Page 29 - Unisa CSET Mid Year Highlights 2025 Digital

Recently appointed as a Distinguished Professor at Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Professor Patience Mthunzi-Kufa is the initiator and leader of one of the most unique research fields in South Africa, in the multidisciplinary area called Biophotonics.
Prof Mthunzi-Kufa’s research focus over has been on the construction and application of photonics-based diagnostic devices for point-of-care detection of HIV-1, TB, COVID-19, as well as non- communicable diseases.
Her research group has grown from strength to strength, where she goes out of her way to ensure that her team acquires peer acknowledgment via delivering award-winning research outputs. Since the inception of her lab, she and her Team have received numerous awards both locally and internationally. As a result of this, top-level researchers internationally are attracted to her group and the CSIR. Mthunzi-Kufa, stops at nothing in promoting young scientists, to even generating patents as well as commercializing technology, whilst at MSc, PhD, and Postdoc levels. Additionally, she has co-authored numerous conference proceedings and scientific journals with her team of young scientist, opening space for their career development.
She brings her extensive experience to Unisa and will be initiating the Centre for Photonics within the university, with the intention to cut across several Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs). Specifically, the interdisciplinary research to be conducted will marry the natural science and the health sciences, ranging from Biotechnological studies, Health/Pharmaceutical studies, and a bit on Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitalisation. All these Catalytic Niche Areas will form part of her portfolio.
In support of UNISA’s mandate, the Photonics Centre will design and develop novel laser-based devices & diagnostics within a space that aims to be local, regional and international. A centre that provides excellence in scientific research, technology development and transfer of laser and related technology for the betterment of the people of South Africa, Africa and eventually globally. From inception, the centre will draw from work conducted in CSET but also extend to research conducted at CHS, CAES and other colleges. Through research, development, and implementation of photonics technologies, the program is designed to provide visionary leadership in photonics to national stakeholders, strengthen the Science, Engineering and Technology base of postgraduates, find partners in local and international industries to extend SA’s knowledge base as well as develop and build optics and photonics capacity in SA that will be representative of the demographics of the country. Further, the research proposed supports various guiding policies. Including but not limited to, SA’s Bio-economy Strategy as well as the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG), which speak to the urgent requirement to significantly contribute to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2030, as well as UNISA’s mission, which promotes industrialisation of research.
Define tomorrow.
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