UPCOMING EVENT
2nd Postdoctoral Conference of Southern Africa
The Postdoctoral Society (PDS) of Stellenbosch University cordially you to participate in the 2nd Postdoctoral Conference of Southern Africa that will be held from 10 - 12 November 2021! The theme for this year's conference is:
​
BEYOND THE PANDEMIC: RESEARCH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
​
We invite you to join our international virtual platform to share your research, network and build a future for postdoctoral research fellow in Southern Africa. The call for abstracts for oral, poster and elevator pitch presentations will open soon.
​
Dates: 10 - 12 November 2021
Click here for more information
​
PAST EVENTS
PDS Research SUmmit
"PDS Research SUmmit" was organized by Postdoctoral society on 29th-30th October.
We sincerely thank you all for taking part in the Virtual Postdoctoral Research SUmmit 2020! Thanks to you the event was a tremendous success!
We had the privilege of listening to inspiring talks by Prof Eugene Cloete, Prof Edward Rybicki, Prof Claire Gaveriaux-Ruff, Prof Kelly Chibale and Dr Palesa Mothapo. We had a productive and interactive Science Communication workshop from Dr Marina Joubert and an inspirational round table discussion about mentorship for postdocs with Prof Helena Kuivaniemi, Prof Nokwanda Makunga, Prof Samantha Sampson, Dr Yannick Goumon, Dr Joe Molete, and Dr Margareth Tadie.
We want to congratulate all oral, elevator pitch and poster presenters with their excellent presentations about their outstanding research, with a special congratulations to the best presentation winners:
Oral presentations
First prize: Dr Mzingaye Xaba (RSA)
Second prize: Dr Elise Savier (USA) and Dr Philippa Kerr (RSA)
Poster presentations
First prize: Dr Haiko Schulz (RSA)
Second prize: Dr Kevin Dorgans (JPN)
Elevator Pitch presentations
First prize: Dr Taskeen Fathima Doscrat (RSA)
Second prize: Dr Elmar Kal (UK)
Best presentation winners will be contacted soon about their prizes.
Best audience member
Vicus van der Merwe (Industry representative from Whitehead Scientific; RSA)
Kahoot! Game winner
Dr Taskeen Fathima Doscrat (RSA)
It was a privilege to host you, and we thank you for taking the opportunity to present your work at the SUmmit. We hope you will consider submitting your new research to our future scientific gatherings!
​
​
Workshop with Prof Cloete on Job creation post COVID-19
A webinar was hosted by PDS in which Prof. Cloete initiated the idea to organize a think tank, dedicated to discussing topics around the impact of the lockdown and the nationwide restrictions imposed by the government. Prof invites the PDS to provide input for ideas to discuss during the Think tank, for example how we can find solutions to mitigate the losses caused by the lockdown, how we can develop strategies to go back to business as usual, or how a new normal should look like. He specifically requested your ideas and inputs regarding:
- schooling (especially with regards to online schooling and the closing and opening of schools)
- stimulating the economy
- economic impacts of the lockdown restrictions
- job loss and job creation
​
PDS Podcast with Dr. Natasha Mothapo
We are excited to share with you the first PDS Podcast! In this podcast, we share with you the interview with Mothapo, Palesa, Dr [mothapo@sun.ac.za] (Head: Postdoctoral Research Support, Division for research development), in which she shares her academic career as well as exclusive tips for postdocs.
PDS Journal Club
Speaker: Dr. Vikas Kumar
24 July 2020
Happy to share our first journal club with Dr Vikas Kumar (Claude Leon Postdoctoral Fellow, Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University) in which he discussed the applications of Spectroscopic techniques such as Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS/EDAX/EDX) coupled with microscopic techniques such as Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM & TEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in field of Forensic Science. He described the role of spectroscopy in analysis of samples collected from crime scenes such as Glass, Paint, Gun Shot Residues, Drugs, Narcotics and Blood samples. Microscopic techniques like SEM and TEM coupled with EDS/EDAX can be used to differentiate glass and paint samples and to investigate Gun Shot Residues. AFM can be applied to obtain three dimensional view of finger prints and can also be used to investigate time dependent decay of finger print patterns. He further elaborated the role of AFM in topological (surface structure) analysis of Hair samples collected from crime scenes.
​
Leadership and Group Organization Seminar
Speaker: Dr. Palesa Natasha Mothapo, PhD
Dr. Natasha mentioned that the purpose of the seminar was to explain every PDS Executive's role and clarify the communication processes. The members would need to know how to manage each other and conduct themselves together with Natasha who is part of the PDS by virtue of her getting to know all PDS issues.
​
The postdoctoral society organizes Meet and Greet's chaired by Vice Rector, Research Innovation (March and October) and Year-End Functions (December). A number of other social events including a yearly Research Day or Conference (typically in October), as well as the yearly Workshop organised by the Division for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies to welcome new postdocs (March).
​
Postdoctoral conference 2018
The first Postdoctoral Conference of Southern Africa was hosted by Stellenbosch University in honour of the centenary of the University "03-05 October 2018 in Stellenbosch (South Africa)". (Group Photo in gallery of attendees with Prof. E. Cloette, Vice Rector, Research and Innovation)
​
Annual Postdoctoral Research Day
More than 300 postdoctoral fellows have been registered at Stellenbosch University, who are making a meaningful contribution towards realizing the institution's vision of becoming Africa's leading research-intensive university.
The top 20 fellows out of this group were honored at SU's annual Postdoctoral Research Day recently. They each received R 10 000 and a certificate of recognition for their outstanding research output as well as their contribution in academia through student training, presentations at conferences as well as other non-academic endeavors.
​
End of the year function
Stellenbosch Postdoctoral Society Executive committee organized the end of year function at D'Trekka Farm on 3rd December 2019. SU postdoctoral Society provided transport, catering and limited drinks facilities for the party. Postdocs are invited with their families to enjoy with other postdocs and it gives a room for us to interact with several other postdocs of different nationalities from both the SU main campus and Tygerburg Campus.
​
​
​
​
Postdoctoral Conference 2018
Gallery
