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The Vice-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been awarded a Scientific Merit award by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) for her contributions to mentorship, training, and the development of future health researchers.

Prof Joyce Tsoka-Gwegweni, who is also the Head of Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences, received the Research Capacity Development (RCD) and Transformation Award for her outstanding contribution to research capacity development. “This is a great honour for me to be recognised among the top scientists in the country. I feel highly excited and motivated to continue to strive for academic excellence towards achieving the UFS vision of improving academic excellence, reputation, and impact,” she says.

According to the SAMRC, the Scientific Merit awards celebrate researchers across different career stages whose work contributed to improving health outcomes, informing policy, and strengthening South Africa’s research capacity. The awards spanned multiple categories, from emerging scientists to senior researchers and research leaders. The RCD award recognises exceptional contributions to mentorship, training, and the development of future health researchers. The 12^th Scientific Merit awards took place end of March 2026.

Grateful

Prof Tsoka-Gwegweni, who was nominated by colleagues, says receiving this award came as a big surprise. Though she had met the criteria for the nomination, she thought she did not stand a chance when compared to full-time scientists in the country.

“I just want to repeat what I said when I received the award: that I am grateful to the UFS for the support and recognition that has helped build this journey – including my NRF C2 rating and incentives for rated researchers, and grants that strengthen research and training, like the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme to fund Master of Public Health students.

“I further thank the South African Medical Research Council for this Scientific Merit award and for recognising research that builds capacity, transforms institutions, and strengthens health for those who need it most. This award is not mine alone. It belongs to my postgraduate students, my colleagues, my collaborators, and the communities whose lives and realities our work is meant to serve,” she says.

For her personally, this award means nothing is impossible in research. Receiving the award also means that she is leading by example, it means she is a role model to researchers in the faculty, the women she is mentoring and developing, as well as the masters and PhD students that she is supervising.

“Professionally, receiving the award means national and international recognition, exposure and visibility, not only for me but for the UFS as my employer and South Africa as my country. The award means an open door for further possibilities and opportunities within the academic and public health spaces nationally and globally,” says Prof Tsoka-Gwegweni.

Her role in the faculty is to drive and promote a culture of research, and this award is evidence to that as it is based on personal research excellence and the developing of academic excellence of other researchers. The achievement is fully aligned with the UFS strategy in many ways, for example the Strategic Goal 1 which talks to improve academic excellence, reputation, and impact as well as the objectives 1.1 to 1.3.

Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, congratulated Prof Tsoka-Gwegweni saying: “Prof Tsoka‑Gwegweni exemplifies how dedicated scholarship can inspire students, empower women in science, and transform institutions. This achievement reflects the values we champion at UFS – excellence, inclusion, and leadership through collaboration and impact. This prestigious SAMRC recognition affirms UFS’s commitment to research excellence, transformation, and building impactful public health scholarship.”

Watch Prof Tsoka-Gwegweni talks about receiving this award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl_f3Tu-0Xg