Research and Innovation Awards 2023

Research Awards

External Recognition Awards for Research Excellence

Prof L LabuschagneProf L Labuschagne, Research, Innovation and Commercialisation
Senior Research Management Professional (SRMP) Certification
Prof P LenkaBulaProf P LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Unisa
Zairi International Awards for Excellence in Research, Research Impact
Prof M MaazaProf Malik Maaza, UNESCO Unisa Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies
Joint Winner: United Nations Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Spirit of Abdus Salam Award
Prof M MabelebeleProf M Mabelebele, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers
Prof Lawrence MadikizelaProf LM Madikizela, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
South African Chemical Institute Raikes Medal
Prof AH Mavhandu- MudzusiProf AH Mavhandu-Mudzusi, College of Human Sciences
NRF Special Recognition Awards 2022
Champion of Research Capacity Development and Transformation
Mr A MavukwanaMr A Mavukwana, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Fulbright Foreign Student Program – Visiting Student Researcher
Prof Puleng SegaloProf PJ Segalo, College of Human Sciences
TWAS Regional Award 2021
Public Understanding and Popularisation of Science
Prof WD ThwalaProf WD Thwala, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference (SEDRC)
2022 Excellence Award for Leadership in Sustainable Construction in Africa and Mentor of the Decade
And
National Science and Technology Forum-South32, Engineering Research Capacity Development Award
Dr Retha VisagieDr R Visagie, Research Support
Senior Research Management Professional (SRMP) Certification

National Research Foundation (NRF) Rating

2023 NRF Y-Rating

Dr AM AntonyDr AM Antony
College of Law, Y2
Dr W DednamDr W Dednam
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Y2
Prof Jan Harm de VilliersProf JH de Villiers
College of Law, Y2
Dr E EbhuomaDr E Ebhuoma
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Y2
Prof FA KoboProf FA Kobo
College of Human Sciences, Y2
Dr Takawira NdofirepiDr TM Ndofirepi
College of Human Sciences, Y2
Prof SM TyaliProf SM Tyali
College of Human Sciences, Y2
Dr NRM MalherbeDr NRM Malherbe
College of Human Sciences, Y1

2023 NRF C-Rating

Prof S DubeProf S Dube
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C3
Prof FJW HerbigProf FJW Herbig
College of Law, C3
Prof H JafariProf H Jafari
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C3
Prof SL LebeloProf SL Lebelo
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, C3
Prof Lydia MbatiProf LSA Mbati
College of Education, C3
Prof Mukuna Patrick MubiayiProf M Mubiayi
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C3
Prof Kofi Poku Quan BaffourProf K Quan-Baffour
College of Education, C3
Prof Kofi Poku Quan BaffourProf MJ Taole
College of Education, C3
Prof Corne Johandia van StadenProf C van Staden
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C3
Prof Piera BiccardProf P Biccard
College of Education, C2
Prof Rehana CassimProf R Cassim
College of Law, C2
Prof GE DamesProf GE Dames
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof J Tameshnie DeaneProf T Deane
College of Law, C2
Prof Legesse Kassa DebushoProf LK Debusho
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof KK KefeniProf KK Kefeni
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof Moeketsi LetsekaProf M Letseka
College of Education, C2
Prof Enrico LombardiProf EB Lombardi
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof F S MadonselaProf FA Madonsela
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof Daniel MakinaProf D Makina
College of Economic and Management Sciences, C2
Prof JE MaritzProf JE Maritz
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof Johanna Mathibe NekeProf JM Mathibe-Neke
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof R MeisnerProf R Meissner
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof SJ MoloiProf SJ Moloi
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof Itumeleng D MothagaeProf I Mothoagae
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof I NaidooProf I Naidoo
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof VM Ngole JemeProf VM Ngole-Jeme
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, C2
Prof Erna OliverProf E Oliver
College of Human Sciences, C2
Prof Keshnee PadayacheeProf K Padayachee
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof Ingrid PotgieterProf IL Potgieter
College of Economic and Management Sciences, C2
Prof Z RobinsonProf Z Robinson
College of Economic and Management Sciences, C2
Prof Vanessa SchermanProf V Scherman
College of Education, C2
Prof VR VeeredhiProf VR Veeredhi
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, C2
Prof A ZinatizadehProf A Zinatizadeh
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, C2
Prof SE BoschProf SE Bosch
College of Human Sciences, C1
Prof Leslie BrownProf L Brown
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, C1
Prof L LiebenbergProf L Liebenberg
College of Education, C1
Prof M MkansiProf M Mkansi
College of Economic and Management Sciences, C1
Prof G NhamoProf G Nhamo
College of Economic and Management Sciences, C1

2023 NRF B-Rating

Prof Elri LiebenbergProf EC Liebenberg
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, B2
Prof SC RayProf SC Ray
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, B2
Prof K RenaudProf K Renaud
College of Science, Engineering and Technology, B2
Prof PMD RwelamilaProf PMD Rwelamila
Graduate School of Business Leadership, B2
Prof JOT AdesinaProf JOT Adesina
College of Graduate Studies, B1

2023 NRF A-Rating

Prof M FineProf M Fine
College of Human Sciences, A2

Learned Society Memberships

Prof W Bentley
Prof W Bentley
College of Human Sciences

The Conversation Africa: 2022 Research Communication Recognition Award

Most Read Author Award

Prof Anja du PlessisProf A du Plessis, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Durban Coastline: Sewage Polluted Beaches Pose Threat to Holiday Makers and the Environment
57 016 reads

Most published author, joint recipients

Prof Anja du PlessisProf A du Plessis
College of Economic and Management Sciences
Prof Dirk KotzeProf D Kotzé
College of Human Sciences
Prof R MeisnerProf R Meissner
College of Human Sciences

Half Million Rand Award

Dr XG FukuDr XG Fuku, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
WRC Water Research Grant – R900 000
Prof A KuvaregaProf A Kuvarega, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Technology Innovation Agency, Seed Funding
A Pilot Scale Catalyst Preparation for Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol – R650 000
Prof LM MadikizelaProf LM Madikizela, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
National Research Foundation, Marine & Coastal Research Grant – R583 000
And
National Research Foundation, Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers Grant – R580 000
Mr ST MalindisaMr ST Malindisa, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Department of Higher Education and Training, University Student and Staff Development Grant – R500 000
Prof AH Mavhandu-MudzusiProf AH Mavhandu-Mudzusi, College of Human Sciences
South African Medial Research Council, Self-Initiated Research Grant – R600 000
Dr H NgwangwaDr H Ngwangwa, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Technology Innovation Agency, Seed Funding
Development of 3D Printed Dental Implants Based on Advanced Materials (Ceramic) – R640 907
Prof M NtwasaProf M Ntwasa, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Technology Innovation Agency, Seed Funding
Pre-clinical Studies for a Novel Anti-cancer Drug Combination – R950 500
And
Technology Innovation Agency, Seed Funding
Safety and Further Development of an Anti-Covid 19 Remedy – R875 000
Prof E NxumaloProf E Nxumalo, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Technology Innovation Agency, Seed Funding
A Light Enabled Self-cleaning Water Filter – R650 000

Million Rand Award

Prof E BenyeraProf E Benyera, College of Human Sciences
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) Reconstituting the Political in Postcolonial Africa Grant – €212 738.20 (R3 866 299.37)
Dr C BhondayiDr C Bhondayi, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
National Research Foundation, Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers Grant – R1 505 000
Dr TL BothaDr TL Botha, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
WRC Prediction of the Hazard Potential of Nano-enabled SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Kits to the Aquatic Environment Grant – R1 240 000
Prof Malik MaazaProf Malik Maaza, UNESCO Unisa Africa Chair in Nanosciences & Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies
Canadian National Institute for Scientific Research
MR X-Ray Photoelectrons Spectroscopy Advanced Unit - R14 700 000
Prof Titus MsagatiProf Titus Msagati, College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Johannesburg Water Grant - R2 000 000

Internal Awards for Research Excellence

Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation Awards for Excellence in Research - Women in Research Awards

Youngest Female Doctoral Graduate

Dr L SikhosanaDr L Sikhosana
College of Education


Emerging Researcher

Dr MP ModiseDr MP Modise
College of Education
Dr K SemenyaDr K Semenya
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research

Prof X LiuProf X Liu
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
Prof KF MearnsProf KF Mearns
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Prof OB OnyanchaProf OB Onyancha
College of Human Sciences
Prof Puleng SegaloProf PJ Segalo
College of Human Sciences
Prof MT TekereProf MT Tekere
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Prof MM van WykProf MM van Wyk
College of Education