Women of UP shine at SA Women in Science Awards
The University of Pretoria (UP) has cemented its position as a powerhouse for women in science, with five exceptional researchers earning recognition at the 2025 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA). The accolades highlight not just individual brilliance, but the University’s commitment to nurturing diverse talent across multiple disciplines.
At the forefront of this achievement stands Dr Maurine Musie, who won the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher Award in Human and Social Sciences. The youngest PhD holder in UP’s Nursing Science Department, Dr Musie has dedicated her career to improving maternal and neonatal health through ground-breaking approaches that blend traditional and modern healthcare practices. Her work with midwives and traditional birth attendants in rural areas addresses real healthcare challenges facing South African communities.
Dr Musie’s impressive portfolio includes 19 peer-reviewed publications and leadership roles spanning from the South African Young Academy of Science to the International Nursing Now Global Committee. Her selection as one of South Africa’s top 10 scientists to represent the country at the BRICS Young Scientist Forum in Russia speaks to her growing international influence. She currently supervises six PhD, 13 master’s and nine honours degree candidates, embodying the spirit of mentorship that defines true academic leadership.
Professor Nombulelo Sepeng secured the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher Award for Public Engagement with Research, a category that recognises scientists who build bridges between research and society. Prof Sepeng’s journey began with an Atlantic Philanthropies scholarship in 2011, and her impact on UP’s Nursing Science Department has been transformative. Under her research leadership, the department achieved unprecedented doctoral training success, graduating 15 PhD students in 2025 alone – the highest number in its history.
Her National Research Foundation (NRF) C2 rating reflects the quality of her scholarly work, which focuses on vulnerable populations including sexual assault survivors, HIV studies, and teenage pregnancy. Prof Sepeng’s approach goes beyond academic research – her community-based initiatives include outreach campaigns, public webinars and school-based awareness programmes that directly improve lives. Her co-authorship of an R850 000 NRF grant to host a national conference on African epistemologies demonstrates her commitment to elevating indigenous knowledge systems.
Professor Lucy Moleleki earned recognition as first runner-up in the Distinguished Woman Researcher category for Natural and Engineering Sciences. Her research on potato–pathogen interactions might seem niche, but it addresses fundamental questions about food security and sustainable agriculture. Prof Moleleki’s work on molecular virulence mechanisms helps farmers and policymakers understand how plant diseases spread and how to combat them effectively.
Since completing her PhD at the University of Dundee in Scotland in 2007 and joining UP in 2009, Prof Moleleki has built an impressive research profile with over 50 peer-reviewed articles, an h-index of 28, and more than 3 000 citations. Her international recognition includes keynote presentations at global conferences and editorial positions on leading journals. She has mentored five postdoctoral fellows, 10 PhD students, and 16 master’s students, creating a ripple effect of scientific excellence.
The University’s success extends to emerging researchers as well. Nadine Du Piesanie, a PhD candidate in Consumer Science, received a DSTI–Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri Doctoral Fellowship for her innovative work on food literacy among Generation Alpha. Her development of ‘Sprouts’, a computer game that teaches food literacy, earned second place at the 2024 International E-Learning Excellence Awards in Porto, Portugal. This creative approach to addressing malnutrition demonstrates how young researchers are thinking differently about persistent social challenges.
Jacqueline Maphutha, a fellowship recipient pursuing a PhD in Medicinal Plant Science, represents the intersection of traditional knowledge and cutting-edge research. Her investigation into indigenous plants’ effects on metastatic melanoma drug resistance showcases how South African researchers are leading global conversations about cancer therapy while honouring traditional healing practices.
The University of Pretoria congratulates these outstanding #WomenOfUP for their excellence in their respective fields of work. Their work contributes to the success of South African researchers who are taking research to new heights.