With South African universities tasked to produce more PhD graduates, one researcher is doing her bit to contribute to the pool of highly skilled graduates.

Dr Nikoletta Bathori is the brain behind the Early Explorer Project, an innovative programme that exposes undergraduate Chemistry students to research and provides them with an opportunity to work alongside skilled academics in a laboratory.

The aim, says Bathori, is to “catch students early”, and stir their interest in a career in research.

A researcher at CPUT’s Crystal Engineering Unit, Bathori says the project was born after she visited Georgetown University in the United States. The university promotes science by opening its laboratories to high school students for holidays.

“I came back and thought of how to apply it to CPUT. I looked at second-year students and how they could contribute to science projects,” says Bathori.

In 2013, the Early Explorer Project was born and has proved an overwhelming success.

“Last year I had three students and all three did exceptionally good and now they are planning to do Masters and Doctoral degrees. One of the students got the Dean's medal and two of them won the Science Idols,” she says.

BTech student Nigel Sharara was among the project’s first recruits and is a testament to its success.

Nigel says thanks to the programme, he was exposed to a range of research techniques and equipment, and by the time he reached the BTech level was light years ahead of his class.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The Chemistry Department on the Cape Town Campus recently became the proud owners of a sought after device – a Differential Scanning Calorimeter.

This high-tech piece of equipment, which came at a price tag of R450 000, is key to chemistry research, allowing researchers to conduct processes such as identifying compounds and exploring how they behave thermally.

Dr Nikoletta Bathori says understanding how compounds behave under various conditions is key to many of the research projects undertaken by researchers in the department.

 “We cannot work without this instrument,” says Bathori.

The equipment was sponsored to the tune of R400 000 from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Technology and Innovation, Dr Chris Nhlapo, and replaces a similar device that was outdated and ceased operating.  The additional R50 000 came out of the coffers of the Chemistry Department.

Although based in the Chemistry Department, Bathori says the device is not restricted to the sole study of chemistry, but can be applied to research work conducted in various other departments at the University, such as in engineering.

Bathori says through sharing research equipment, they are hopeful that interdepartmental research projects could be established.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Talented chemistry students Kudzanai Nyamayaro and Kelly Shunje are flying the CPUT flag high.

The duo who are based in the Department of Chemistry have been awarded the Innovation and Priority Research Areas Masters Scholarship, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology that is facilitated through the National Research Foundation (NRF).The scholarship aims to increase South Africa’s cohort of masters and doctoral graduates.

Applicants face a competitive selection process, but Nyamayaro and Shunje’s excellent academic record helped them clinch the prestigious scholarship. Of the 821 awardees for 2017 nationwide, only 7 CPUT students made it to the list.

Both are currently working towards their MTech qualifications under the guidance of Dr Nikoletta Báthori. Their work is based on crystallography (determining the arrangement of molecules /ions in crystalline solids), with a focus on the improvement of the properties of pharmaceutical drugs.

Shunje is exploring anti-malaria and anti-tuberculosis drugs focusing on improving their physiochemical properties through formation of multicomponent crystals.

With her sights set on graduation in September, Shunje says she enjoys research and is looking forward to applying her skills in the pharmaceutical industry.

“I ventured into this specific area because I have a strong desire to discover solutions towards the alleviation of suffering and peril in the world. I would never be able to be a doctor and work directly with patients, but by working on pharmaceutical drugs I can still help people.”

Nyamayaro, who has already co-published three papers, is focusing his efforts on aspirin and how to increase its lifespan after it is exposed to water or air.

Also set to graduate this Spring, Nyamayaro, who has won several prizes for his outstanding academic records, says he is grateful for the scholarship and the funding it makes available to facilitate his academic and research activities.

Nyamayaro, who has his sights set on completing a doctorate, is one of the top performing students in the Faculty of Applied Science. He was recently awarded the James Moir Medal by the South African Chemical Institute, which recognizes the top chemistry students at each university and university of technology.

However, Nyamayaro says while a love of science prompted him to follow a career in chemistry, hard work has played a huge role in his success.

“I work and study really hard. I think this is a good combination for success. If you put effort into something it will eventually work out,” he says.

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

An aggregate of 85% for four years has earned Kudzanai Nyamayaro, a postgraduate Chemistry student the coveted James Moir medal.

An initiative of the South African Chemical Institute, the medal is awarded annually to the top BTech or BSc (Hons) chemistry student at every South African university and university of technology.

It is named after James Moir, a pioneering chemist who, during the 1900s, played a significant role in the chemistry field in South Africa. He was renowned for developing new methods of analysis and improving others.

The medals add to Nyamayaro’s growing list of achievements.

He scooped the CPUT Dean’s medal, which recognizes the top achieving student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences as well as the CPUT Vice-Chancellor’s medal, which is awarded during graduation to the top achieving student at CPUT.

Currently working towards his MTech in Chemistry under the guidance of Dr Nikoletta Báthori, he was recently awarded the prestigious Department of Science and Technology Innovation and Priority Research Areas Masters Scholarship. His MTech work is based on crystallography (determining the arrangement of molecules /ions in crystalline solids), with a focus on the improvement of the properties of pharmaceutical drugs.

Only 24-years old, Nyamayaro has already co-published three papers and is currently working on several more.

Modest about his academic achievements, Nyamayaro says science is in his blood.

“Science runs in my family. Everyone is involved in science in some way or another,” he says.

However, Nyamayaro says while a love of science prompted him to follow a career in chemistry, hard work has played a huge role in his success.

“I work and study really hard. I think this is a good combination for success. If you put effort into something it will eventually work out,” he says.

Written by Candes Keating
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.