Shingirayi’s teaching and research interests fall within Positive psychology, more generally, in terms of employee coping strategies and individual and organisational wellness. She is interested in research-informed teaching, and her teaching philosophy is rooted in providing my students with the information, tools, and skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing environment, which is becoming increasingly globalised and automated. Shingirayi’s goal is that students not only learn psychology and management theories but also practise the theories and concepts and engage with real-life organisational scenarios and personalities. 

She teaches and supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Shingirayi is also an academic and industry supervisor for Industrial and Organisational interns. Her work has been published in local and international journals, and she has professional memberships with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the British Psychological Society (BSP) and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Dr Tafadzwa Maramura has the zeal to make a distinct difference by carving out a space in the teaching, learning, and research frontiers. She also has the conviction that, as an emerging young academic, she must actively contribute to the transdisciplinary discourse of research through impactful work on sustainable service delivery in a VUCA environment towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. As a young emerging researcher in Africa, her research interests are in water governance, sustainable service delivery, and public policies spanning across Africa. As a mixed-method researcher, her research has led to the publication of at least 30 peer-reviewed national and international accredited articles and eight book chapters. Her research work has also seen her present at various national and international conferences across the globe. She was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the end of 2021. To date, she has supervised over 60 honours and 17 master’s students, and she is currently supervising 6 PhD students and co-hosting 1 Post Doc student with the University of Johannesburg.

 She is a Y2 NRF-rated researcher as of 2024. She is a Brightest Young Mind in Africa (BYM) 2017 alumna. BYM is a network whose aim is to counter topical challenges to which the public sector in Africa is succumbing as the targets towards Agenda 2030 are slowly folding. In 2017, she also became a research catalyst for the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS), an initiative of the University of California, Berkeley which supports the reproducibility and transparency of social research in Africa. In 2019, she became a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Fort Hare's Research Campus, where she worked on an NRF-funded project with her mentors. In 2022, she became the portfolio manager for the Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSADPAM). ASSADPAM is a professional network of higher education schools and departments in the disciplines of Public Administration, Public Management, Public Governance, and Development Management in southern Africa. In 2023, she became a Fellow of the Emerging Scholars Acceleration Programme of the University of the Free State and she was also awarded the KIC Travel and Conference Research Grant by the National Research Foundation. In 2024 she was awarded as the Top Emerging Researcher by the Faculty of Economic Management Sciences. In 2024, she was nominated for the Young Academic Achievers Award by the Dean of the Economic and Management Sciences. In 2024, she was also awarded the Top performing ESAP fellow. In 2025 she became a fellow of the Transformation of the Professoriate Mentoring Programme. In 2025, she was selected as part of the National Research Foundation Rating Panel for the University of the Free State.

She is currently working on book chapter collaborations with a research pool of colleagues in the sustainability space. The book chapters are focused on the water–health nexus in failed states, thereby merging Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 on health and water respectively.

Dr Edson Vengesai, PhD, is a dedicated and passionate Senior Lecturer in Finance at the University of the Free State, serving in the Department of Economics & Finance since February 2020. In 2023, he extended his expertise as a visiting scholar at Fulda University in Germany, where he was invited to present Finance modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Education: Dr Edson is a distinguished finance specialist, holding a PhD in Finance, a Master of Commerce in Finance with Distinction, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in Finance, also with Distinction. His unwavering commitment to knowledge led him to pursue a PhD in Finance, specializing in firm investment behaviours within African markets. 

Professional Affiliation: In addition to his impressive academic credentials, Dr Edson completed the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program board exams, earning one of the highest and most respected distinctions in the finance and investment field—a global gold standard in investment management. He is an active member of the CFA Institute, the world's largest association of investment professionals. As the CFA principal contact person at the UFS, he administers CFA student scholarships. He guides students aspiring to attain their CFA charters, thus contributing to the crucial development of financial analyst skills in South Africa.

Teaching and Mentoring: Dr Edson is celebrated among students and peers for his dynamic and engaging teaching style. In 2022, he was honoured with both the Faculty Learning and Teaching and the Khothatsa (to inspire) awards. His ability to make complex financial concepts accessible continues to inspire countless students in the fields of Finance, Investments, and Portfolio Management. Edson has taught, coordinated, and examined numerous postgraduate and undergraduate Finance modules across various institutions throughout his academic journey. He plays an active role in several committees, including faculty curriculum review and General Human Research Ethics.

Curriculum development: Dr Edson developed a financial modelling module and integrated multiple Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques into his curriculum. This strategic initiative aims to empower students with the essential skills required to thrive in an ever-evolving industrial landscape, positioning them at the forefront of the technological revolution, and aligning with the university’s vision to foster excellence.

Research Interests: Dr Edson's research interests lie in Financial Economics, encompassing Corporate Finance, Financial Markets, Portfolio and Investment Management, Risk Management, Banking, and Fintech. His career has been principally in corporate finance research, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed publications in international journals. His work predominantly focuses on practical solutions to African financial challenges.

Community Engagement: Beyond his professional and academic pursuits, Dr Edson is deeply committed to community engagement. He is a regular participant in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Universities and Schools outreach programs, where he imparts investment knowledge to university and high school students. His efforts aim to accelerate financial literacy and foster an investment culture among young people, bridging the financial literacy gap.

Dr Edson Vengesai's dedication to education, extensive expertise in Finance, and commitment to community development make him a remarkable asset to both academia and society at large. His tireless efforts continue to shape the future of Finance in South Africa and beyond.

Dr Constance Motsitsi is a lecturer at the Department of Public Administration and Management at the University of the Free State. She specializes in public financial management and service delivery. Constance has obtained the following qualifications: Ph.D. in Public Administration and Management (2022); a master’s degree in public administration and management (2018); BA Honors in Development and Management (2015); and a BA in Development and Management Degree (2014). Constance aims to publish and do research in her research field and other related fields. She currently lectures Public financial management, municipal financial management, and Research methodology in the Department of Public Administration and Management, under the Economic and Management Sciences Faculty. Constance has been employed at the UFS since January 2019. 

In 2022, Constance won the Faculty and Institution 3minute thesis competition. She also won the best Conference Paper at the 2022 ASSADPAM annual conference. Constance has attended and presented at 6 conferences, 4 national conferences, and two international conferences. In 2023, she presented two papers at the conference. In 2023, she joined the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Program at the UFS and has participated in a number of leadership programs and workshops. Constance is currently enrolled in two leadership programs, (i) Engage Leadership and (ii) Management Mindset.

Dr Hilary Bama is an academic and practitioner with a cumulative experience of close to two decades within the higher education and industry environments in South Africa. Dr Bama is also an entrepreneur (founder of Cornerstone Research Pty. Ltd) and public speaker. Dr Bama harbours a passion, commitment, and discipline for learning and teaching, research growth and excellence, and engaged scholarship. Dr Bama’s research interests span the intersection of Sport and Event Tourism (specifically in mega-event legacy and sustainability debates), Consumer Behaviour, Tourism Marketing, and Management, aimed at influencing context-specific discourse with a Global South flavour, with a regional interest in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Bama has published over twenty peer-reviewed scholarly outputs in accredited & reputable outlets and attended/presented at close to thirty conferences locally and internationally.

Dr Bama is leading a multi-stakeholder study on the infrastructural legacy of sport mega-events, examining their socio-economic and environmental impacts in emerging economies, a project that addresses contemporary challenges in tourism and events management in the SDG context. Additionally, Dr Bama is leading an interdisciplinary study investigating the role of heritage interpretation as a tool for enhancing ecotourism in protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa, a project which leverages multi-stakeholder international collaboration. Further contributions include reviewing submissions for international journals and funding bodies like the NRF and mentoring emerging scholars through initiatives like the Sisonke Supervisor Mentorship Programme.

Beyond his research, Dr Bama is an active academic leader and collaborator, serving on the National Exco of Tourism Educators South Africa (TESA), responsible for Research Development and Engagement and liaising with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. These exploits have won him many accolades along his research journey, one of them being awarded the Researcher of the Year Award 2022 winner in the “Emerging Category” in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.

Dr Cornelie Crous is a Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) and a distinguished academic with over two decades of experience in financial strategy, corporate governance, and higher education. As a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of the Free State (UFS) Business School, she has played a pivotal role in advancing financial planning, digital transformation, and ethical research governance.

Her expertise spans strategic planning, financial and operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement. She has led key initiatives, including the automation of budgeting processes, the development of standardized financial models for executive education programs, and the implementation of digital platforms to enhance institutional effectiveness.

Dr Crous is also deeply involved in postgraduate education, currently supervising PhD and master's students. She has successfully guided numerous doctoral and master's candidates to completion and has contributed significantly to research ethics as the Chair of the Economic and Management Sciences Research Ethics Interest Group.

Her research interests include integrated reporting, sustainability disclosures, and corporate governance. She has an extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to books and industry reports. Additionally, she is an active reviewer for various academic journals.

Recognized for her contributions to education and research, she has received accolades such as the Dean’s Medal and Senior Achiever Award for Teaching and Learning. With international research collaborations spanning Germany and Italy, Dr. Crous continues to drive impactful research and innovation in financial governance and higher education.

Dr Makobo L Mogale is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum Studies and Higher Education and Programme Director for the Bachelor of Education Intermediate Phase Teaching in the Faculty of Education, University of the Free State. She is Language teacher by profession with 7 years of practice in primary and secondary schools. Her career started with Bachelor of Education degree, Honors and Master of Education with specialisation in Curriculum Studies from University of Limpopo. Dr Mogale obtained her Doctoral Degree titled “Pedagogical Implications for Progressed Learners: Towards a Curriculum Support Model in Secondary Schools” from Tshwane University of Technology where she got Best Doctoral Student of the year award. Her research trajectory focuses on Education policy (Learner progression policy), Instructional practices, Learner Support and Teacher Professional Development.

In 2022, she received a funding subsidy from the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) subsidy to attend and present a paper at the South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference hosted by the University of the Western Cape, as an early-career researcher. She published articles in accredited journals and presented in local and international conferences. She also contributed a chapter in a book titled “Global Practices in Inclusive Education Curriculum and Policy”. She is a member of SAERA, EASA and WERA. She is currently supervising Honors, masters and PHD students in the field of Curriculum Studies. Dr Mogale is a coordinator of the Faculty Brown Bag, the platform created to support colleagues still pursuing their PHDs. She also serves in the GHREC (UFS ethics committee). In 2024, she obtained an online certificate, after a successful training course for supervisors of doctoral candidates at African universities offered by Stellenbosch University.

Her current project, which is funded NRF (Thuthuka) investigates School Based Support Teams initiatives to support progressed learners. This is the project that integrate research and Engaged scholarship because she works with schools to develop and implement complementary support for progressed and learners at risk.

Prof Petra Maass is a Forensic Anthropologist with a BSc in Genetics and Physiology, B(Med)Sc Honours in Biological Anthropology, MSc in Medicine, and PhD in Anatomy. Her research has focused on statistical shape analysis of anatomical variations of South African skeletons, and demographic profiles of skeletal research collections at the University of Cape Town and UFS, which has been published in Forensic Science International and International Journal of Legal Medicine. She teaches anatomy, embryology, and biological anthropology in various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and has introduced practical components such as forensic excavation techniques, scientific communication skills, and anthropology research projects into these programmes.

Prof Maass was the manager of the Forensic Anthropology Cape Town (FACT) Laboratory, and acts as a consultant for cases of decomposed or skeletonised remains for the Western Cape and Free State Forensic Pathology Services (FPS). She presents several workshops on forensic anthropology and archaeology for forensic science students and officials, serves as a council member of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa, and was chairperson of the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences Student Research Forum from 2020 to 2022.

In 2017, Prof Maass established a documented human skeletal research collection, the Free State Collection for Anthropological Research (FS-CAR)  -  only the fifth of its kind on the African continent. Her current research focuses on regional human skeletal variation, anthropometry of living individuals, and the profile of cadavers used in the Faculty.

Dr Mutshidzi Mulondo is a lecturer-researcher in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS). She was instrumental in establishing the first Division of Public Health at the UFS, acting as Programme Coordinator, where she currently supervises both Masters & PhD candidates.

In 2022, she was selected as a Mandela Washington Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative, where she was hosted in North Carolina, United States. There, she established a public health research collaborative partnership with Appalachian State University. In 2023, she was awarded a grant by the United States Embassy & Consulates to strengthen this collaborative partnership. She has received other grants to present in international conferences such as the SANORD International Conference & Global Symposium in the United States. Dr Mulondo is an invited international keynote speaker.

In 2023, she took fellowship of the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme and later the Future Professoriate, where she was selected as one of the leading emerging scholars at the UFS.

Dr Mulondo is engaged in the community and, due to her leadership and service, was recognised in 2021 among the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in the health category, 1^st runner-up winner in the South African Health Excellence Awards and Global Health Award winner in London. She represents South Africa as a council member in the Golden Key International Council of Advisors, overseeing 21 chapters from all institutions of higher learning in South Africa. Furthermore, she is a Golden Key International Honor Society Advisor at the UFS.

In 2023, she was selected globally by Novartis as one of 10 Reimagining Healthcare Scholars. She is a One Young World Ambassador, a member of the International Leadership Association (ILA) and an Organising Committee member of the Postdoctoral Research Conference in Africa.

Dr Mulondo completed an interdisciplinary doctoral degree at the UFS in the Departments of Community Health and Health Sciences Education- a first of its kind at UFS. She has a master’s in psychology from the University of Pretoria and has extensively published both nationally and internationally. Her research interests are in public health issues, mental health, ethics, and capacity development.

Dr Claudia Ntsapi completed a PhD in Neurophysiological Sciences at Stellenbosch University in 2018 and obtained a joint M.Med.Sc in Human Genetics from Stellenbosch University and the Brain and Spine Institute at L'Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, France, in 2015.

Dr Ntsapi, PhD, is a registered Natural Scientist (Pri. Sci. Nat) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). She joined the University of the Free State in late 2019 as a lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. In addition to her teaching responsibilities spanning the first to third-year medical program in the School of Medicine, Dr Ntsapi leads the NeuroCancer Research Group, overseeing a multidisciplinary team specializing in cell biology, cell physiology, microscopy, biochemistry, and pharmaceutical methodologies.

The primary focus of the research group centers on understanding the complex dynamics and functions related to protein degradation, particularly in the context of neurodegeneration and cancer. Autophagy-related pathways play a pivotal role in their research, representing essential cellular mechanisms that promote cell survival under stressful cellular conditions by facilitating the degradation of long-lived proteins. The team’s research efforts include the development and characterization of three-dimensional cell-based models, aiming to closely replicate the pathological features found in neurodegenerative and cancerous conditions. Furthermore, they actively explore potential therapeutic applications of indigenous medicinal extracts, particularly in addressing conditions like Alzheimer's and liver cancer. Funding for these research initiatives is provided by the National Research Foundation, the UFS Three Schools of Medicine, and the UFS Interdisciplinary Grant.

Claudia’s research contributions include the publication of nine peer-reviewed articles in high-impact factor journals, along with a book chapter. Beyond academia, she has effectively shared her research findings to the broader public through various media outlets, with a notable presence on online platforms such as 'The Conversation.' Her publication in 'The Conversation' earned recognition as the top article released by the University of the Free State in July 2023, attracting a national readership of over 15,000 within two weeks of its online publication.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Claudia holds leadership roles within various faculty positions and is a member of the University of the Free State Council.

Dr Nokuthula Tlalajoe-Mokhatla is an Academic Head, Senior Lecturer, and Academic Advisor at the Division of Student Learning and Development (DLSD) in the Dean's Office within the Faculty of Health Sciences (FoHS) and has been part of the division since January 2016. This position entails facilitating lifelong learning skills and graduate attributes to first-year undergraduate Medical Students (MBChB I) and the BMed Radiation Sciences students from the School of Clinical Medicine in the first academic semester (MGEN 1513A and MACC 1512). In the second semester, Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla facilitates lifelong learning skills and graduate attributes to students who still need to complete their first academic semester of the MBChB programme in the Learning Development Programme (LDP), covering lifelong-learning skills (LLLS 1524). In addition to this, as an Academic Advisor, she is also required to handle the consultations of all ± 1850 registered undergraduate Health Sciences students within the FoHS. The support services offered through consultations include study methods, time management, self-management, test and examination techniques, and post-test evaluation reports.

Before joining the DSLD, Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla started as a Junior Lecturer in Biochemistry in 2013 and left in 2015 as a Lecturer in Biochemistry from North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). She presented Bioinformatics practicals (the study of ‘omics’) to third-year students and Molecular Biology contact and practical sessions to the UNISA third-year students. She also lectured Medical Biochemistry to second-year students in both contact and practical sessions entailing a variety of practical biochemical applications (genomic DNA isolation, forensic DNA profiling, electrophoresis, and enzyme activity) and, in addition to this, also handled the dry practicals of metabolomics analyses on organic acid analysis, new-born screening using ELISA, and carbohydrate analysis. Subsequently, she presented a Writing Technique course to the Molecular Biology honours group. She supervised a project with a group of third-year students and an honours project in the years (2014 and 2015).

Since her transition in 2015 from hard-core sciences into soft sciences, Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla has been actively working on establishing a niche for her research profile. She contributed to the body of knowledge through her PhD studies titled ‘A Support Framework for Social Learning and Integration of Undergraduate First-Year Medical Students’. Apart from the articles published from her thesis, she is currently working on implementing the recommendations communicated through her study’s findings. Moreover, Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla continuously improves her consultations and class sessions through evidence-based interventions. As a result, she is also actively researching her approaches to facilitating soft skills in her consultations, so much so that she won the second prize in Excellence in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Awards in 2018 from the Centre for Teaching and Learning, UFS. That same year, she participated in the institutional Three-minute Thesis Competition for PhDs and was selected to participate nationally, as she won the People's Choice Award within the UFS. Moreover, she also won the runner-up junior researcher award for an educational paper presented at the Faculty Forum in 2018.

Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla is active in supervising master’s students within the Health Professions Education programme and attends conferences to present papers and/or posters locally, nationally, and internationally. She reviews academic peer-reviewed articles for journals (Perspectives in Education and African Journal in Health Professions Education), reviews master’s and PhD theses internally and externally, reviews abstracts for conferences (SoTL), and participates in evaluation committees for postgraduate students. She started participating in the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme in 2023 and has been allocated a mentor and sponsored a research assistant to expand her research footprint.

Dr Jeanette Sebaeng holds a PhD from the University of Pretoria, a master’s and three advanced university diplomas in Nursing Education, Health Service Management and Forensic Nursing from North-West University and the University of the Free State respectively. She worked in clinical practice at the Impala Platinum Mine, Helen Joseph, and Mafikeng provincial hospitals as professional nurse prior to joining higher education  from 2002 to 2007. In 2008, she worked for the Mmabatho College of Nursing as a Lecturer for undergraduate students for five years, teaching different nursing modules.

Dr Sebaeng left the college for the North-West University, where she continued teaching undergraduate students and supervising postgraduate students. She has successfully graduated master’s students and continues to supervise both as a co- and main supervisor for one PhD candidate. Dr Sebaeng is a founder and executive member of the South African Forensic Nursing Association (SAFNA), an association that was instrumental in the accreditation of Forensic Nursing as postgraduate diploma for the first time in South Africa. 

She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences both locally and internationally. Currently a member of the International Forensics Association (IFA), Dr Sebaeng received the Teaching and Learning Award (TEA) from North-West University in 2016, and she is the scholarship winner for conference attendance for the International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2019. She is currently refocusing her research on gender-based violence with medico-legal implications.

Dr Olive Khaliq is a senior Lecture at the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of the Free State. She obtained her PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2020. Dr Khaliq facilitates research in the Department of Paediatrics by supporting and guiding all Registrars and Consultants with their MMed, MPhil, and PhD research projects. She also offers basic research training in the Department. Dr Khaliq teaches the research module to MBChB students (1^st -3^rd years).

In terms of research, her interests are in Maternal and Child Health. The aim is to improve maternal and child health service delivery and health outcomes. In 2023, Dr Khaliq received a silver award for the second-highest individual researcher in the School of Clinical Medicine. She currently has 44 articles in peer-reviewed local and international journals. The publications focus on hypertension disorders of Pregnancy, Infectious diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, and COVID-19. Dr Khaliq received the NRF-nGAP grant, the SAMRC grant for COVID-19 studies, and recently, an interdisciplinary grant and the Thuthuka Grant. 

Dr Marizeth Jordaan is a senior lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Free State. She holds a PhD in Dietetics from the same institution, with research focused on developing a nutrition screening tool to predict birth outcomes for pregnant women attending a high-risk antenatal clinic. Her academic journey includes a Master of Science in Dietetics, investigating health and nutritional risk factors for anaemia in rural women, and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics.

Marizeth has served as a lecturer at the University of the Free State since 2012 where she combines her expertise in nutrition with a passion for education. She has contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate education in areas such as sports nutrition, therapeutic nutrition, and nutrition during the life cycle. Her research interests include maternal and child nutrition, dietary assessment, and the role of nutrition in public health.

She has supervised multiple MSc and PhD candidates and has examined numerous dissertations. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, with research focusing on issues such as anaemia prevalence, dietary diversity, obesity-related health risks, and maternal and child nutrition. Her work has appeared in journals like the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, and Child: Care, Health and Development, contributing valuable insights to the field of dietetics. Additionally, she has presented her research at national and international conferences, including the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) Congress and the International Congress of Dietetics.

Dr Elzana Kempen is a registered Optometrist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa since 2007 and has been actively involved in health professions education at the University of the Free State (UFS) since 2012. She initially served in the Department of Optometry before transitioning to the Division of Health Sciences Education within the Faculty of Health Sciences, where she currently holds a senior lecturer position. In this role, she contributes to the teaching, supervision, and examination of postgraduate students in Health Professions Education (HPE) while also serving as the PhD coordinator for the HPE programme. Additionally, she plays a key role in faculty development, facilitating training initiatives such as the Newly Appointed Lecturer course, which equips health educators with essential teaching and learning skills.

She obtained her Master’s in Health Professions Education (cum laude) in 2015 and completed her PhD in HPE in 2020, focusing on experiential learning. Her research explored how students experience this pedagogy and how it aligns with their generational learning needs, particularly for younger generations who value interactive and hands-on learning. She investigated how experiential learning could be adapted to better engage students and meet their expectations. Her research has led to publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international conferences. Dr. Kempen remains an active member of the Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) and currently serves as Conference Chair for SAAHE 2025, overseeing the organisation of this major academic event.

As her academic career evolved, her focus shifted toward training healthcare educators, equipping them with the tools to engage students and support their professional identity formation effectively. Her research explores how reflective practice within experiential learning can guide educators in shaping their professional identities, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of health professions education.

Dr Liska Robb is a registered dietitian and senior lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Free State, where she has been a faculty member since 2011. She completed her PhD in Dietetics with a focus on maternal nutrition, specifically investigating the role of choline and overall diet quality during pregnancy. Dr Robb is the module leader for courses on micronutrients, macronutrients, and service learning. She plays an active role in research supervision at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, mentoring students in various nutrition-related projects. Her research interests primarily centre on maternal nutrition, preoperative nutrition, and nutrition in gastrointestinal cancer. She has contributed to the field through publications in international peer-reviewed journals and regular presentations at both national and international scientific congresses. Recently, she led the development and validation of the South African Diet Quality Index for Pregnancy (SA-DQI-P), a novel tool designed to assess dietary quality among pregnant women in South Africa. With a passion for advancing nutrition science and its practical applications, Dr Robb remains committed to bridging research with clinical and community-based practice. Her work aims to shape dietary recommendations and interventions that promote better health outcomes across various populations.

Prof Adelheid von Maltitz is a practicing fine artist and Associate Professor in the Fine Arts Department at the University of the Free State (UFS). Her research primarily explores how trauma and loss can be constructively engaged with, going beyond traditional research methods to incorporate creative forms such as sculpture, installation, and drawing. Currently, Adelheid is focused on investigating her Polish heritage and the erasure of this history due to the Second World War and her grandfather’s forced immigration. She practices her art under her Polish grandfather’s surname, Frackiewicz.

Adelheid has exhibited her work extensively on both national and international platforms. Notably, in 2023, she participated in the three-person group show Refuge: An Uncommon Home at the Institute Museum of Ghana-Noldor Artist Residency in Accra, Ghana. In 2024, she completed a large-scale land art installation titled Rooted at the NIROX Sculpture Park.

In addition to her artistic practice, Adelheid lectures undergraduate and postgraduate students, nurturing their development of unique visual languages grounded in their individual life experiences. Having served as the Head of the Fine Arts Department at UFS early in her academic career, she is now focused on the internationalization of the department, expanding its global reach.

In 2021, Adelheid was honoured with one of the three Absa L'Atelier Ambassador Awards. In 2025, she will take up a residency at Red Clay Studios in Tamale, Ghana, under the guidance of world-renowned artist Ibrahim Mahama. She is also preparing for a solo exhibition at the AVA Gallery in Cape Town, scheduled to open in August of this year

Dr Alta Grobbelaar started her journey at the UFS as a first-year student in 2009. She was soon employed as a tutor in the Political Science Department, and thereafter, in 2014 as a junior lecturer. In 2014 she completed her Master’s degree in International Relations, focusing on Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Africa, and received her degree cum laude. She completed her PhD, titled “A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Interrelationship Between the Media and Terrorist Groups in Africa” in 2020. Dr Grobbelaar has since contributed to various book projects on terrorism and counterterrorism in Africa, including works on African terrorist organizations’ increased use of social media in Direction in International Terrorism, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2021, and Terrorism in Africa: New Trends and Frontiers, published by the Moscow Institute for African Studies. Furthermore, her monograph on Terrorism Discourse in Africa is currently under review at Rowman & Littlefield publishers. Dr Grobbelaar has presented her research at several international and national conferences, including, most recently, a paper titled “Cyberterrorism in Africa – is this the real life, is this just fantasy?” at the international conference on Counterterrorism, Technology and Development in Africa in 2023, and “The Applicability of International Security concepts in an African context, the ever-evolving fight against terrorism – specifically cyberterrorism” at the IPSA World Conference in Buenos Aries in 2023.

Dr Grobbelaar supervises Honours, Masters and PhD students in the Department of Political Science and Governance, and lectures on undergraduate level. In 2024 she was awarded the Humanities Excellence Award for Teaching Methods and Assessment. She regularly serves as external moderator and examiner for various South African universities including Wits, NWU and Stellenbosch University. She is also involved with local high school debating and has served as main adjudicator for the Free State ATKV debating since 2023.

Dr Bianca Naude is a theorist working within the Ontological Security stream of International Relations scholarship. Her interdisciplinary research explores the relationship between individuals and the collectives to which they belong, the ways in which collectives position themselves in the social world, and the motivations driving their interactions with other collectives.

Dr Naude’s monograph, Revisiting State Personhood and World Politics: Identity, personality, and the IR Subject (Routledge Psychoanalytic Political Theory Series, 2021) explores how state actors respond to perceived vulnerability, embarrassment, humiliation, or shame by unconsciously employing psychological defence mechanisms to mitigate fears of personal inadequacy. The book argues that a nuanced understanding of non-pathological narcissism can offer valuable insights into seemingly self-defeating state behaviours, such as South Africa’s often perplexing responses to international events. One of the first publications globally to address state narcissism, the monograph was named one of International Affairs’ Top 5 books in the category “New Thinking in International Relations”.

Dr Naude’s research has been published in leading academic journals, including International Affairs, International Studies Perspectives, and the South African Journal of International Affairs, as well as in edited book volumes. She has contributed to several international research projects and networks and has presented her work at both local and international conferences.

She is an NRF Y-rated scholar and a member of the U-Lab Community of change makers.

Dr Khangelani Moyo is a Senior Lecturer in the department of Sociology, University of the Free State – Qwaqwa Campus, South Africa. He is involved in the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate modules, and the supervision of Honours, Masters and PhD students’ research. He has academic training in the fields of Sociology, Social Anthropology, Migration studies and Urban studies. He completed his PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2017, focusing on migrant space, mobilities and spatial identities in Johannesburg. His research interests include migration management, refugee governance, migrant transnationalism, spatial identity in the city and social vulnerabilities in the urban peripheries. He has published in internationally accredited journals and presented his work to global audiences. Before joining the University of the Free State, he was an Flucht- und Flüchtlingsforschung: Vernetzung und Transfer (FFVT) fellow at the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen Nürnberg (CHREN), Germany in 2022 and DFG-TWAS Cooperation visiting fellow at the Africa Centre for Transregional Research (ACT), University of Freiburg, Germany in 2021. As part of his fellowship at CHREN and ACT, his research focused on exploring refugee integration and the existing arrival infrastructure in Germany. Dr Moyo’s research investigated the perspectives of municipal officials, academics and NGO stakeholders concerning issues of refugee integration in the City of Freiburg and the City of Erlangen.

Dr Rebecca Swartz is a Senior Lecturer in the History Department, a position she has held since 2021. She completed her PhD in 2015 at the University of London.  Dr Swartz’s research has focused on histories of education, childhood, race, and labour in the British Empire during the 19th century. Her first monograph, Education and Empire: Children, Race and Humanitarianism in the British Settler Colonies, 1833–1880, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2019. It is the first study of colonial education in the 19th-century settler colonies from a comparative perspective. This monograph received two major international prizes: the Grace Abbott Book Prize from the Society for the History of Children and Youth and the First Book Prize from the International Standing Committee on the History of Education.

Dr Swartz’s second monograph, Children and Freedom in the Cape Colony: Age, Labour and Apprenticeship in the Post-Emancipation British Empire has been submitted to Bloomsbury Academic Press. This book investigates ideas about children and childhood in the Cape colony in the context of Khoe and slave emancipation, and situates these within the broader British imperial context.

Dr Swartz has published in local and international journals, including Slavery & Abolition, South African Historical Journal, History Workshop Journal, History of Education, and the Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, as well as in various edited book collections. She serves as Book Review Editor for History of Education and as an Editorial Board Member of Historia. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Society for the History of Children and Youth. She is a member of the Humanities-Culture Scientific Committee since January 2022. She has three PhD students under her supervision, and is co-supervising a student registered at KU Leuven in Belgium. She is a Y1-rated scholar.

Dr Xany Jansen van Vuuren obtained her Ph.D. from the University of the Free State in 2022, where she is also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice. She teaches interpreting and translation on undergraduate and postgraduate level.

With regard to research, her areas of focus include ecosemiotics, eco-translation, knowledge translation, translation and activism, and interspecies translation and interpreting. Her current research projects include work on the role and purpose of Translation Studies in the ecological crisis, and interspecies translation and semiosis. Her recent publications address these topics. Her first monograph, titled “Interpreting, communication and animal welfare: An ecosemiotic analysis of interspecies translation” is in the process of being published with De Gruyter Mouton. She is part of the Eco-translation Network, an international network of scholars working on translation, ecology and environment hosted by The University of Edinburgh.

Dr Anchen Froneman is a Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Embodied Practices at the Odeion School of Music. She has also the Programme Director of the OSM since 2017. Her postgraduate research focused on aspects serving piano performance.

Anchen obtained her MMus in 2009 from the UFS investigating memorization strategies based on the principles of Schenkerian analysis. In teaching Music Theory, she focusses on how music theory concepts and principles inform the artistic practice of musician. In 2017, she completed her PhD Music qualification on how Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies (LBMS) may influence embodied and integrative piano performance. As part of her PhD, she also qualified as Certified Movement Analyst through the Laban Bartenieff Insititute of Movement Studies in 2018 made possible by an Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Bursary for her doctoral studies. Her publications focused on the application of LBMS to piano and other music making practices or the use of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) to investigate different aspects music making. From 2020 to 2023, Anchen was part of the faculty teaching in the LIMS New Pathways certification programme

Anchen has an interest and passion for incorporating somatic practice within performance preparation of musicians to facilitate bodily awareness, function and expression in the music making process. She completed a UFS Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Fellowship (Emerging Track) in 2024. Anchen was awarded second place in UFS Exceptional Academic Achievers Award, Vice-Chancellor’s Award in Learning and Teaching category in 2024.

Dr Marc Röntsch is a musicologist, guitarist, and bassist from Cape Town. Marc completed his doctorate at Stellenbosch University under the supervision of Professor Stephanus Muller, writing a thesis on the Zimbabwean-born composer Christopher Langford James (1952 – 2008). After completing his PhD, Marc held an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research, and Innovation from 2018-2019.

After that, he was twice awarded the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Nelson Mandela University, working interdisciplinarity with the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy and the Music Department and School of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2023 he took up a Senior Lectureship at the Odeion School of Music at UFS.

Marc has worked as a part-time lecturer at several tertiary institutions, including the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and Rhodes University. He has published in local and international journals and books, on subjects ranging from life-writing, popular music and race, archives and digital humanities, and embodiment and Covid-19. Marc has also spoken at local and international conferences and sits on the Executive Committee of the South African Society for Research in Music.

Marc is passionate about decolonial research within South African popular music, His research investigates intersections of identity politics and music particularly within post-apartheid South African music, as well as the interconnectedness of life-writing and archival studies. Marc is married to saxophonist/composer/arranger Claire Röntsch and is a fan of Doctor Who, reading, and tea and coffee.

Dr Annelie de Man holds a BCom Bachelor of Laws with distinction from the University of the Free State (UFS), Bachelor of Laws (UFS), Master of Laws with distinction (UFS), European Master`s degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (European Inter-University Centre). She completed her Doctor of Laws thesis, titled “Rights-based approach to development in the advancement of the post-2015 agenda: a critical assessment” at the UFS in 2017.

In 2012, she was awarded the Dean’s Medal for the top Master’s student of the Faculty of Law, UFS. She was recognised as part of the top 15 of the 2012-2013 European Master’s degree in Human Rights and Democratisation programme (and one of the top 5 theses), for which she was awarded an internship at Human Rights Watch, Brussels. She is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa. She has also worked as a legal researcher at the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa and assistant researcher and coordinator of the Human Rights Desk of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of the Free State. Since 2016, Dr De Man has been the coordinator of the Advocacy Division and senior lecturer (since 2019) of the Free State Centre for Human Rights.

Her research focus is human rights and development, the rights-based approach to development, human rights and corruption, economic, social and cultural, and intergenerational rights. She has published six journal articles in accredited journals and four book chapters. Her current research project is a monograph on the relationship between corruption and human rights. In 2023, Dr De Man was appointed editor of the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers blog. She also serves on the Engaged Scholarship Committee of the Faculty of Law of the UFS. Dr De Man is the coordinator of a master`s module in human rights and development and supervisor to final year LL.B, master`s and doctoral students. One doctoral candidate and five master`s students have successfully graduated under her supervision.

Dr Carmien Tolmie, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in Biochemistry in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State and has been appointed in the department since 2020. Dr Tolmie obtained her doctorate in 2019 with a thesis entitled ‘Natural roles and biocatalytic applications of Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases from Aspergillus flavus’. Dr Tolmie is currently the principal investigator of the Structure-Based Drug Discovery research group, which focuses on using structural biology to develop new therapies for fungal infections of particular concern to South Africa. In addition, she is collaborating on a number of Biocatalysis projects. She currently supervises and co-supervises BSc Hons, MSc and PhD students in Drug Discovery and Biocatalysis, and has co-supervised MSc and PhD students to completion. In terms of lecturing, Carmien teaches second-year undergraduate Biochemistry students.

Dr Tolmie has published several articles in internationally peer-reviewed journals, and has presented at national and international conferences since 2013, most recently at the International School of Crystallography: Structural Drug Design 2023, in Italy. She is committed to improving the macromolecular crystallographic education of South African postgraduate students, and thus acted as the lead local organiser for an international workshop held in South Africa in 2021, namely ‘CCP4 Crystallographic School in South Africa: From Data Collection to Structure Refinement and Beyond’. Dr Tolmie has been selected for the Emerging Scholars Accelerator Programme in 2023.

Dr Dimitri Veldkornet is Lecturer in Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State. He completed his PhD in Botany in 2016 at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). His thesis focused on the distribution of estuarine plants and vegetation in South Africa. He has broad training in ecology with a postgraduate specialisation in estuarine ecology and environmental management. 

In 2021, he was a Senior Lecturer in Pasture Science at the University of Limpopo. Between 2017 and 2018, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape. He has supervised honours, masters and PhD students.

He is researching saline vegetation and its response to climate change, which includes phylogenetic and environmental analysis and species distribution modelling using climate and geospatial data. He has co-authored 12 scientific papers over the past 9 years and has been exposed to several inter- and multidisciplinary fields and techniques. 

He has presented research at numerous conferences and peer-reviewed papers for the Annals of Botany, South African Journal of Botany, American Journal of Botany, and Estuaries and Coasts.  He has extensive research experience and has participated in various environmental management studies locally and nationally. and have been participating in several environmental education programmes (e.g. National Marine Week, National Science Week, and public schools). As an emerging scholar, he aims to advance the knowledge estuaries and inland saline environments. He hopes to achieve this by applying and broadening his research training and professional development.

Dr Janus Henning is an Agricultural Economist who obtained both his undergraduate and postgraduate education at the University of the Free State (UFS). He obtained his PhD in Agricultural Economics at the UFS in 2016 and, ever since, his research has been mostly interdisciplinary, relating to farm management, finance, entrepreneurship, and agricultural development. He is actively involved in research concerning youth and youth development as well as their involvement in the agricultural sector. His current research focus is on attracting and involving youth in the agricultural sector, which would enhance rural livelihoods while reducing rural household vulnerability and unemployment.  

Janus is currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics. He teaches modules related to Agricultural Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Business Management. He has successfully supervised ten Master’s students and is currently supervising both Master’s and PhD students in the Department of Agricultural Economics. Janus has published 13 peer-reviewed publications and has been involved with eight international and seven national conference presentations. He has also published articles in several popular magazines, including Veeplaas, Farmbiz, Stockfarm, GrainSA, Tuli Journal, and Landbouweekblad.

Dr Mpho Ramoejane is a molecular geneticist by specialisation and have worked with Afromontane reptiles (lizards of the Leceatidae family) and freshwater fish (Labeo). I am currently working on Afromontane small mammals (rodents and shrews). I am interested in systematics, phylogenetics, phylogeography, taxonomy, conservation and molecular ecology. My research has led to the publication of several scientific research papers in peer-reviewed, accredited international journals. I have presented my work at both national and international conferences. I was introduced to small mammal research during my Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2018) at the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus, which I found to be very interesting as it sometimes involved hiking, which I love doing.  I was appointed as a lecturer at the Department of Zoology and Entomology in April 2020.  To date, I supervised and co-supervised honours and MSc students, and hosted one intern. My research is currently funded by startup funds from the department. However, I have applied to the National Research Foundation – Thuthuka funding and hoping for positive results.

Contribution to previous research: Genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships and conservation of southern African Labeo fishes in relation to water management

The previous research contributed to the ongoing resolution of phylogenetic relationships of the African Labeo species by providing data on the relationships and evolutionary history of southern African Labeo species, with a particular focus on the Labeo umbratus species group. Labeo umbratus was shown to comprise two evolutionary lineages that inhabit the Orange and the southward-flowing river systems, respectively. For the southern lineages, conservation action needs to be directed at the genetic conservation units (ESUs or MUs) that were identified for L. umbratus. This is particularly pertinent because of the demonstrated threat of hybridisation between L. capensis and L. umbratus. The research proposed that future research investigates the extent of hybridisation in the extralimital and native ranges of southern African Labeo spp.. 

Current research: Molecular systematics and Conservation of Afromontane small mammals (rodents and shrews)

The research aims to document the genetic diversity of small mammals in the Afromontane region of the Eastern Free State and delineate species and populations. The Eastern Free State is a unique region of Afromontane grasslands bordering Lesotho. There has been considerable progress towards documenting the biodiversity and discovery of endemic flora and fauna in the region. This indicates how unique and important the region is regarding its biodiversity. However, this research effort has been more focused on plants and more limited to animals, especially small mammals. A gap in our knowledge of these species in the region still exists and more species still need to be discovered or described. The present study was motivated by the biodiversity gaps as well as increasing threats to biodiversity, including anthropogenic factors (urbanisation, over-grazing, hunting and uncontrolled fires) and climate change.

Dr Melissa Hansen  PhD, Lund University, is a passionate teacher and researcher of Human Geography, Sustainability Science and Political Ecology in the Department of Geography, on the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State, since 2016. She is currently Subject Head of the Department, since April 2022. As such her role is to manage and administer the department, provide academic leadership and facilitate teaching and learning, engage in research and publication, and conduct external engagements.

Dr Hansen completed her doctoral studies in 2014 with a thesis titled “Struggles over conservation space: Social justice in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa” at Lund University in Sweden. The research shows that ultimately, local inhabitants have been alienated from land, as well as from management practices in the park. This juxtaposes efforts to restore local land and resource rights against national and global interest in conservation. The implementation of global conservation through market mechanisms is particularly problematic where there is structural inequality with historical roots, such as in South Africa.

Her current and future research will continue to build on her roots as a Sustainability Scientist, where she continues to focus on discussions around development and social justice. Her overall research frame aims to capitalise on the Qwaqwa campus’ geographic location as fundamental to its positioning as a ‘Sustainability Science’ hub. Her research is located within the transdisciplinary Afromontane Research Unit, which endeavours to promote research contributing to sustainable mountain development in the Maloti-Drakensberg area. The Maloti-Drakensberg is one of the most biologically diverse areas of South Africa, and is the most important water catchment for both South Africa and Lesotho.

Dr Julia Puseletso Mofokeng, PhD; is a Senior Lecturer/Researcher in the Department of Chemistry, at the University of the Free State (QwaQwa Campus). She graduated with PhD in Polymer Science in May 2015. She conduct Polymers Science honours degree lectures and  supervise Honours, Masters and Doctoral degrees research students. Dr Mofokeng is an NRF rated researcher in the Emerging Researcher (Y2) category (2021-2025), and in 2016 she received the Best Emerging Researcher award in the Natural and Agricultural Sciences (QwaQwa Campus).

Dr Mofokeng’s research involves preparation, synthesis, and characterization of completely biodegradable polymers, their blends, and composites/nanocomposites, for possible applications in packaging (short shelf life/disposable materials), water purification, medical devices, and automotive interior industries. The research is aimed at managing the plastic waste to combat the environment and atmospheric pollution, and to save energy. To achieve the aims Dr Mofokeng and her small research group are preparing completely biodegradable polymer blends, improve their morphology, thermal, thermo-mechanical, mechanical, and flame retardancy properties, using natural fibres, inorganic/organic fillers, to tailor materials for applications as mentioned above. She has since published fourteen (14) articles in specialised peer-reviewed international journals, and her research has been presented in seventeen (17) local and international research conferences. She has graduated seven (7) honours, and six (6) masters research students, and currently supervising one (1) honours, one (1) masters, and three (3) doctoral research students in Polymer Science. Dr Mofokeng was nominated and joined the UFS Future Professoriate Mentoring Programme for 2023-2024, to advance her career.

Serving in the university’s professional boards, Dr Mofokeng is currently (1)an Academic Sector representative for the University of the Free State (QwaQwa Campus) in the UFS Institutional Multi-Stakeholder Group, (2) the representative of the Natural and Agricultural Sciences Faculty in the University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus) Research Management and Funding Committee (UFS-QCRMFC) since 2020, and (3) served a panelist in the evaluation of the proposals for the University of the Free State (UFS) yearly grants awards for interdisciplinary research projects (2021 and 2023), and lastly, she is an invited reviewer for the Journal of Applied Polymer Science since the year 2020. Dr Mofokeng was a chief organiser of the University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus) Research Management and Funding Committee (UFS-QCRMFC) 2022 conference that was held at Harrismith Inn Hotel, and recently published a review article with her first PhD student (Mr Lesia Mokoena).

Dr Christian Budde is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Free State. He earned his PhD in Mathematics in 2019 and subsequently held a postdoctoral position at North-West University as well as a DFG Walter Benjamin postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pretoria before joining the UFS in January 2022. His research focuses on evolution equations, operator semigroups, and their applications, and he has an extensive publication record in these areas. He will publish a book on his research expertise with Birkhäuser.

Beyond his research, Dr Budde plays an active role in academic leadership and professional societies. He currently serves as the General Secretary of the South African Mathematical Society (SAMS) and is involved in fostering international collaborations to promote mathematics in South Africa, with a particular focus on advancing Women in Mathematics and supporting early career mathematicians. He is also a reviewer for the Heidelberg Laureate Forum and serves on recruitment committees. Moreover, he is a member of the General/Human Research Ethics Committee (GHREC).

Dr Budde is committed to advancing mathematics education. In particular, he aims to align his modules with international standards to better prepare students for their future careers. Within his courses, he strives to strengthen mathematical rigor and deepen students' conceptual understanding. In 2025, he is organizing the international conference Evolution Equations, Operator Semigroups, and Beyond at Stellenbosch University.

With a passion for academic discourse, Dr Budde enjoys connecting with researchers and students alike, fostering an engaging and dynamic mathematical community.

Dr Nontembeko Dube's career in entomology began with her undergraduate (majoring in Entomology and Biochemistry) and honors (Entomology) studies at the University of Fort Hare. She then joined the Weeds Division at the Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP) in 2006 under the Postgraduate Development Programme (PDP). During this period, she pursued her MSc at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Pietermaritzburg Campus, focusing on the biology and crossbreeding of the leaf-defoliating moth, Pareuchaetes insulata, and the implications for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata in South Africa.

In 2009, Dr Dube became a permanent researcher at ARC-PHP, investigating the biology, host range, and impact of various biological control agents, including Dichrorampha odorata and Polymorphomyia basilica. She also studied the performance of Pareuchaetes insulata and isolated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from the southern African biotype of Chromolaena odorata, in collaboration with Prof. Fanie van Heerden.

Dr. Dube obtained her PhD in Entomology from UKZN in 2019, under supervision of Drs Costas Zachariades (ARC-PHP), Caswell Munyai (UKZN) and Osariyekemwen Uyi (University of Georgia). During her time at ARC-PHP, she collected biological control agents from Jamaica and presented her research at numerous conferences, including the Australasian Weeds Conference.

In 2021, Dr Dube joined the University of the Free State as a senior lecturer, teaching Insect Physiology, Insect Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Chemical Ecology, and Insect-Plant Interactions. She has solid national and international collaborations and is involved in pre-release and post-release studies of invasive alien plants, and bioremediation of plastic using fungal species. Dr Dube has a good publication record; she successfully supervised several students and secured Thuthuka NRF funding for 2024-2026. She is an advisory committee member for the Prince Edward Islands.

Dr Dumisani Kama is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS). He holds a PhD in Chemistry from UFS (2018), where he was recognized as the Best PhD Student in the department. His research expertise lies in inorganic and organometallic chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of rhenium, technetium, platinum, palladium and rhodium complexes for catalysis and radiopharmaceutical applications.

Dr Kama has extensive experience in X-ray crystallography, serving as a senior crystallographer and managing the XRD lab at UFS. He has authored 13 research papers, holds a US patent and recently secured the NRF Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers (CSUR) grant for 2025–2027. His research contributions have led to ongoing collaborations with institutions such as the University of Zurich, University of Warsaw and Loughborough University.

Beyond research, he has a strong background in academic leadership and mentorship, supervising multiple MSc and PhD students. Previously, he held positions at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) as a Lecturer and Extended Curriculum Program Coordinator, overseeing curriculum development and student support initiatives.

His achievements include receiving the NRF Free-Standing, Innovation, and Scarce Skills Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018) and induction into the Golden Key International Honour Society (2015).

Dr Kama remains committed to advancing sustainable catalysis and radiopharmaceutical research, while actively contributing to student development and interdisciplinary scientific collaboration.

Dr Norman Muzhinji is a distinguished Plant Pathologist, Senior Lecturer, and Researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein Campus, where he has been based since 2023. Prior to joining UFS, he served as a Senior Lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in the Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness. His research focuses on soil microbial ecology and soil-borne diseases affecting solanaceous crops, particularly potatoes. Dr. Muzhinji’s current projects include investigating soil health, the impact of agricultural practices on soil biodiversity, bioprospecting for plant growth-promoting microorganisms with biocontrol properties, plant-microbe interactions, and comparative genomics. His teaching, which covers host-pathogen interactions and microbial ecology, is deeply influenced by the principles of critical pedagogy as advocated by Paulo Freire, emphasizing knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the generation of new knowledge. He supervises Honors, Master’s, and PhD students, guiding them in their research endeavors. Dr. Muzhinji’s work has been published in both local and international journals, and he holds professional memberships with the American Phytopathological Society (APS), the Southern African Society of Plant Pathology (SASPP), and the International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME). Additionally, he serves as a peer reviewer for leading plant pathology journals such as Plant Disease and Phytopathology and acts as an internal and external examiner for Master’s and PhD theses.