NRF Youth Month 2026: Sentse Oyandi

The NRF is committed to growing South Africa’s next generation of researchers and science communicators. June is Youth Month, and this year the NRF celebrates the youth whose work contributes to meaningful change in South Africa and beyond. We thank all participants for sharing their stories with us.

Ms Sentse Oyandi is a Doctoral student in Chemistry at the University of South Africa (UNISA) with the Institute of Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS). She received funding from the NRF for her BTech and MTech degrees, and is currently funded for her Doctoral studies.

Tell us about your academic journey

My academic journey started with a National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry at iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, formerly known as Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape. After that, I moved to Gauteng, where I completed my BTech and MTech studies in Chemistry at Vaal University of Technology. I am currently a final-year PhD student at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

I decided to study chemistry because I was always curious about how small things can be changed into bigger things and how colours can change from one colour to another. To me, this made the world feel magical and made me want to understand how these changes happen. Growing up, I did not fully imagine that I would follow this exact path, but my interest and curiosity in chemistry guided me to where I am today.

How has your affiliation with the NRF impacted your studies/career?

My relationship with the NRF has played an important role in both my academic journey and my personal life. I first received NRF funding during my BTech studies at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) through the Scarce Skills Award. During my MTech studies, the NRF funded me through the Block Grant. Today, I am funded for my PhD by the NRF through the National Skills Fund (NSF). Having NRF funding allowed me to focus fully on my studies without worrying about finances. It gave me peace of mind and enabled me to work towards my academic goals with confidence.

I remember during my second year of PhD reflecting on my academic journey with NRF and realising how much this support meant to me. I was not born into a privileged family with the financial means to support postgraduate studies. Still, NRF funding made me feel supported and gave me opportunities that I once thought were beyond my reach. It made me feel that my education and dreams mattered.

The NRF bursary also gave me opportunities to attend and present my research at conferences, both locally and internationally. This allowed me to showcase my work, grow academically, and build confidence as a researcher. Like many students, I faced challenges due to limited resources at my institution. However, the NRF funding allowed me to outsource some of my samples to other institutions for analysis, which helped me to continue with my research.

Beyond academics, the NRF funding positively affected my personal life. I believe that a healthy mind needs a healthy body, especially during demanding postgraduate studies. The bursary helped me maintain my well-being as it allowed me to take care of my health, attend the gym, and eat healthier during difficult and stressful periods of my studies. Looking back, NRF funding not only supported my education but also gave me opportunities, confidence, and the ability to dream big about my future.

I am grateful for the support from the NRF. It has helped me never feel out of place or like I do not belong in academic spaces because of my financial background. The NRF support has given me dignity, confidence, and a sense of belonging throughout my studies. It has made me feel seen and supported as a student and as a researcher.

What is your research focus or area of expertise?

My current research focuses on the preparation and modification of activated carbon obtained from potato peels for the remediation of acid mine drainage.

Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental problem caused by mining activities, which leads to acidic water containing high levels of toxic metals and sulphates. In my work, I use potato peels as a low-cost waste material to produce biochar. This biochar is then tested for its ability to treat and remove the toxic metals from acid mine drainage. To improve its performance, I further modified the biochar using polymers and nanoparticles. These modifications are aimed at increasing its efficiency in removing harmful substances from polluted water.

The main goal of my research is to develop an inexpensive, environmentally friendly material to treat polluted water from mining activities and reduce environmental damage.

What purpose drives your research/work, and how do you hope it will contribute to meaningful change?

The purpose of my research is to find an affordable and environmentally friendly way to treat polluted water caused by mining activities, especially acid mine drainage. My work focuses on the use of waste materials such as potato peels to produce activated carbon, which can help clean polluted water. By incorporating polymers and nanoparticles into this activated carbon, I aim to enhance its effectiveness in removing harmful substances from acid mine drainage.

I am driven by the need to turn waste into useful materials and to contribute to cleaner water and a healthier environment. I hope my research can provide an inexpensive and sustainable solution that can be used in real mining areas, especially in communities that are most affected by water pollution.

In the long term, I hope my work can support better environmental management and improve access to cleaner water.

Being a young researcher can be demanding. What keeps you motivated and grounded throughout your journey?

What keeps me motivated and grounded as a young researcher is maintaining balance in my life. I follow a routine that helps me manage my academic work effectively while also making time for activities outside of my research. I don’t let my PhD journey define me. I believe I am more than my PhD. Therefore, I give myself another part of life that is outside my PhD. For instance, every morning, I journal to set the tone for my day. I do declarations and affirmations. I attend the gym, and every Saturday I go hiking. These activities help me relax, clear my mind and manage stress.

Another key part of what keeps me grounded is staying true to my identity while pursuing my PhD. I enjoy fashion and dressing well, and I do not allow stereotypes such as “science students have no fashion sense” to define me. I always rock up in the science lab at my institution dressed up, of course, while strictly adhering to safety measures. This has allowed me to express my identity fully and understand that I can be both a scientist and still express my personal style.

For me, my academic life and my personality are not separate. They exist and flow together. Therefore, staying true to myself has made my PhD journey smooth and manageable. It has helped me navigate challenges with confidence because I see my PhD as something that integrates into who I am, rather than something that changes or replaces me.

I am also supported by my family and my supervisors, who continuously encourage me throughout my academic journey. Their support has been very important, especially during challenging moments in my research, and it helps me stay focused and motivated.

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