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faculty of SCIENCE
Department of Chemistry
(Including the Centre for Supramolecular Chemistry
Research, the MRC/UCT Drug Discovery & Development
Research Centre and the Scientific Computing Research
Unit)
Head of Department: Professor Allen L.
Rodgers
Departmental Profile
The research activities of the department reflect the wide
range and scope of the traditional sub-disciplines of
inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, sustained by
analytical, spectroscopic and computational methodology.
The four main research focus areas are synthetic and
medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, transition
metal chemistry as well as biophysical and structural
chemistry. Programmes are devoted to fundamental and
applied chemical research, and to interdisciplinary studies
in which chemistry plays a key role. Synthetic studies are
carried out in organic, organometallic and co-ordination
chemistry, in order to develop and apply new methodology,
and to prepare biologically active compounds, novel
catalysts and components of new materials. These studies
also provide tools for analytical and separation science,
and models for advanced structural and conformational
studies. Molecular structure determination with the aid
of spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques are
two areas of specialisation in the department. The latter
technique is employed extensively in investigations into
inclusion compounds, polymorphism and related solid-state
phenomena. Computational chemistry is a leading area of
specialization supported by several state of the art LINUX
clusters. Computer code development and modelling
applications of biological and industrial problems play a
key role in many of the Department’s research programmes.
The research enterprise of the Department of Chemistry has
recently been recognized and significantly enhanced by
the establishment of a Signature Theme in Drug Discovery
in which several staff members are participating and by
the appointment of two of its permanent staff members
to DST/NRF South African National Research Chairs
- Professor Kevin Naidoo in
Scientific Computing
and
Professor Kelly Chibale in
Drug Discovery
. These highly
prestigious appointments have raised the Department’s
international research profile significantly and contribute
substantially to its research outputs.
TheDepartment of Chemistry alsohas threeUCT-accredited
research units –
the Centre for Supramolecular Chemistry
Research, the MRC/UCT Drug Discovery & Development
Research Centre and the Scientific Computing Research
Unit
– which add further prestige to its stature as one of the
leading chemistry departments in Africa.
Departmental Statistics
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Professors
8
Associate Professors
4
Senior Lecturers
3
Lecturers
4
Scientific Officers
5
Technical Officers
9
Research Staff
5
Support Staff
9
Administrative and Clerical Staff
7
Total
54
Honorary Staff
Emeritus Professors
4
Honorary Research Scholar
1
Honorary Research Associates
3
Total
8
Students
Postdoctoral
19
Doctoral
52
Master’s
28
Honours
14
Undergraduates
1591
Total
1704
Research Fields and Staff
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Professor Susan A. Bourne
Inclusion chemistry; crystallography; thermal analysis.
Professor Mino R. Caira
Solid state chemistry; drug polymorphism; drug
pseudopolymorphism; drug-cyclodextrin inclusion; drug
complexation; co-crystallization; drug enantiomeric
separation.
Professor Kelly Chibale
Organic synthesis; medicinal chemistry.
Associate Professor Bette Davidowitz
Chemical education; curriculum design; writing and
communication within the discipline.
Professor Timothy J. Egan
Bioinorganic chemistry of the malaria parasite.