the midst of an Ebola epidemic and a structured academic scholarship, he made a clear-sighted decision: "Epidemics come and go, but opportunities like this scholarship are rare." This advice illustrates a forward-looking approach, prioritizing lasting training over immediate success.

An architect of internationalization of Congolese science

By facilitating his students' access to world-renowned institutions, such as the IMT in Antwerp, Jean-Jacques Muyembe contributed to the sustainable integration of Congolese researchers into major international scientific networks. Convinced that modern science is built without borders, he made international openness a strategic lever for the scientific influence of the Congo.

A human influenceand decisive morality

Professor Muyembe's influence extends far beyond the academic sphere. His words, imbued with wisdom and responsibility, illuminate life choices that are often difficult, yet profoundly transformative. They guide both professional decisions and family balances, leaving a lasting mark on the lives of his students.

A legacy founded on the transmission and anticipation

Jean-Jacques Muyembe emerges as a true transmitter of knowledge and values. Scientific rigor, humility, endurance, a keen sense of practical realities, and a rare ability to anticipate major shifts in biomedical research form the foundation of his legacy. He trains scientists capable of withstanding adversity and intervening where public health needs are most urgent. My own journey reveals the portrait of a man whose legacy extends far beyond his scientific discoveries. Jean-Jacques Muyembe is a builder of destinies and a visionary. Thank you, Professor, for teaching me to look where no one else was looking.

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