We bring you the final feature in our Postdoctoral Fellows Up Close Series, highlighting scholars from the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences whose work advances materials innovation, environmental sustainability and the application of artificial intelligence to real world challenges.
Today’s scholars’ profiles offer insight into research that is opening new possibilities in environmental remediation, energy conversion, nanomaterials development and computational intelligence. Each bring forward ideas that strengthen scientific understanding while also contributing to practical solutions that support communities and ecosystems.
Dr Wisdom Munzeiwa
Dr Wisdom Munzeiwa, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Physical and Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, focuses his work on advanced functional materials that support environmental remediation, sustainable energy conversion and water quality monitoring. His research spans photocatalysis, biochar-based adsorbents, geopolymers and AI assisted materials optimisation. By integrating materials chemistry, environmental science and digital technologies, he develops low cost and efficient solutions for wastewater treatment and pollutant degradation. Dr Munzeiwa has published more than twenty-five peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters and collaborates with multiple research groups in advancing sustainable materials research and environmental innovation.
Dr Shalene Natalia Bothma
Dr Shalene Natalia Bothma, currently contributing under the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pretoria. Her research is centred on understanding the structure property relationships of organic inorganic hybrid materials and nanomaterials, with a particular interest in tunable photoluminescence and multifunctional applications. Her work contributes to the development of materials with responsive behaviours that support innovation in sensing, imaging and advanced chemical technologies.
Dr Israel Edem Agbehadji
Dr Israel Edem Agbehadji is a distinguished academic and researcher with more than a decade of experience in artificial intelligence, bio inspired algorithms and their application within environmental and socio technical systems. His research focuses on developing computational intelligence models that integrate explainable artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques into environmental monitoring, climate resilience and smart waste management systems. Dr Agbehadji also contributes to capacity building within Africa’s AI research community, supporting sustainable digital transformation and the development of ethical and contextually relevant technological solutions.
We hope this final feature provides a meaningful closing to the series and offers a deeper appreciation of the diverse and impactful research taking place within the SPU community.
