Research and Internationalisation Office
Director Research and Internationalisation Office
Dr Thembekile Ncube is the Director for Research and Internationalisation Office. She is the first female academic to hold the post. Previously she was the Chairperson of the Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry, where she has been lecturing and supervising undergraduate and MSc students since 2003. Dr Ncube holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Limpopo, MSc in Microbiology (University of Fort Hare), a BSc Honours in Applied Biology and Biochemistry (NUST) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (NUST). In May 2009, she was a Trainee in Fermentation Technology Unit at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research in Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr Ncube has also lectured Food Hygiene and Food Microbiology to Diploma students at the Bulawayo Polytechnic College. She is the Founder and Vice-Chairperson of NUST Women in Science, Technology and Leadership group, which is concerned with the advancement of womenacademically as well as in research, innovation and leadership. She is also the Founder and team leader of the Environmental Biotechnology Research Group whose focus is application of microbes in cleaning up polluted environments, utilization of waste materials for biofuels, bio-fertiliser production, and bio-mining technologies. She is the Co-Founder of the Girls Support Girls initiative, which motivates the girl-child in STEM- related careers as well as girl-child related health issues. Dr Ncube is an award-winning researcher and reviewer of several journals including the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Zimbabwe Journal of Science and Technology and International Journal of Environmental Science. She is a recipient of the Presidential Postgraduate Scholarship, PhD Africa Scholarships (National Research Foundation), 2019 IVLP Women in STEM leadership award (US) and Research grant from Research Council of Zimbabwe (2020-2022). Dr Ncube is a member of various boards including the NUST Council, Pig Industry Board and Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Society of Zimbabwe.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop and review academic research and innovation strategic plans, policies, procedures and systems.
- Introducing an enhanced research support and management structure that can deliver the strategic plans with a coherent and effective approach.
- Identify and exploit alternative sources of research funding.
- Develop a focused University wide interdisciplinary research culture and agenda.
- Deliver and disseminate impactful research and introduce research mentorship programmes for junior academic staff and early career researchers.
- Identify research output so as to encourage entrepreneurship and commercialization.
- Provide leadership on the internationalisation of research activity at NUST with institutions within the SADC region and abroad.
Meet Your Office Staff
Dr Paul MakoniChief Research Officer
He holds a BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences, an MSc in Tropical Biology and Fisheries both from the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD in Zoology from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. For his PhD research he investigated the potential of using biological methods to control vector borne diseases in Africa. Dr Makoni has attended an advanced course on research methodology at the then Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory and has 20 years of research experience. From 1995 to 2000 he was the Curator of Ichthyology at the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe. His duties then included carrying out fish surveys in water bodies around Zimbabwe, advising communal and commercial farmers on fish farming issues. From 2000 to 2003, he was a Medical Researcher in the Ministry of Health and Child Care where he conducted research in vector borne diseases in Zimbabwe. He has lectured to both undergraduate and 9 postgraduate students at NUST and Midlands State University. Currently he is a Chief Research Officer in the Research and Internationalisation Office. His responsibility entails searching and alerting researchers on available funding opportunities, pre-award process, conducting training for researchers and postgraduate students to improve their research skills capacity and providing advice on issues of research to academic staff and postgraduate students. He has run regional and international courses on research methodology over the years. Dr Makoni has successfully supervised several Masters students and 3 PhD students.
Mrs Cindrella DubeResearch Board
Ms Julia MabviraChief Secretary