Professor Munro has supervised [S] and co-supervised [CS] the following successful PhD candidates over the last 2 decades:
Dr. Rufaro Razuwika, PhD, 2024 [S]
Dr. Sheldon Sookai, PhD, 2023 [S]
Dr. Danielle van der Westhuizen, PhD, 2021 [CS]
Dr. Kate J. Akerman, PhD, 2014 [S]
Dr. Colin R. Wilson, PhD, 2013 [S]
Dr. Rosanne C. Salmond, PhD, 2012 [S]
Dr. Matthew P. Akerman, PhD, 2011 [S]
Dr. Allen Mambanda, PhD, 2009 [CS]
Dr. Peter Ledwaba, PhD, 2006 [CS]
Dr. Sandra D. Joubert, PhD, 2006 [S]
Dr. Nicole Pearson, PhD, 2005 [S]
Dr. Jan A. Gertenbach, PhD, 2003 [CS]
Professor Munro has supervised [S] and co-supervised [CS] the following successful MSc candidates over the last 2 decades:
Matthew Bracken, MSc, 2023 [S]
Kebuile M. Moseki, MSc, 2021 [S]
Nontokozo Duma, MSc, 2019 [CS]
Daniel J. Speirs, MSc, 2018 [S]
Desigan Moodley, MSc, 2016 [CS]
Victoria Chiazzari, MSc, 2015 [CS]
Justine de Ponte, MSc, 2013 [S]
Malcolm Bartlette, MSc, 2013 [S]
Savannah C. Zacharias, MSc, 2013 [S]
Bradley P. Waldron, MSc, 2008 [CS]
Rosanne C. Salmond, MSc, 2007 [S]
Santham Govender, MSc, 2006 [S]
Felicia Tiba, MSc, 2004 [CS]
Greville L. Camp, MSc, 2003 [S]
The Chair has been fortunate to have had funding to hire and work with the following talented post-doctoral research fellows:
Dr. Hermina de Wit, 2021-2023
Dr. Stefan Coetzee, 2021-2023
Dr. Angelique Blanckenberg, 2019-2021
Dr. Zeynab Fakhar, 2018-2019
Dr. Cathryn A. Slabber, 2016-current
Dr. Nicola J. Brown, 2001-2003
Chair's Message & Expression of Thanks: In all cases, post-doctoral researchers in the group are treated as academic colleagues and get to run their own independent projects (if desired) as well as those of interest to the Chair and group as a whole. Dr. Slabber has been with our group the longest and is the Laboratory Manager. I am indebted to her skills, help, and logistics to keep the laboratory running smoothly and for the many advanced experiments she performs (particularly when I have crazy ideas and am stuck 500 km away from the lab).
Drs. Slabber and Blanckenberg have both lectured for the School of Chemistry and contribute to the mentorship and training of graduate students in the group. Although Dr. Fakhar was with my group for only a short period of time before moving to her next destination, her contribution in terms of computational biology has been significant; Dr. Fakhar is now a collaborator, independent author, and co-author with the Chair. Many more candidates have applied to the group, but we are limited for both space and funding. Furthermore, COVID-19 has meant that at least one deserving candidate was unable to join the group in 2020.
Drs. Stefan Coetzee and Hermina de Wit joined the group in July 2021 to strengthen our capacity in advanced DFT simulations and molecular biology, respectively. Stefan was a "virtual post-doc" and performs all of his simulations on the CHPC (Center for High Performance Computing) in Cape Town, while Hermina performed biophysical work with PCR methods for the laboratory.
Acknowledgement: The Chair thanks the NRF (National Research Foundation) and the University of the Witwatersrand for the financial and research support that they have given to my post-doctoral research fellows.
The Bioinorganic Research Group at WITS University can accommodate around 6 full-time graduate students and 2-3 post-doctoral research fellows. The following people are currently working towards their higher degrees in the group under new supervision (Drs Nowakowska, Mathura, and Prof. Fernandes) due to relocation of the Chair:
Mark Blow, PhD candidate
Letitia Benade, PhD candidate [WITS-UNISA]
The following students completed their theses/dissertations in the last 4 years:
Rufaro Razuwika, PhD thesis
Sheldon Sookai, PhD thesis
Danielle van der Westhuizen, PhD thesis
Matthew Bracken, MSc dissertation
Kebuile M. Moseki, MSc dissertation
Over the last 7 years, numerous Chemistry Honours students have been funded, co-supervised, and/or supervised by the Chair, colleagues and collaborators in the School (or at UKZN), as well as post-doctoral research fellows in the group (notably Dr. Cathryn A. Slabber and Dr. Angelique Blanckenberg). Students who have conducted Honours research projects affiliated in any way with the Chair include the following (all past students have graduated or will do so in the current academic year).
Ms. N. Sarang, 2022
Ms. S. Wright, 2021
Ms. L. Tefu, 2020
Ms. B. F. Magagula, 2020
Ms. V. N. Dyubele, 2020
Mr. S. E. Mbhele, 2020
Ms. N. Makaota, 2019
Ms. A. Vidov, 2019
Mr. K. Somandi, 2019
Ms. M. Rampya, 2019
Ms. B. G. Phorha, 2018
Ms. N. K. Ramunenyiwa, 2017
Ms. T. N. Semeon, 2017
Ms. N. Patel, 2016
Ms. W. Duminy, 2016
Mr. S. M. Maphalala, 2014
Ms. N. N. Nxumalo, 2013
Ms. N. G. Ndlangamandla, 2013