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Academic Staff


Secretary: Ms Sihle Portia Ntetha
Tel:  031 373 2300 / 2309
Email: SihleN3@dut.ac.za
Location:  S10 Level 3
Campus:  Steve Biko Campus
Qualification & Institution: BBA Degree (MANCOSA)

Prof N Deenadayalu Professor & Head of Department: Prof N Deenadayalu
Tel:
031373 2781
Email: NirmalaD@dut.ac.za
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
Qualification & Institution:
PhD Chemistry (UND) 
ORCID: 0000-0002-6278-1020 https://ORCID: 0000-0002-6278-1020
Research Gate: B-6335-2008 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nirmala_Deenadayalu
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?hl=en&user=-HhiWKcAAAAJ 
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Bio:  I have 27 ½ years academic experience as a Demonstrator, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate and Full Professor. The latter position I have held since Dec 2011. I have published 79 peer-reviewed journal articles.Together with my post graduate students the research group has presented 82 national and international conference poster or oral presentations. I have graduated 4 PhD and 18 Masters students and supervised 5 post- doctoral fellows. I’m currently supervising 4 PhD and 3 Masters students and am a NRF C2 rated scientist. Readmore

Bisetty Professor: Prof K Bisetty
Tel: 031 373 2311 / 076 260 6472
Email: bisettyk@dut.ac.za
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
NRF Rated Researcher
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4778-2313
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Krishna_Bisetty  
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?hl=en&user=skntSKQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate 
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) (UDW), UHDE (UDW), NH Dip (MLST), MSc (UN), PhD (UN)
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Bio: Prof Krishna Bisetty is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Durban University of Technology (DUT). As an NRF C1 rated scientist and an experienced science educator with 30 years of teaching experience at DUT, he is currently managing and leading the “Computational Modelling and BioAnalytical Chemistry” research group with a strong national and international collaborations. He is a co-author of over 100 international papers, 10 book chapters, a supervisor to over 20 masters and doctoral students and more than 6 postdoctoral fellows. He served on several Conference Organizing Committees and his work presented at local and international conferences. Readmore

Prof G G Redhi Emeritus Professor: Prof G Redhi
Tel: 031 373 2936
Email: redhigg@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Level 3
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6278-1020
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gan_Redhi 
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=-OIEwvYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao  
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Subject Expertise: Chemistry 1; Physical Chemistry II; Physical Chemistry III; Analytical Chemistry II; Analytical Chemistry III; Analytical Chemistry Practicals III; Chemical Industry Practical; Chemistry Project CP3; Physical Chemistry IV; Chemistry Project IV.
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Academic Interests: Physical Chemistry and its application to solve real world problems. Electroanalytical chemistry and its application to industry related problems.
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Research and Innovation focus: Thermodynamics of liquid mixtures with special emphasis to the petroleum fuel industry, as well as correlation and modeling of experimental data.

Prof RM Gengan Professor: Prof R M Gengan
Tel:
 031 373 2309
Email: genganrm@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Level 3
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1643-9977
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Gengan
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=PBlnOsQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra 
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Subject Expertise: 
Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry III , Organic Chemistry IV, Analytical Chemistry Practical III. 
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Academic Interests: Interpretation of novel organic compounds by hyphenated techniques., viz., GC-MS, IR, UV, NMR.
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Research and Innovation focus: Natural Product Chemistry 
Isolation and characterization of natural products from indigenous plants. Determination of biological activity of natural products..
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Microwave Assisted Synthesis

Using microwave enhanced organic synthesis technology across the pharmaceutical, polymer, fine and agro-chemical industries.

Professor: Prof Ajay Kumar Mishra
Tel: 031 373 2374
Email: AjayM@dut.ac.za
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
Qualification & Institution: Bachelor (BSc) and master degree (MSc) from UP. MPhil and PhD in Chemistry Delhi University   
Area of Expertise: Nanomaterials, Nanocomposites, Wastewater research, Functional & advanced materials

Bio: Prof Ajay Kumar MishraMSc, MPhil, PhD, CSci, FRSC is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Durban University of Technology (DUT). He is NRF C2 rated scientist and an experienced science educator with 20+ years of research/teaching experience at various institution in South Africa and DUT. Prof Mishra have been the group leader of the Nanomaterials, Nanocomposites and wastewater research group with a strong national, international and industrial collaborations. Prof Mishra has published more than 160 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and also represented in 150+ or more papers in various conferences. He has edited more than 35+ books and contributed over 65 book chapters in various peer reviewed edited books by established publishers. He has also delivered more than 119 plenary/keynote/invited/guest lectures in various research institutions/universities/ conferences/seminars/workshops. Prof Mishra has hosted many international visiting researchers and visited several universities globally. He has successfully graduated 13 PhD’s, 22 Master’s students. Recently, Prof Mishra have been named on a list of the top 2% of the most-cited scientists in various disciplines globally (2019-2022). Prof He has attained considerable national and international recognition, as well as awards including “Fellow member” and “Chartered Scientist” by Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and Chancellor’s Prize (Unisa) for excellent achievement in research. Prof. Mishra also serving as Associate Editor as well as member of the editorial board of many peer-reviewed international journals and books and scientific societies.

Academic Interests:

Nanomaterials, Nanocomposites and wastewater research
Research Links: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3743-8669
Web of Science/ Researcher ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-4668-2015
Scopus ID: http://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.url?authorId=55445633100
Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=5Um1GE4AAAAJ&hl=en

Readmore


Paul Senior Lecturer: Dr V Paul
Tel:
 031 373 2305
Email: vimlap@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Level 3
Campus: Steve Biko Campush 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6411-2699 
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vimla_Paul
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Xdrao7sAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Qualification & Institution: PhD, Durban University Of Technology 
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Bio: My passion is teaching of chemistry to undergraduate and post graduate students. I conduct the selection of first year students for the Diploma in Analytical Chemistry program. I am also the departmental marketing rep. My research area is on the synthesis of biomaterials from renewable resources (agricultural wastes). I supervise masters and doctoral students in this research area. I have strong collaborations with CSIR working on joint projects. I have peer reviewed research papers for international journals..
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Academic Interests: Teaching and learning, Research, First year student selection. Readmore

Senior Lecturer: Dr S Ncube
Tel:
031 373 2300
Email: SomandlaN@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Level 3
Campus: Steve Biko CampusGoogle Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=somandla+ncube
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191162956
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Somandla-Ncube 
Qualification & Institution: BSc(Hon), MSc (Cum laude), PhD (Wits University)

Area of Expertise: Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Bio: Somandla does research in Environmental Analytical Chemistry with interests in sample preparation and determination of pollutants of emerging concern in both environmental, plant and food samples. Most of his studies involve development of new and/or advancement of current sample preparation techniques and analytical methods for application in trace analysis of pollutants in complex matrices. As a lecturer, he offers modules on chemical quality assurance and analytical chemistry with a special focus on chromatographic techniques.


Lecturer: Dr Siyabonga S. Ndlela
Qualification & Institution: PhD (UKZN)
Tel: 031 373 2315
Email: SiyabongaN8@dut.ac.za
Campus: Steve Biko Campus

Area of Expertise: Inorganic Chemistry, Heterogeneous Catalysis
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Bio: Dr Ndlela is an inorganic chemistry lecturer and a researcher in the field of industrial catalysis. He has a well-built educational and professional background, withan experience from working in the higher education sector, both as an academic and in administration. Dr Ndlela is involved in the supervision of postgraduate students (Advanced Diploma and Masters) with the research focus in the synthesis and design of environmental benign catalytic systems for the transformation of low value organic substrates to value added products. Readmore


Thabang Mokhothu Senior Lecturer: Dr TH Mokhothu
Tel: 031 373 6061
Email: thabangM1@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Level 3
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5147-7365
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thabang_Mokhothu
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=0vPbI_8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao  
Qualification & Institution: PhD, Polymer Science, University of the Free State
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Area of Expertise: Polymer Science
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Bio: I am currently working as a senior lecturer in the department, teaching inorganic chemistry and analytical chemistry III: Molecular spectroscopy. I am currently involved in numerous research projects focusing on the application of inorganic metal oxides, biomass and polymers to address environmental pollution of heavy metals in wastewater. I am also involved in post-graduate supervision and supervision of students in industry under the Work Intergraded Learning (WIL) programme. Readmore

Lecturer: Dr P Ntola
Tel: 031 373 2299
Email: pinkies@dut.ac.za
Location: S10, Room 31
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8964-1984  
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Pinkie_Sobantu 
Qualification & Institution: PhD Chemistry UKZN
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Area of Expertise: Catalysis, Heterogeneous catalysis, Material science, Electron microscopy, Paraffin oxidation.  

Bio: My research field is Catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis. The focus is mostly on in-depth characterization of heterogeneous catalysts, specifically metal oxides. Emphasis has been on the synthesis using novel techniques and characterization using XRD with Rietveld refinement and a significant focus on electron microscopy. This looks into the materials science aspect. Applications for these materials include oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes using molecular oxygen. I am also involved in the department as a Work intergraded learning (WIL) coordinator and a secretary of the chemistry department advisory board. My active engagement in the co-ordination of Work Integrated Learning with the Chemical & Allied Industries at a regional and national level also entails being a liaison between the University and the Chemical industry in South Africa, organizing and planning advisory board meetings, establishing new relations with industry and placing students in industry for the completion of their diplomas.Academic Interests: Synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts, Materials science, Electron microscopy, XRD and Rietveld refinement, Paraffin oxidation. My teaching portfolio involves Analytical Chemistry I, Analytical Chemistry Practical III, Applied Inorganic Chemistry, Inorganic chemistry IV, and Inorganic chemistry V. Readmore


Myalo Sabela Lecturer: Dr MI Sabela
Tel: 031 373 2308
Email: myalos@dut.ac.za
Subject Expertise: Physical Chemistry
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4728-1511
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Myalowenkosi_Sabela
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=aRw9jzcAAAAJ&hl=en 

Talent Makhanya Lecturer: Dr Talent Raymond Makhanya
Tel: 031 373 2313
Email: talentm@dut.ac.za 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5916-4312
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Talent_Makhanya2 
Qualification & Institution: PhD (DUT)
Area of Expertise: Organic Chemistry (Synthesis and Natural Product)
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Bio: Dr Makhanya joined the department of Chemistry in 2018 and is a Lecturer. His research interest include designing, synthesis and characterization of organic molecules (heterocyclic) which belong to these classes: naphthyridines, pyrazoles, fused indole-pyrazoles, coumarin pyrazole and amino-phosphonates. He evaluate their biological effect by assessing the anti-microbial, anti-mosquito, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. His interest further lie in development of new green methodology and rapid synthesis of potentials drugs using multicomponent approach. Readmore

Lecturer: Dr Lethiwe D Mthembu
Email:
lethiwem@dut.ac.za 
Qualification & Institution:
BTech (MUT). MAppSc and PhD (DUT).
Type of employment:
Contract
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Area of Expertise:
Biomass processing
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Bio:
Dr Lethiwe Mthembu interest in biomass processing. She completed her BTech at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). And her MAppSc and PhD at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Currently is a Postdoctoral Fellow at DUT funded by NRF PDF scarce skills. Her project title is Synthesis of Novel Ionic Liquids Subsequently Determination Thermophysical Properties and their Application in Environmentally Friendly Production of Top Value-added Chemicals from Biomass (Sugarcane Bagasse). She has published 8 articles and 2 book chapters, and her work has been presented at several international (Japan, Bangkok, and France) and local conferences (Durban and Pretoria). She went to two research visits (India and German). She currently co-supervising a masters and a PhD Students. She has received several awards including L’Oreal-UNESCO fellowship for Women in Science in Subharan Africa, Gagasi FM SHERO, and SACI Sasol Post-Graduate.

Lecturer: Dr. Sindisiwe F. Shange
Tel: 031 373 2302
Email: sindisiwem@dut.ac.za 
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3100-4915
Qualification & Institution: PhD (DUT)
Type of employment:: Contract
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Area of Expertise:Environmental chemistry and Nanoscience
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Bio: Dr Sindisiwe’s research interests are materials chemistry and nanotechnology with focus in environmental remediation. Her research focusses on the syntheses of new ligands and their integration with metal nanoparticles of silver and gold as a colorimetric sensors to detect potent and hazardous metal ions for elementary detection. The research work compiled as an original one supported by both qualitative and quantitated characterization for synthesized metal nanoparticles, ligands and their colorimetric evaluations as industrialized sensors. She was a South African Chemical Institute (SACI) Postgraduate student representative.

Lecturer: Dr B Kabane
Tel: 031 373 2936
Email: BakuseleK@dut.ac.za 
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5067-7333
Qualification & Institution: PhD (DUT)
Research Gate:: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bakusele-Kabane
Area of Expertise: Physical Chemistry (III, IV and V) and Electroanalytical Chemistry III
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Research Focus:: Thermodynamics of liquid mixtures and their correlation, separation of azeotropes and desulfurization utilizing ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents with special emphasis to the fuel industry.

Academic Interests: Physical Chemistry and its application to solve the industrial separation problems.


Senior Technicians

Mr N Ramnarayan Mr N Ramnarayan 
Tel: 031 373 2715
Email: nareshr@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): ND, MBA
Qualification & Institution: ND: Analytical Chemistry; DUT
Area of Expertise: Analytical Chemistry

Gwamanda Senior Technician: Mrs Cleopatra Tebogo Gwamanda 
Tel: 031 373 5317
Email: cleopatrag@dut.ac.za
Location: MLS campus, Abdul Hameed Building, 1st floor, AJ 0208O
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
Qualification & Institution: BTech Laboratory Management, TUT
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Area of Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, Chromatography, Laboratory Management
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Bio: I have more than 20years working in the chemistry field which include Environmental Engineering, Environmental Wastewater, Pharmaceuticals and Academic. My widespread experience makes me more versatile in problem solving in the laboratory work and the management of it.

Laboratory Technicians

Ms D Naicker Mrs D Naicker
Tel: 031 373 6320
Email: pillayd@dut.ac.za
Location: S10 Level 5
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
Qualification(s): BTech
Area of Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Mr R Ramkrepal Mr R Ramkrepal
Tel: 031 373 5523
Email: ramkrepr@dut.ac.za
Location: Abdul Hamid, 2nd Floor
Campus: ML Sultan
Qualification(s): BTech

Ms N P Cele Ms N P Cele
Tel: 031 373 2303
Email: nompumelelos@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): MTech

Mr S Sithole Mr Sandile Sithole
Tel: 031 373 2343 / 6322
Email: sandiles@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): Diploma in Analytical Chemistry.
Area of Expertise: Laboratory Technician 

Ms N M Xhakaza Mrs Nokukhanya Mavis Xhakaza
Tel: 031 373 2649/3004
Email: nokukhanyam@dut.ac.za
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4754-8546
Research Gate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nokukhanya_Xhakaza
Qualification(s): MTech Chemistry, DUT
Area of Expertise: Electro analytical Chemistry

Mr S Mjola Mr SL Majola
Tel: 031 373 2340
Email: sandilem2@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): BTech

Miya Mr ZI Miya 
Tel: 031 373 5257
Email: zamokwakhem@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): BSc (Hons)

SS Zunngu Pic Ms SS Zunngu
Tel: 031-373 5521/5272
Email: silindilez@dut.ac.za
Qualification & Institution: MAppSci (DUT)
Campus: ML Sultan Campus.
Area of Expertise: Polymer Science
Subject of Expertise: (Practicals)- Physical Chemistry,
inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical
Chemistry (HPLC, GC, AAS and ICP-OES) and Wet
Chemistry.

Mr T N Cele Mr  T N Cele
Tel: 031 373 2343
Email: nyangac@dut.ac.za
Qualification(s): BTech

Lab Assistants

Mpungose Ms N N Mpungose
Tel:
031-373 5313
Email: nondumisoM1@dut.ac.za
Campus: ML Sultan Campus
Qualification & Institution: BTech(DUT)
Area of Expertise: Laboratory Assistant

 


Mr Thand-kwazi Cyprian Bekezela
Tel:
(031) 373 2342
Email: Thand-KwaziK@dut.ac.za
Area of Expertise: Laboratory Assistant

 


Mr Ayanda Peacefully Shabangu
Tel:
031 373 3004
Email: ayandas2@dut.ac.za
Position : Laboratory Assistant(Permanent staff)
Campus: Steve Biko Campus
Qualification & Institution: BTech
Area of Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, Electro-Analytical Chemistry (using Nanoparticles and ionic liquid to fabricate a BIO-sensor for the detection of anti-cancer Drug(MTX)