Basic HTML Version
15
Makerere (Uganda)). It is concentrated in the areas of
civil engineering, economics, and infectious diseases.
This programme, implemented in 2011, features PhD
training hubs and its own mentoring programme and is
progressing very well, with 45 participants earmarked for
future roles in academic life.
The Research Office’s support for participation in
international research opportunities also gained ground in
2011, notably through an initiative funded by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), aimed at strengthening grant
management skills. This intervention has already enabled
an increase from 11 to 16 NIH awards during the current
reporting period.
In addition, the NIH has awarded the Research Office a
supplementary grant to provide training in international
grants management to colleagues in higher education
institutions in Southern Africa. The partner institutions
have been identified by the NIH and include Moi
University in Kenya, the University of Zambia, Lusaka and
Mbarara University in Uganda. This provides an excellent
opportunity to strengthen UCT’s links with institutions on
the African continent.
In order to meet the eResearch needs of academics at
UCT, the Research Office is working closely with UCT’s
Information and Communication Technology Services to
develop a sophisticated Research Portal, or e-Research
site. This will provide a one-stop shop giving researchers
access to research information, as well as tools and
resources that are available within UCT.
In summary, we continued to consolidate and advance
the work of the Research Office in the past year. Efficient
support from our side requires inclusivity and consultation
with researchers and we greatly value the spirit of mutual
collaboration that continues to shape this partnership.
We are pleased to see our efforts translate into excellent
research performance across the university and we expect
to build on this in the year ahead.
DR MARILET SIENAERT
Director: Research Office
DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Marine ecologist, Dr Deena Pillay of the Department of Zoology, was recognised for his outstanding research as a young
scientist with a UCT College of Fellows award in 2011. Through his current research he is attempting to identify habitats and
species in the Langebaan Lagoon (on South Africa’s west coast) that are most sensitive to human- and climate-induced
changes to the environment, with a view to providing scientific evidence to assist in management and conservation.