Purpose

To stimulate research and research related scholarly activities, and to recognise an exceptional young staff member engaged in research and more general scholarly activity.

Eligibility

Staff members who are under 40 years (i.e. 40 and below) of age on 31 December in the year in which they apply or are nominated. In exceptional strongly motivated cases, the selection committee may at its discretion consider candidates who are over 40 years of age, but who are under 43 years (i.e. 43 and below) of age on 31 December in the year in which they apply or are nominated, provided that they have been in possession of their PhD degree for 5 years or less and have made exceptional progress in their research careers during this period.

They shall be of exceptional quality in relation to peers at their stage of career, and proven achievement with standing records of scholarship.

Nominees or applicants should normally have been employed at Rhodes University for a continuous period of at least five years (in a permanent or contract capacity), and must be a currently serving member of staff at the time of nomination or application (i.e. past staff members will not be eligible).

Nominations

Permanent staff members may nominate candidates. Such nominations should be confidential if possible. In addition, staff members may apply to be considered.

Nominations and applications must be accompanied by:

• curriculum vitae of the nominee or applicant;
• details of publications, reviews of publications (or cited references) and other evidence of distinction;
• the names of three referees.

Considerations of nominations

The committee will:

• Invite referees to comment on, inter alia, whether the candidate is exceptional and worthy of being considered, whether the candidate is recognised as being one of the most outstanding people in the age group and, in respect of publications, the quality and depth, the standing within the discipline concerned, and the international and/or national standing;
• take into consideration not only the work on which candidates have established their reputations at Rhodes University, but also work done elsewhere;
• regard "research" in the broader sense to mean all creative endeavours including the performing arts and the fine arts;
• not be required to recommend an award if in its view the nominations and applications are not sufficiently outstanding to warrant an award.

Value of award

R40 000-00 or such other amount as may be determined by the University Council on the recommendation of the Research Committee.

The total amount awarded will be subject to income tax even if transferred into a special research account.

Closing date

Nominations for the 2025 awards will be announced later in the year.  

Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR: RESEARCH, INNOVATION & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Recipients

2024: Professor D Brown, Department of Computer Science

2023: No Award

2022: Professor I Paterson, Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology & Entomology

2021: Professor P Mashazi, Department of Chemistry

2020: No award

2019: Professor G Thondhlana, Department of Environmental Science

2018: Professor C Khene, Department of Information Systems

2017: Professor F Botha, Department of Economics and Economics History and Prof Sally Matthews, Department of Political and International Studies

2016: Professor D Nkomo, School of Languages and Literature and Professor Julie Coetzee, Department of Botany

2016: Professor J Coetzee, Department of Botany

2015: Professor AL Edkins, Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology

2014: Professor B Irwin, Department of Computer Science

2013: Professor J Snowball, Department of Economics and Economic History

2012: No nominations

2011: Dr S Vice, Department of Philosophy

2010: Professor J Limson, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology?

2009: Professor R Simbao, Department of Fine Art

2008: No award

2007: Dr J Burgess, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, & Biotechnology

2006: Dr M L Chithambo, Department of Physics & Electronics

2005: Professor M Hill, Department of Zoology and Entomology

2004: No award

2003: Professor T Booth, Department of Ichthyology & Fisheries Science

2002: Professor W Sauer, Department of Ichthyology & Fisheries Science

2001: Dr R Meintjes-van der Walt, Department of Law

2000: Dr. N Barker, Department of Botany

1999: Ms B Clark, Department of Law

1999: Dr W Froneman, Department of Zoology & Entomology

1998: Dr E Nel, Department of Geography

1997: Dr EA Pakhomov, Department of Statistics

1996: Dr M Davies-Coleman, Department of Chemistry

1995: No award

1994: Professor P Clayton, Department of Computer Science

1993: Professor R Midgley, Department of Law

1992: Professor R Bernard, Department of Zoology & Entomology

1991: Professor C McQuaid, Department of Zoology & Entomology

 

Last Modified: Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:54:51 SAST