Dr Samantha Ndlovu with her sons, Smelokuhle (centre) and Sphosethu Ndlovu.Choosing to tackle the ongoing energy crisis in South Africa, budding young chemist and Pongola resident, Dr Samantha Ndlovu, embarked upon a PhD project that would contribute to sustainable energy sources and alleviate supply and consumption challenges.
Clockwise from left: Mr Thabang Mdhluli; Dr Sarisha Harrylal and Mr Jordan Silver; and a SAFFIRE liquid rocket engine hot-fire test at Denel Overberg Test Range.UKZN’s Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI), one of the largest aerospace research groups in the country, is celebrating the graduation of three of its master’s students and engineers, Mr Thabang Mdhluli, Mr Jordan Silver and Dr Sarisha Harrylal, who have conducted ground-breaking work on injector design, liquid rocket engine performance, and roll control systems to drive South Africa’s growing aerospace industry forward.
Mr Mark Fingerhuth has been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and an MIT Innovator Under 35. Mr Mark Fingerhuth not only earned a cum laude result for his Master’s in Physics but has also been recognised by Forbes and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for his innovative and cutting-edge Canada-based biotechnology startup, ProteinQure, which is advancing computational drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr Mthobisi Ntuli’s research focused on understanding why students struggle with mathematics. He is pictured celebrating his graduation with his family. 
Dr Keristena Grewan is passionate about environmental sustainability.
UKZN lecturer and Mechanical Engineering PhD graduate Dr Anthony Govender graduated alongside Ms Tejal Mewalall, whom he supervised for her MSc in Mechanical Engineering.With a summa cum laude undergraduate Mechanical Engineering degree from UKZN (2010) and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town (2014), UKZN lecturer Dr Anthony Govender was awarded his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UKZN’s Spring Graduation ceremony held on the Westville campus.
UKZN Chemical Engineering lecturer Dr Nivaar Brijmohan celebrates his graduation with his proud family (from left): Nivedita (sister), Tarana (wife), Kala (mum), and his dad Santash.UKZN Chemical Engineering lecturer, Dr Nivaar Brijmohan, has graduated with his PhD in record time, completing his study on improving the sustainability of separation technology of chemical processes in four years, part-time.
Dr Calvin Wells sets up instruments underwater at Sodwana.
Dr Tirivangani Magadza aims to make AI accessible to people across Africa. Dr Tirivangani Magadza graduated from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, where his research focused on how deep learning helps detect brain tumours from MRI scans and predict patient survival rates.
Dr Nomagugu Ncube believes she has a responsibility to tackle Africa’s endemic diseases through research.
Dr Gugulethu Nogwebela was awarded a PhD in Mathematics.
Dr Adusei Bofa uses statistical modelling to contribute to food security in Africa.Ghanaian national, Dr Adusei Bofa has earned his PhD in Statistics from UKZN. His research, supervised by Professor Temesgen Zewotir, concentrated on data driven statistical modelling for the critical issue of food security and nutrition in Africa.
Dr Silungile Mhlongo with her supervisor Professor Neil Koorbanally.Dr Silungile Mhlongo’s PhD research focused on using a basic chemical structure combined with other biologically active scaffolds to develop bioassays with improved activity for the creation of alternative pharmaceuticals that could treat bacterial infections, cancer, tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes.
