Senior student researchers and supervisors honoured

Prestigious award: VC Dr Max Price (right) congratulates Pedzisai Maedza (drama) on receiving a Research Associateship Award, one of 25 candidates who were honoured at the awards evening on 7 August. Also in picture is Maedzi's supervisor Dr Veronica Baxter.

Twenty-five postgraduate student researchers, the cream of UCT's master's and PhD candidates, and their supervisors gathered in the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office for the annual Research Associateship Awards last night.

The awards are open to all areas of study and this year's research associates work in a broad range of fields, from information systems and paediatrics and child health to music and law, as well as a spread of science and engineering fields.

The awards also support the university's strategic objective to be a research-led institution.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Danie Visser, also Chair of the Postgraduate Studies Funding Committee, hosted the event and the awards were presented by Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price.

Nomination for a research associateship award is followed by a rigorous review of each candidate's work, progress and contributions to the university's research endeavour. However, the awards are unique in that they acknowledge both students and their supervisors, the latter for their vital support and mentorship.

These one-off awards are also sought-after funding sources that support research and conference travel. Master's Research Associateships are worth R30 000 and Doctoral Research Associateships worth R45 000. (These may be held concurrently with standard National Research Foundation or Medical Research Council bursaries.)

Text Helen Swingler. Picture Raymond Botha