School of Life Sciences

Research into malaria is an investigative field Honours in Biochemistry graduate Mr Tim Kirkman will follow in his studies for a master’s degree. Kirkman attended St Charles College in Pietermaritzburg, which he credits for his excellent education and for introducing him to the natural world through hikes and informal lessons on nature. A keen hockey

Mr Warren Schmidt, author of Reptiles & Amphibians of Southern Africa, has enjoyed a lifelong interest in reptiles and amphibians which led to him receiving an MSc degree summa cum laude in Ecological Sciences. His thesis, supervised by Professor Colleen Downs, investigated snake population declines and conservation and provided a global synthesis and perspectives from Southern Africa based

Dr Vuyisile Thibane graduated with a PhD in Ethnobotany after conducting an ethnopharmacological study on plants used for skincare and beauty by some Xhosa communities. Thibane, from the small town of Botshabelo in the Free State, explained that his project was aimed at promoting the use of natural products formulated from indigenous South African plants

Investigating the presence and persistence of mammals in urban forest fragments in the eThekwini Municipality Area (EMA) is what Dr Manqoba Zungu of the School of Life Sciences did in research for his PhD which forms part of the Durban Research Action Partnership (D’RAP). Zungu explained that the biodiverse yet urbanised EMA, populated by 3.5 million people and comprising

Mr Kwanele Mkhize’s friends and colleagues describe him as an ambitious, goal-driven person – qualities that assisted him complete his studies and receive an MSc degree in Biology cum laude from UKZN’s School of Life Sciences. Mkhize, who said the accomplishment was reward for his hard work and dedication, credited his late father for instilling an excellent work

Dr Ochuko Erukainure has earned a PhD in Biochemistry for research conducted on the antidiabetic and toxicological properties of some South African medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes and the complications involved. It is predicted that his research will contribute significantly to the development of novel antidiabetic drugs. ‘Ochuko has conducted several research

Dr Vuyisile Thabethe graduated with a PhD from the School of Life Sciences following her research on a familiar urban species in South Africa: the African woolly-necked stork (Ciconia microscelis). Thabethe investigated aspects of their ecology in an anthropogenic changing landscape in KwaZulu-Natal, ie a landscape caused by the influence of human beings on nature. The large wading bird

Dr Jarryd Alexander graduated with a PhD in the School of Life Sciences – with the support of the Durban Research Action Partnership (D’RAP) – after investigating the effects that eco-estates (a relatively new form of urban greening) developed on sugarcane land have on the functional diversity of amphibians, birds, mammals, reptiles and connectivity along the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) North

UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) once again made a significant contribution to South Africa’s much-needed brain pool of highly-qualified science, technology and engineering specialists, awarding an impressive 101 PhDs out of a university total of 276 during this year’s April Graduation ceremonies. The College’s steady production of doctoral graduates is in line

Ms Aadila Moosa, who received her BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences from UKZN’s School of Life Sciences (SLS), has the distinction of being the only summa cum laude honours graduate in this year’s round of degree conferrals by the School. Having a keen interest in the biological sciences, Moosa saw UKZN as the best choice to pursue her