NRF Facilities, key enablers in nurturing emerging researchers

In one of the most engaging sessions at this year’s Science Forum South Africa, four emerging scholars reflected on how their association with the National Research Facilities, which are overseen by the National Research Foundation (NRF), helped advance their careers as researchers.

Kelebogile Gasealahlwe, Ramadimetse Sydil Kupa, Dr Yonela Sithole and Dr Retang Mokua formed the panel discussion entitled Empowering Emerging Researchers: Leveraging NRF National Research Infrastructure Platforms (NRIPs) for Transformation, Innovation and Social Impact.

Gasealahlwe, a PhD Candidate in Astrophysics and Space Science, maintained that her affiliation with the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) benefited her research. She officially joined the NRF-SAAO as a student studying for her Master of Science (MSc). “SAAO grants their students access to the telescopes and you can use that data as well for your own research,” she said.

The NRF-SAAO also provided Gasealahlwe with an opportunity to collaborate “with more senior researchers who are principal investigators on telescopes such as the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), which is primarily where my Master’s research came from”, she said.

“I’ve also had the benefit of a leadership perspective where I’ve been leading and hosting the stellar group discussions and meetings and furthermore engaging with the public on science and what we offer at NRF-SAAO through a youth education show,” Gasealahlwe added

Kupa, a software developer at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO), said her association with a national facility proved key to her Master’s degree in Physics. Her research focused on machine learning applications in astronomy.   “For my Master’s research, I was privileged enough to work with Meerkat data,” she said.

“There are several benefits of being associated with this national facility. It offers funding to present your work at different conferences; access to Meerkat data, and use of the cloud computing services. It can become quite expensive to process data, so when they provide the resources for cloud computing, it is quite beneficial,” said Kupa. “Also, for your Master’s or any research project, you’re not only working on an abstract problem, but on a problem that is encountered by the facility. There’s also great mentorship that you can get from the facility.”

But being a researcher isn’t without its challenges, as Dr Mokua pointed out. A postdoctoral Fellow at the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), she is stationed at the Ndlovu Node. Her research work involves hydrological modeling and understanding of hydrological processes.

“Just like any other researcher, I’ve encountered challenges throughout my PhD study and my postdoc work,” she said. “We have a lot of challenges that we encounter when working in mountainous catchments, one of which is the rough terrain which makes it difficult to access some sites.”

“Another challenge is obtaining data from other institutions. This can be accompanied by delays in responses; and sometimes you do not get responses at all. Data can also sometimes be very expensive. NRF-SAEON is trying to bridge that gap with data access, for which I am thankful.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom in academia. Said Dr Mokua, “With the challenges that I’ve mentioned, there have been so many benefits of being part of NRF-SAEON and the NRF as a whole. I’ve been funded by the NRF since my Honours.”

“During this journey I’ve been afforded an opportunity to participate in local and international conferences across Africa, Europe and Asia where I engaged in high impact research, roundtable conversations, and met and worked with established global researchers. One of my favourite things at the moment is being able to share my research with both the scientific and non-scientific communities.”

Dr Sithole, a postdoctoral researcher in Fish Systematics at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), spoke about being part of a team behind the preservation of fish species in South Africa and the continent. NRF-SAIAB has joined forces with international partners to bolster fish taxonomy across Africa.

“Worldwide there’s a scarcity of knowledgeable taxonomists, so much that scientists have even given it catchy phrases such as taxonomic impediments to raise awareness of the problem. However, there is also fear that some of these species may become extinct before we discover or describe them,” said Dr Sithole.

“Therefore, NRF-SAIAB decided that, in addition to raising awareness, it is going to invest in taxonomy by training the next generation of taxonomists in collaboration with retired fish taxonomists and in collaboration with other international institutions. Between 2023 and 2024, NRF-SAIAB has graduated four PhD students in fish taxonomy. These included myself, who’s specialising in marine and freshwater fish taxonomy and my three other colleagues in freshwater fish taxonomy.”

Dr Sithole also reflected on her involvement in the work by NRF-SAIAB and the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation in providing marine fish taxonomy training for African scientists. “Last year we conducted our first taxonomy training in Mozambique, inviting scientists from different countries in Africa. This was done to enable these scientists to identify these species in the field. This year we’ve invited participants from Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya at NRF-SAIAB to further provide training,” she added.

Notably, these reflections highlight the positive role that the NRF has in contributing significantly to developing the next generation of researchers, academics and innovators. This, not only through funding provision but also by granting these scholars access to cutting-edge tools, infrastructure, and mentorship, which are critical for impactful research.