Researchers recognised for breakthroughs in most cancers remedy, meals safety, public well being, inexperienced hydrogen and superior computing
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has secured a number of finalists throughout 5 classes within the prestigious 2025/26 National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards, extensively considered South Africa’s “Science Oscars”.
The finalists will compete for high honours when the winners are introduced at simultaneous gala occasions in Johannesburg and Cape Town on 16 July 2026.
The finalists place UJ among the many nation’s strongest-performing universities on this yr’s awards and show the Institution’s rising popularity for analysis and innovation that addresses among the nation’s most urgent challenges, from most cancers remedy and public well being to meals safety, inexperienced hydrogen applied sciences and superior analysis software program.
The NSTF-South32 Awards are South Africa’s premier recognition platform for excellence in science, engineering, expertise and innovation. Established in 1998, the awards honour people, groups and organisations whose work advances data, drives innovation and contributes to nationwide growth. Finalists are chosen by way of a rigorous adjudication course of and signify the nation’s main scientists, engineers, innovators and analysis groups.
“This recognition reflects the depth, diversity and impact of UJ’s research enterprise,” mentioned Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UJ.
“Our researchers are pushing the boundaries of knowledge while developing practical solutions that improve lives, strengthen communities and contribute to South Africa’s development. To be recognised among the country’s leading scientists and innovators is a remarkable achievement and a testament to UJ’s commitment to excellence, innovation and societal impact.”
Leading UJ’s illustration is Professor Samuel Oluwatobi Oluwafemi, who has been named a finalist within the TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award class. His pioneering analysis focuses on the event of superior nanomaterial-bioconjugates that mix therapeutic and diagnostic features in a single platform, opening new potentialities for simpler and much less invasive most cancers remedy. His work contributes to the worldwide pursuit of precision medication and improved outcomes for most cancers sufferers.
The University’s contribution to strengthening meals safety and public well being is mirrored in two finalists within the TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Award class.
Dr Mahlatse Kganyago has been recognised for harnessing satellite tv for pc expertise, distant sensing and synthetic intelligence to higher perceive agricultural methods and strengthen meals safety. His analysis permits extra correct monitoring of crops, environmental situations and agricultural productiveness, serving to decision-makers reply extra successfully to local weather variability and meals safety challenges.
Joining him is Dr Edith Phalane from the Pan African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER) in UJ’s Faculty of Health Sciences. Her analysis has generated crucial public well being proof to higher perceive native epidemics and enhance preparedness for future pandemics. Through her work, she helps to strengthen illness surveillance, inform public well being responses and enhance well being outcomes throughout communities.
UJ’s rising management in sustainable power, superior supplies and engineering analysis is mirrored within the recognition of the JENano Research Group, led by Professor Tien-Chien Jen, DSTI-NRF SARChI Chair in Green Hydrogen and Director of the Atomic Layer Deposition Research Centre.
The group has secured finalists in two classes: the Engineering Research Capacity Development Award and the Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation. Through its cutting-edge work in inexperienced hydrogen applied sciences, nanotechnology and superior supplies, the group helps to construct South Africa’s subsequent technology of engineering researchers whereas contributing to improvements that help the nation’s transition in direction of a cleaner and extra sustainable power future.
Further demonstrating UJ’s innovation capabilities, Associate Professor Krishna Govender has been named a finalist within the newly launched Research Software Award class. His nomination recognises the event of a novel suite of user-friendly scripts for South Africa’s Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC), enabling researchers to extra successfully utilise nationwide supercomputing sources and speed up scientific discovery throughout a number of disciplines.
The introduction of the Research Software Award in 2026 displays the rising significance of software program and digital infrastructure in enabling world-class analysis and innovation. Professor Govender’s recognition highlights UJ’s contribution to advancing the digital instruments that more and more underpin scientific progress.
The finalists span the next classes:
- TW Kambule-NSTF Researcher Award – Professor Samuel Oluwatobi Oluwafemi
- TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Award – Dr Mahlatse Kganyago
- TW Kambule-NSTF Emerging Researcher Award – Dr Edith Phalane
- Engineering Research Capacity Development Award – JENano Research Group led by Professor Tien-Chien Jen
- Innovation Award: Corporate Organisation – JENano Research Group led by Professor Tien-Chien Jen
- Research Software Award – Associate Professor Krishna Govender
- The finalists have been chosen from a extremely aggressive subject of nominations. According to the NSTF, nominations elevated by 39% in contrast to the earlier yr, reflecting rising recognition of the awards and the distinctive calibre of analysis and innovation being undertaken throughout South Africa.
The winners of the shall be introduced on 16 July 2026, when South Africa’s main scientists, engineers, innovators and analysis groups collect to rejoice excellence in science, expertise and innovation.
The nominations replicate the University’s dedication to producing analysis and innovation that advances scientific data whereas addressing crucial societal challenges, reinforcing its position as a number one contributor to South Africa’s data economic system and sustainable future.