Achievements

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

2024

• Prof Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed as a task team member for IUPAC.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed as a Peer Reviewer for the Design and Implementation Evaluation of the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
• Prof. Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed to contribute her expertise to the National Research Foundation (NRF) as a member of the Specialist Committee. Specifically, she will serve on the Health Sciences Board, focusing on Basic Health.
• Prof. Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed as Guest editor for BIOCELL, under the special Unveiling the Role of Cancer Stem Cells. BIOCELL is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on molecular and cellular biosciences.
• Prof. Heidi Abrahamse has been appointed as Guest editor for Pharmaceutics.
• Prof Nicolette Houreld has been appointed as an Expert Scientific Panel Member for the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Self-initiated Research (SIR) Grants in Vaccines, Diagnostics and Drug Discovery, as well as the One Health.
• Prof Blassan George was appointed as a topic editor for the journal Frontiers in Chemistry, with the research topic ” Metallodrugs in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present and New Strategies “.
• Prof Blassan George was promoted as full professor at UJ.
• Prof. Blassan George has been appointed as the Editor for the esteemed book titled “Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Cancer Therapy and Chemoprevention,” published by Bentham Science.
• Dr. Anine Crous has been appointed as Guest Editor for the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) for the special issue titled “Using 2D and 3D Cell Cultures for Developing Phototherapies Including Photodynamic Therapy and Photobiomodulation.”
• Dr. Anine Crous has been recognized as an expert in her field by SciPinion and has joined their distinguished scientific community.
• Dr Anine Crous applied for the USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival on November 8-10th, 2024, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria: https://userncongress.com/, her application was listed among the top 200 applications of 90000 applicants.
• Dr. Rahul Chandran has been appointed as a Guest Editor for the journal Pharmaceutics for the Special Issue titled “Combination Approaches in Photodynamic Therapies for Cancer.” Published by MDPI.
• Dr. Rahul Chandran has been elected as a member of the Royal Society of Biology.
• Dr. Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar has been appointed as an Associate Editor for the prestigious journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine and Biotechnology, published by Taylor & Francis.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was appointed as an Editorial Board Member of the journal Discover Nano, a journal published by Springer Nature.
• Dr. Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar’s outstanding contributions to advanced materials and technology have been recognized by the award and recognition committee of the International Association for Advanced Materials (IAAM). In honor of his remarkable achievements, Dr. Kumar has been selected to present the Advanced Materials Lecture at the 15th anniversary celebration of IAAM.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary was awarded with a Distinguished Alumni Award from her master’s University  Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, West Bengal State University in Feb 2024.
• Ms Lufuno Nemakhavani participated in the 2023 National Visualize Your Thesis Competition. She had won the people’s choice award in 2024.
• Ms Lindokuhle Hadebe won the Photonics in Biology prize at the SAIP2024 annual conference.
• Mr Alexander Chota became a member of The African Phytomedicine Scientific Society (APSS), for African researchers in the field of ethnopharmacology and medicinal plant research.

2023

• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received the inaugural Higher Education Resource Service of South Africa Lifetime Achiever Award.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received 1st runner-up in the Distinguished Woman Researchers in the Natural and Engineering Sciences Category of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), 2023 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA)
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse was appointed as a guest editor for the journal Pharmaceutics Special Issue “Advances in Cancer Nanotechnology for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy”. 2 Consecutive editions
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse was appointed associate editor for the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse was appointed on the DSI/CSIR BRICS Photonics Working Group and Committee
• Prof Mike Hamblin, a distinguished visiting professor to the LRC was awarded a NRF B2 rating
• Prof Nicolette Houreld was appointed as guest editor for the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences’ special issue “Molecular Research of Photobiomodulation”
• Prof Nicolette Houreld completed the UJ Woman’s Leadership Development Programme and conducted and presented an Action Learning Programme (ALP) to an independent panel. Her group won the TOP ALP.
• Prof Blassan George was appointed as a topic editor for the journal Frontiers in Chemistry research topic ” Metallodrugs in Cancer Therapy: Past, Present and New Strategies “
• Dr Anine Crous was promoted from Lecturer to Senior lecturer in the faculty of health sciences
• Dr Anine Crous was awarded a NRF Y2 rating.
• Dr Anine Crous was appointed as guest editor for the Journal of Visualised Experiments “Using 2D and 3D Cell Cultures for Developing Phototherapies Including Photodynamic Therapy and Photobiomodulation”
• Dr Rahul Chandran was promoted from Lecturer to Senior lecturer in the faculty of health sciences
• Dr Rahul Chandran was appointed as a guest editor for the journal Pharmaceutics Special Issue “Combination Approaches in Photodynamic Therapies for Cancer”
• Dr Rahul Chandran was awarded a NRF Y2 rating.
• Dr Sajan George a visiting researcher from the LRC won best oral presentation and a cash prize equivalent to R1 000 in the Health Sciences category of the international WALT Conference 2023 held in Manipal, India
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was promoted from Lecturer to Senior lecturer in the faculty of health sciences
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was appointed as an Associate Editor for the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine and Biotechnology; Guest Associate Editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology; Review editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology; Guest editor for the Pharmaceutics Special Issue “Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Roles of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Tumor Progression”.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB), UK.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was awarded a NRF C2 rating.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar was appointed as NRF Panel Member for the evaluation of the Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers and Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers funding proposals
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar completed the UJ Emerging Leadership Program 2023
• Dr Dimakatso Gumede has been elected as a UJ PDRF Association member 2023 and will be representing the FHS.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary received the Outstanding Postdoctoral award from the International Photodynamic Association (IPA), Tampere, Finland 2023.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary won awards for competing in the 2023 Poster Design Competition for the U21/UJ SDG awareness month.
• Mr Alexander Chota received the merit award for best presentation at the 14th ALC workshop at Stellenbosch, Cape Town 14 Nov 2023.
• Mr Alexander Chota won an award for competing in the 2023 Poster Design Competition for the U21/UJ SDG awareness month.
• Mr Alexander Chota won the people’s choice award for the Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition held by the UJ RCD postgraduate school. He received a R3000 voucher sponsored by Prof C Aigbavboa from UJ Construction Management & Quantity Surveying.
• Mr Alexander Chota won the people’s choice award at the UJ Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition conducted by the postgraduate School, UJ July 2023
• Ms Daniella Da Silva was awarded the merit prize in the PhD category for her exceptional presentation at the 13th African Laser Centre workshop Stellenbosch 2023
• Ms Lufuno Nemakhavhani won 3rd place for her master’s presentation at the UJ Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition.
• Ms Lufuno Nemakhavhani won the People’s Choice Award at the UJ Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competition.
• Ms Lufuno Nemakhavhani won the master poster presentation award at the international conference OPA 2023

2022

• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received the Basic PDT Research Excellence Award from the International Photodynamic Association. The Basic PDT Research Excellence Award recognizes the significant career contributions of Professor Abrahamse which have advanced PDT development and access in South Africa for LMIC nations.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received an NRF B2 rating. B2 researchers, are those who enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
• Prof Nicolette Houreld was awarded the UJ Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Award: Outstanding Researcher of The Year 2022.
• Prof Blassan George received the 5th Venus International Healthcare Awards – VIHA 2022 for Outstanding Researcher in Biotechnology.
• Prof Blassan George got promoted to Associate Professor at the University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary received the FHS PDRF excellence award. The Postdoctoral Excellence Awards recognizes Postdoctoral Research Fellows’ who have distinguished themselves by their research outputs and academic citizenship at the University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Bhawna Uprety received the FHS PDRF excellence award. The Postdoctoral Excellence Awards recognizes Postdoctoral Research Fellows’ who have distinguished themselves by their research outputs and academic citizenship at the University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Gauta Matlou was selected for the 71st Landau Nobel Laureate meeting dedicated to Chemistry, in Germany 26 June to 1 July 2022.
• Dr Aniogo Eric received the Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans for Science and Technology.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary received 1^st prize for best picture of the year at the LSIF research day hosted by WITS and sponsored by Separations.
• Mr Elvin Chizenga was accepted to attend the Student Leadership Conference (SLC) and Optica Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 15 – 21 October 2022, in New York. Elvin participated in workshops and networking activities focused on professional and career development. The Optica foundation sponsored his attendance.
• Ms Nokuphila W N Simelane awarded The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), a programme unit of (UNESCO- TWAS) – PhD fellowship award.
• Ms Daniella da Silva won 2^nd Prize for her oral presentation in the PhD normal category at the UJ 2022 Annual Postgraduate & Postdoctoral Research Conference.
• Ms Daniella Da Silva won 3^rd prize in the 3MT competition hosted by UJ RCD postgraduate school. She received a R 5000 voucher sponsored by Prof Arotiba Omotayo from UJ Chemical Sciences.
• Mr Alexander Chota won the people’s choice awards for the visualise your thesis competition held by the UJ RCD postgraduate school. He received a R3000 voucher sponsored by Prof Clinton Aigbavboa from UJ Construction Management & Quantity Surveying.
• Mr Alexander Chota received the 2nd Prize for the PhD oral presentation at the 8Th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Africa (NanoAfrica 2022).
• Ms Zaria Malindi won best oral presentation in the Photonics division, subcategory Photonics in Biology at the 2022 SAIP conference. Award sponsored by OPTICA.
• Ms Daniella Da Silva won 1^st prize at the LSIF Research Day hosted by WITS for best oral presentation sponsored by Separations.
• Ms Patricia Kasowanjete received the Vice Chancellors medal for most meritorious study at Master’s level.
• Ms Daniella Da Silva has been awarded membership to the Golden Key International Honours Society for academic merit.

2021

• Ms Asma Shaikh-Kader received the best LRC journal club presentation award.
• Dr Paromita Sarbadhikary was recognised by the LRC for publication in a internationally accredited high impact factor journal.
• Dr Hanieh Montaseri received the LRC certificate of excellence for academic performance at post-doctoral level.
• Ms Nokuphila Simelane received the LRC certificate of excellence for academic performance at doctoral level.
• Mr Nkune Williams Nkune received the LRC certificate of excellence for academic performance at doctoral level.
• Mr Alexander Chota received the LRC certificate of excellence for academic performance at masters level.
• Prof Michael Hamblin was also named on the Clarivate list of Highly Cited Researchers 2021, which identifies researchers who have demonstrated significant influence through publication of multiple papers which are highly cited by their peers.
• Prof Michael Hamblin received Vice-Chancellors Distinguished Award for the highest cited researcher.
• Prof Michael Hamblin was also named on the Clarivate list of Highly Cited Researchers 2021, which identifies researchers who have demonstrated significant influence through publication of multiple papers which are highly cited by their peers.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse recognized as an Expertscape expertise in photosensiting agents worldwide.
• Ms Asma Shaikh-Kader received the best presentation award at the Universitas 21 Health Sciences Group Doctoral student form at Tecnologico Monterrey.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse elected as Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) council member.
• Dr Anine Crous and Dr Eric Aniogo received the UJ Postdoctoral Fellows Research Excellence Award 2021.
• Dr Bhawna Uprety received best comprehensive oral presentation at OSA conference at University of Stellenbosch.
• Dr Gauta Matlou Recipient of Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans Award 2021.
• Ms Daniella Da Silva received a MSc best student poster presentation award for the SAIP conference 2021.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse appointed on SA National Committee for the WHO international EMF Project.
• Ms Ayesha Loonat Chancellors Medal in the Faculty of Health Sciences for most meritorious masters study based on academic excellence.
• Prof Houreld was appointed as the senate representative on the UJ Senate Research Ethics Committee.
• Prof Houreld was appointed as President-Elect for the World Association of photobiomodulation Therapy (WALT) 2020-2023
• Dr Anine Crous received a Zhongmei Chen Yong Award for Scientific Excellence as ISSCR Travel Award for the 2021 ISSCR Annual Meeting.
• Dr Blassan George received NRF Y1 rating.

2020

• Prof. Heidi Abrahamse was appointed by the Minister of Health, Dr ZL Mkhize, MP, on the National Health Research Committee 2020-2023.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse was appointed to serve on the National Research Foundation Reviews and Evaluations standing panel 2020-2023.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received VC distinguished award for the most outstanding researcher of the year 2020.
• Prof Nicolette Houreld was granted full professorship.
• Dr Anine Crous received the Top Achievers award by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for outstanding achievement during the 2019 academic year.
• Mr Sandy Jere awarded the Top Achievers award (Doctorates category) by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for outstanding achievement during the 2019 academic year.
• Mr Aniogo Eric awarded the Top Achievers award (Doctorates category) by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for outstanding achievement during the 2019 academic year.
• Mr Nkune Nkune awarded the Top Achievers award (Masters category) by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for outstanding achievement during the 2019 academic year.
• Dr Hanieh Montaseri received the UJ PDRF Research Excellence awards.
• Dr Anine Crous received the UJ PDRF Research Excellence awards.

2019

• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received the International Photodynamic Association (IPA) 2019 World Congress Humanitarianism Award: to recognize those who have made selfless efforts and personal sacrifices to enhance and promote the science of Photodynamic therapy.
• Mr Eric Aniogo awarded with a “full travel grant” to attend the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Modern Topics in Biophotonics, in São Carlos, SP, Brazil, 20-29 March.
• Ms Channay Naidoo received UJ Golden Key International Honour Society; Charter Award for Superior Scholastic Attainments and Outstanding Academic Merit, 05/09/2019.
• Ms Kelly Joubert awarded 1st place best poster presentation: 06/09/2019: International Symposium on ‘Biophotonics in Cancer: Redefining Trends in Cancer Therapy’, ALC LRC symposium, Johannesburg South Africa.
• Ms Anine Crous awarded 2nd place best poster presentation: 06/09/2019: International Symposium on ‘Biophotonics in Cancer: Redefining Trends in Cancer Therapy’, ALC LRC symposium, Johannesburg South Africa.
• Ms Anine Crous awarded Faculty of Health Sciences, Top Achievers Doctoral Award for outstanding achievement.
• Ms Kelly Joubert awarded Faculty of Health Sciences, Top Achievers Masters Award for outstanding achievement.
• Dr Sandra Ayuk awarded Faculty of Health Sciences, Top Achievers Post-Doctoral Award for outstanding achievement
• Dr Prof Houreld received Best Poster Award in Wound Healing Association of Southern Africa (WHASA)
• Dr Cherie Kruger received University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award for Most Promising Researcher of the Year 2019
• Mr Nkune Nkune received overall best performing LRC Masters student of the year.
• Ms Dimakatso Mokoena received overall best performing LRC Doctorate student of the year.
• Ms Kelley Joubert awarded best Masters journal club presenter of the year
• Mr Eric Aniogo awarded best Doctoral journal club presenter of the year.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar received First place “best picture of the year 2019” competition conducted by LSIF, WITS.
• Dr Vesna Karic received third place “oral presentation” competition conducted by LSIF, WITS.
• Ms Anine Crous: International Scholar Laureate Programme (ISLP) Delegation on Medicine and Science in either Australia or China.
• Mr Eric Aniogo: UJ Finalist in the U21 & PWC Innovation Challenge 2019.

2018

• Miss Channay Naidoo won best masters oral presentation in the Photonics category and Mr Elvin Chizenga won best masters oral presentation in the Applied Physics category at the South African Institute of Physics conference on the 29th June 2018.
• Miss Channay Naidoo and Miss Anine Crous received honorable mentions for best posters at the Laser Frontiers workshop for advanced school on Lasers and their applications, hosted in Brazil on the 27th July 2018.
• Miss Sandra Ayuk received the Best Women of Science Award at the Dynamic Ladyz Diaspora Women’s Award Night Ceremony hosted on the 17 August 2018.
• Mr Aniogo Eric won best oral presentation award at the International Conference of Phytomedicine, Coimbatore India on the 31st August 2018.
• Miss Anine Crous received was a finalist for the University of Johannesburg Three Minute Thesis Competition, in September 2018.
• Miss Channay Naidoo received best oral presentation at Wits Life Sciences Imaging Faculty Research Day hosted on the 24 October 2018.
• Miss Channay Naidoo received best LRC Post graduate student Award for the year of 2017.
• Dr Naresh Kumar Rajendran received best oral presentation at Wits Life Sciences Imaging Faculty Research Day hosted on the 24 October 2018.
• Dr Naresh Kumar Rajendran, Dr. Rahul Chandran and Dr. Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar received the top performed Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Award in the Faculty of Health Sciences, university of Johannesburg on 20 November 2018.
• Prof Houreld: “Treasurer” of the World Association of Laser Therapy for 2014-2018, Interim treasurer for WALT 2018-2019 and was newly elected as vice president for WALT 2018-2020.
• Prof Abrahamse: remains on the executive council of the World Association of Laser Therapy as co-editor in chief of Society associated journal PMLS 2014-2018; Board of the European Medical Laser Association; Director of the International Society for Laser Applications Africa; serves as Senate Representative on the Council of the University of Johannesburg; ASSAf: Committee on Scholarly Publishing in South Africa; UJ Senior Leadership.
• Mr Elvin Chizenga received Faculty of Health Sciences, Special Awards Chancellors Medal for the Most Meritorious Master’s Study for 2018.

2017

• Sandy Jere awarded Overall best performing masters student in the Laser Research Centre.
• Dr Sandra Ayuk awarded Overall best performing Doctoral student in the Laser Research Centre.
• Dr Blassan P George awarded Overall best performing post-doctoral research fellow in the Laser Research Centre.
• Dr Sathish Sundar Dhilip Kumar awarded Claude Leon Foundation post-doctoral fellowship.
• Elvin Chizenga received Second prize for oral presentation at the ALC conference.

2016

• Sandra Ayuk Doctoral Thesis Competition Award: 2nd Place Winner, Faculty of Health Sciences; Deans Merit Award of Distinction; Overall best performing student in the Laser Research Centre.
• Aniogo Eric awarded Overall best performing student, Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Blassan P George awarded Outstanding presentation award at 43rd ISOBM Annual congress; Overall best performing post-doctoral research fellow in the Laser Research Centre.
• Anine Crous received 1st Prize for oral presentation Faculty of Health Sciences 2-Minute Dissertation and 3-Minutes Thesis Competition Programme.

2015

• Dr Blassan P George received Best oral presentation, 3rd International Conference on Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Prof Abrahamse awarded NRF SARChI chair
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse Second runner up, South African Woman in Science Awards
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse Finalist, NSTF-BHP Biliton Award: T W Kambule Awards: Contribution to research and its outputs – over the last 5 to 10 years
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse, nominated for the 2015 International L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards

2014

• Sania Kandanyo received First prize for best oral presentation, MAM-14 conference.
• Sandra Ayuk received Second prize for oral presentation at the ALC conference; doctoral merit award.
• Dr Nicolette Houreld re-elected Treasurer of WALT for 2014-2018
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse Elected Senior Editor of WALT 2014-2016

2013

• Sandra Ayuk received Deans Award-Best Overall Performing Postgraduate student in the LRC, Faculty of Health Sciences, UJ.
• Ivan Mfouo Tynga received Deans Award- Best Overall Performing Postgraduate student, Faculty of Health Sciences, UJ.
• Anine Crous received Best poster, UJ Postgraduate Symposium.

2012

• Sandra Ayuk awarded UJ Faculty of Health Best Overall Performing Postgraduate student
• Sandra Ayuk elected Chairperson for the Adhoc Committee for the ALC Student Chapter
• Sandra Ayuk received Best poster presentation at the ALC Conference.
• Ivan Mfouo Tynga received Best oral presentation at the PDT Conference.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse Elected Past-President of WALT for 2012-2014

2011

• Sandra Ayuk received Merit award; Good leadership; underprivileged student award; University of Johannesburg.
• Dr Nicolette Houreld awarded Best Lecture, International Laser Medicine Congress, International Academy Laser Medicine and Surgery (IALMS)
• Ivan Mfouo Tynga received Best Presentation award at the ALC Symposium.
• Dr Nicolette Houreld received Y2 NRF rating.

2010

• Sandra Ayuk received Merit award, Good leadership, University of Johannesburg.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse, Elected President of WALT for 2010-2012.
• Dr Nicolette Houreld, Elected Treasurer of WALT for 2010-2014.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse, 2010 UJ Faculty of Health Sciences Highest Research Output by a Researcher.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse, 2010 Vice Chancellors Award for Outstanding Researcher of the Year.

2009

• Jennifer de Villiers received Travel award Whitehead Scientific.
• Jennifer de Villiers received Best research paper award in Medical Technology SA.

2008

• Denise Hawkins Evans awarded Best young researcher WALT.
• Prof Heidi Abrahamse elected as Best Performer in the NLC / NRF Rental Pool Programme 2008.

2006

• Bernard Mvula received Best poster presentation Egoli SMLTA Symposium.
• Tina Kresfelder received Best oral presentation Egoli SMLTA Symposium.

2004

• Denise Hawkins and Nicolette Houreld received 2004 Vice Chancellor Special Research Award – Best Postgraduate Student (joint award).

2003

• Prof Heidi Abrahamse received Honorary Award for Contribution to Research and Development.
  o Denise Hawkins and Nicolette Houreld received Best Woman in Science (joint award).