Coveted NRF P-rating win for emerging UCT researchers

Dr Itumeleng Monageng, an astrophysicist at the University of Cape (UCT) and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), and Dr Mubeen Goolam, a senior lecturer in the Department of Human Biology and the Neuroscience Institute at UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, were recently awarded the prestigious P-rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF). This accolade not only celebrates their remarkable achievements but also paves the way for their emergence as future international leaders in their respective fields.

The NRF rating structure is at the heart of building a globally competitive science system in South Africa. While voluntary, it benchmarks researchers in the country against the world’s best, encouraging the publication of first-rate work in leading journals and through other high-impact platforms.

UCT is proud to be home to seven of the country’s 18 P-rated researchers, a rare and remarkable distinction in the research landscape. P-ratings are awarded to emerging scholars, each holding a doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years, with exceptional research outputs.

Physical sciences pioneer – Dr Itumeleng Monageng

Dr Monageng is making waves in astrophysics with his groundbreaking research on interacting binary stars. Using data from powerful telescopes, Monageng delves into the physical processes of these stellar systems, shedding light on the mysteries of the universe. His passion for astrophysics started at UCT where he completed his undergraduate studies in 2010. He continued his journey with an MSc in the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP).

After earning his PhD in 2018, he joined the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) operations team, where he performed a service observing for an international research community. He later held a post-doctoral position at the NRF-SAAO where he continues his research on interacting stellar systems.

“I am honoured to receive the NRF P-rating. Not only is it a great recognition of my hard work and dedication, but also the invaluable support from my colleagues and collaborators. This has motivated me to continue being committed to my academic work,” said Monageng of his latest achievement.

Since 2017, he has co-authored 38 publications, earning him several prestigious accolades, including recognition as one of the top 20 young scientists at the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings as well as the College of Fellows Young Researcher Award. Beyond his research he is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of scientists by supervising several postgraduate students.

No stranger to participating in media initiatives to share his passion for astronomy, Monageng engages with fervour about public education and outreach and organising educational events.

“They remind us that science isn’t just about contributing to global knowledge production – it’s about impacting lives.”

Innovating for stem cell research – Dr Mubeen Goolam

Dr Goolam journeyed from a BSc in Genetics and Microbiology at UCT to leading groundbreaking stem cell research. His early work in stem cell differentiation and cell fate decisions led to significant advancements, including publications in both Cell and Nature Methods.

After his PhD at Cambridge, where he was a Wellcome-funded postdoctoral fellow, Goolam received a prestigious Junior Research Fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford, studying maternal-foetal interactions. Despite a challenging return to South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded the BrainStem Initiative at UCT’s Neuroscience Institute in 2020. Goolam’s lab focuses on developing African-specific organoid models of the central nervous system to better inform diagnosis and treatment of priority health challenges.

“Stem cell-based organoids have the potential to revolutionise disease modelling. It is critical that we bring the promise of this technology to the African continent,” said Goolam.

With 14 high-impact publications and having held numerous prestigious roles, including serving on the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports as well as on the executive committee of the South African Young Academy of Science, Goolam is a rising star in his field. His long-term vision is to establish the African neural organoid model as a leading system for studying neurological disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to contribute to the elevation of African neuroscience to international prominence.

The achievements of the newly P-rated researchers reflect the high calibre of emerging talent at UCT.

As Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, Professor Jeff Murugan, expressed: “Beyond the groundbreaking work in astrophysics and stem cell research, what stands out is their commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists and their deep connection to homegrown innovation. These young researchers remind us that science does not stop at contributing to global knowledge production – it’s about impacting lives. We look forward to seeing how their journeys continue to uplift others, both in the lab and beyond.”

This year’s NRF Awards ceremony recognised Monageng and Dr Jan Buys. Dr Buys received his award for his pioneering research in machine learning. Goolam will be formally recognised at next year’s NRF Awards ceremony.