I started my tertiary education at the UFS in 2005 where I completed a [Bachelor in Consumer Science, Bachelor of Science Honours in Home Economics, Master of Science in Home Economics and PhD degrees.

During my undergraduate studies and some of my postgraduate studies, I worked for Truworths, the Foschini Group and I did visual Merchandising for Woolworths. From 2009 until 2012 I worked as Research Assistant in the Department of Consumers Science at the UFS. During this time I was responsible for assisting lecturers with practical lectures where needed, as well as tending to research. In 2013 I was appointed as permanent academic staff at the UFS. Since 2013 I have been responsible for lecturing, among others, food security and consumer behaviour. I am also supervising postgraduate students researching topics on food security. 

Over the past few years I have presented research papers at national and international conferences as well as authored published papers. My current research focus centres around the socio-cultural aspects of food security and the role consumers can potentially play in a sustainable future.

Papers and Books
Cronjé, N., Steyn, H.J.H. & Schall, R. 2019. Catholyte as an environmentally friendly detergent: Effect on the colourfastness of black dyed textiles. The Journal of the Textile Institute, https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2019.1703489.
Cronjé, N., Van der Merwe, I. & Müller, I. 2018 Household Food waste in South Africa: A pilot study in Kimberley. Journal of Consumer Sciences, 46(2018): 1-9.
Cronjé, N. and Steyn, H. 2014. Evaluating Catholyte: Could it be an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional powder laundry detergents? LAP Lambert Academic Publishing: Saarbrücken, Germany. ISBN: 9783 659 546006.
Cronjé, N., Steyn, H.J.H. and Schall, R., 2013. A comparison of the influence of Catholyte vs Phosphate Detergent on the mechanical properties of Polyamide 6,6 woven fabric. Journal of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences, 41(1), p.1.
Published proceedings 5th International Consumer Sciences Research Conference: Van Heerden, N., Steyn, H.J.H., 2011.  Evaluation of the Soil Removal Efficiency of Catholyte on Polyamide 6,6 Fabric, [online] Available at: http://www.consumer11.org/ [Accessed 22 September 2011]. 
Van Heerden, N., Steyn, H.J.H. and Schall, R., 2012. Soil Removal Efficacy of Catholyte on Polyamide 6.6 Fabric. Chinese Business Review, 11(7), p.682.

Conference presentations: National
Presentation at the 11th International SAAFECS Conference and 6th IFHE Africa Regional Conference, Pretoria, South Africa: February 2013 (The influence of laundering with Catholyte on the colour change and colour discharge of dyed cotton.)
Presentation at the 10th International SAAFECS Conference, Pretoria, South Africa: March 2011 (Influence of laundering with Catholyte on the properties of polyamide 6,6 fabric)

Conference presentations: International
Presentation at the 5th International Consumer Sciences Research Conference, Bonn, Germany: July 2011 (Evaluation of the Soil Removal Efficiency from Catholyte on Polyamide 6,6 Fabric)
Presentation at the IFHE Council, London, Ontario, Canada: July 2014 (The influence of laundering with Catholyte on the colour change and colour discharge of dyed cotton.)
Poster presentation at the 4th Congress Hidden Hunger, Stuttgart, Germany: February 2019 (The role of culture in nutrition and sustainable diets)
Presentation at the “#reducefoodwaste: Conference on Food Waste Prevention and Management", Vienna, Austria: April 2019 (Attitudes and perceptions of consumers as contributing factors towards generating household food waste in Manguang, South Africa)

The vast scope of Food Security research and, my interest in sustainability ultimately lead to research on household food waste practices among South Africans. Other research activities include exploring the influence of urban agriculture on food security, consumers` coping strategies when they are food insecure, product development as a possible mitigating tool to reduce food waste, consumer perceptions and attitudes surrounding these topics and the effect of household activities on their food security status.