The National Research Foundation (NRF) has a long history, dating back to 1984, of instituting a system of evaluating and rating researchers. Annually, researchers from universities and research councils - including international researchers - apply for evaluation by the NRF. Evaluated researchers are put in categories that depict their standing within the scientific community. These ratings are difficult to attain and are thus held in high esteem.
For information about ratings, and the criteria applied to each, visit the NRF website: http://www.nrf.ac.za/
Unisa is proud of all its NRF-rated researchers. One of the portfolio's goals is to provide the support needed for the university's researchers to attain higher ratings, as well as increase the number of NRF rated researchers in general. Not only is support seen as imperative, but numerous incentives are available to those who are rated as further encouragement in their pursuit of excellence.
Below is a list of Unisa's NRF rated researchers within the College of Science, Engineering and Technology with the rating they currently hold:
An A rating is given to researchers who are unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field for high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof D Glasser | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | A1 |
A B rating is given to researchers who enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof D Hildebrandt | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | B1 |
| Prof TA Dube | Mathematical Sciences | B3 |
| Prof SC Ray | Physics | B3 |
A C rating is given to established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity in the field who are recognised by their peers as having:
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof AE Botha | Physics | C1 |
| Prof JD Botha | Mathematical Sciences | C1 |
| Prof MS Dhlamini | Physics | C2 |
| Prof Judy van Biljon | Computing | C2 |
| Prof Hossana Twinomurinzi | Computing | C2 |
| Prof MJ Mphahlele | Chemistry | C2 |
| Prof De Villiers | Computing | C2 |
| Prof LL Jewell(Associate chair- Quality and ECSA Accreditation & Library ) | Chemical Engineering | C2 |
| Prof AT Kuvarega | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof O Ighedo | Mathematical Sciences | C2 |
| Prof EF Doungmo Goufo | Mathematical Sciences | C2 |
| Prof E Mnkandla | Computing | C2 |
| Prof VR Veeredhi (Chairperson of the School Research Committee) | Mechanical Engineering | C2 |
| Prof PM Alexander | Computing | C2 |
| Prof Felix Bankole | Computing | C2 |
| Prof EN Nxumalo | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof MS Dhlamini | Physics | C2 |
| Prof Jan H Kroeze | Computing | C2 |
| Prof X Liu | Research | C2 |
| Prof VS Vallabhapurapu | Physics | C2 |
| Prof TAM Msagati | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof Z Wang | Electrical Engineering | C2 |
| Prof TTI Nkambule | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof LW Snyman | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof Legesse Kassa Debusho | Statistics | C3 |
| Prof BM Mothudi | Physics | C3 |
| Prof M Khumalo | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
| Prof Elmarie Kritzinger | Computing | C3 |
| Prof M Braun | Physics | C3 |
| Prof CC Enweremadu | Mechanical Engineering | C3 |
| Dr I Kamika | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof H Jafari | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
| Prof I Naidoo | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
A Y rating is given to young researchers (40 years or younger) who have held the doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years at the time of application, and who are recognised as having the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period after evaluation, based on their performance and productivity of quality research outputs during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dr TL Botha | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | Y1 |
| Dr Corne Van Staden | Computing | Y2 |
| Prof SJ Moloi | Physics | Y2 |
| Prof Adele Da Veiga | Computing | Y2 |
| Dr C Bhondayi | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | Y2 |
| Dr MJ Madito | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | Y2 |
| Dr CA Agyingi | Mathematical Sciences | Y2 |
| Prof T Matambo | Research | Y2 |
| Prof B Patel (Associate Chair – Higher Degrees) | Chemical Engineering | Y2 |
| Dr L L Noto | Physics | Y2 |
| Prof KEM Krauss | Computing | Y2 |
| Dr G Mamba | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | Y2 |
| Dr N Chimwani | Research | Y2 |
| Prof F Mulenga | Mining Engineering | Y2 |
| Prof PS Mbule | Physics | Y2 |