Alta Schutte is Professor of Physiology and funded by the Department of Science and Technology as the South African Research Chair (SARChI) in the Early Detection and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in South Africa – hosted by the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) at the North-West University. She is also the Unit Director of Medical Research Council Extramural Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease.
She regularly receives invitations as speaker at international meetings (such as Australia, USA, Denmark, Germany and Italy). She has published more than 170 papers on the topic of hypertension, and has been acknowledged for her work as the winner of the Distinguished Young Women Scientist in the Life Sciences award, presented by the South African Department of Science and Technology; and the British Association Medal from the Southern Africa Association for the Advancement of Science (S2A3). She was also the recipient of the Meiring Naude Medal from the Royal Society of South Africa, and the AU-TWAS (African Union & The World Academy of Sciences) Award.
She serves on the Editorial Board of established cardiovascular journals, is an Executive Council member of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH); and the President of the Southern African Hypertension Society (SAHS). Alta is currently a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).