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Welcome to the School of Life Science
Welcome to the School of Life Sciences, which is located on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses. The School has a staff complement of 144 academic and support staff; houses approximately 1600 undergraduate students; and boasts a postgraduate component of 514, engaged in Honours, Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral research.
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The need to break urban surfaces to restore fish migration
World Fish Migration Day that highlights the plight of migratory species across the globe, was marked globally on 25 May 2024. The Palmiet River Valley Conservancy and the Palmiet River Watch co-hosted a World Fish Migration Day event with UKZN and the Institute of Natural Resources on the Palmiet River...
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Balance is Key for Top Achiever
Ms Rabia Khan graduated summa cum laude with a BSc degree majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics during the recent UKZN Autumn Graduation Ceremonies. She also received the School of Life Sciences Award as the top-third year Genetics student on the Westville Campus for 2023. She is currently pursuing her Honours...
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Study of Estuarine Ecosystem Modelling Earns PhD
Dr Gemma Gerber secured a PhD in Biological Sciences for her thesis titled: Ecosystem Indicator Assessment: Incorporating Uncertainty into Estuarine Ecosystem Models. Geber’s focus on estuarine ecosystems was especially relevant given the growing consensus amongst academics about systems-level research. ‘Estuaries are the habitats where rivers meet the sea,’ said Gerber....
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PhD Biochemist Searches for Improved Cervical Cancer Drug Delivery System
Dr Lorenzo David was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry for his assessment of transferrin-tagged palladium and gold-palladium nanoparticles and their potential for anticancer drug delivery. For David - who did his undergraduate, honours and master’s degrees at UKZN - it was a natural progression to pursue his doctorate at the...
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Camera Trap Research Culminates in Doctorate for Mammalian Ecologist
Dr Craig Cordier’s PhD demonstrated the value of camera traps as a research tool for understanding human impact on forest mammalian communities and capturing data on the activities of rare and elusive species. Cordier focused his research on the southern Afromontane Mistbelt forests in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands which have been...
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Dean & Head of School
Prof Ademola Olaniran
PA/Secretary:
Ms Xoli Shandu
031 260 1545
shandu@ukzn.ac.za
The School of Life Sciences is comprised of caring and enthusiastic lecturers ensure that students emerge highly employable, with a rich university experience and a first-class degree in the Life Sciences to their name.
This field of study encompasses all human, plant and animal life – ranging from microscopic germs to elephants and everything in between. Areas of specialisation within UKZN’s School of Life Sciences include: