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Welcome to Dr Clement Nyirenda – Director of eResearch

The eResearch Office has the pleasure to welcome Dr Clement Nyirenda, its new Director as of August 1st, 2023.

Dr Clement Nyirenda was a Senior Lecturer and acting Head of Department in the Computer Science, while highly active in interdisciplinary research projects, collaborating with various departments at UWC. His past partnership with the eResearch Office in supporting the University’s data intensive research initiative has been emphasized by his academic commitment for research, teaching and leadership roles.

We are looking forward to his leadership, skills and expertise in advancing the eResearch agenda at UWC.

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UKUDLA: Call for postdoctoral fellowship applications for 2025

Call for postdoctoral fellowship applications 2025

The African German Centre of Excellence for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems and Applied Agricultural and Food Data Science (UKUDLA) invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships in the area of sustainable, resilient food systems and data science. Fellowships will be awarded for a period of 24 months. The fellowship is financed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

About UKUDLA

UKUDLA’s mission is to empower a new generation of scientists through advanced training in agri-food systems and applied data science. The programme supports academic development, encourages mentorship, and fosters collaboration across African and German institutions.
The fellowship programme contributes to:
• Increasing research capacity in food systems and data science within Sub-Saharan Africa
• Strengthening regional and institutional academic networks
• Promoting research that is responsive to local challenges and aligned with global standards
• Enhancing knowledge exchange between African and German partners

Research Focus Areas

Fellows will conduct independent research within the themes of:
• Sustainable and resilient food systems
• Agricultural and food data science
• Interdisciplinary areas that connect these two fields
Research proposals should demonstrate relevance, innovation, and potential for impact.

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to African nationals or permanent residents who:
• Hold a PhD (awarded within the past six years) in a field relevant to food systems or data science
• Are not currently engaged in another postdoctoral fellowship
• Can demonstrate leadership potential and/or a commitment to community engagement
• Possess English language proficiency (TOEFL 79/80, IELTS 6, or proof of English as a language of instruction)

Participating Institutions

Selected fellows will be based full-time at one of the following UKUDLA partner universities:
• University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
• University of Mpumalanga (South Africa)
• University of Pretoria (South Africa)
• Lilongwe University of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (Malawi)

Fellowship Benefits

• Stipend: €1670/month for 24 months
• Training: Access to UKUDLA’s modules, workshops, and short courses
• Exchange Opportunity: Optional 3–6 month academic visit to a German partner institution
• Conference Support: Travel grant to present research at Tropentag (abstract submission required)
• Research Support: Funding for equipment, materials, travel, etc.
• Mentorship: Guidance from experienced academics and integration into regional research communities

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:
• Completed application form [link]
• Project proposal form [download link]
• National ID or passport
• Two academic recommendation letters (one from your PhD/fellowship supervisor)
• Certified degrees and transcripts
• Short CV (max. 2 pages), including selected publications
• Proof of English proficiency
• Motivational statement (250 words each on your research interest, career impact, community impact, and academic journey)

Expectations from Fellows

• Conduct original and impactful research
• Contribute to teaching and mentorship of MSc and PhD students
• Participate in conferences, workshops, and academic writing
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals
• Engage in UKUDLA’s academic and outreach activities

How to Apply

Submit your application online via the University of Pretoria application portal

For queries or questions, contact arua-sfs@up.ac.za

Deadline: 1 June 2025

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Coding Summer School 2025 – Registration Open

The in collaboration with the are organizing a Coding Summer School which

The registration has opened for the annual Coding Summer School (CSS) 2025. This is a joint effort between the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS). 

The CSS will take place from the 27th January 2025 to the 8th February 2025. It will take the format of a hybrid event where participants will be required to attend specific university locations around the country in-person. 

Aim of the School:

“Train researchers across South Africa and Southern Africa in the fundamentals of scientific computing and data science.”

Topics Covered in Python:

– Data Science with Pandas
– ETL and EDA best practices
– Computational Thinking
– Probability Theory & Statistics
– Machine Learning & AI

Note: Students must have some experience in Python.

Format:

– School will run for 2 weeks 
– Lectures/tutorials occur Monday to Friday
– Lecture/tutorial times: 09:30 – 16:00 with breaks each day
– Notes and exercises provided
– Certificates awarded to qualifying students

Registration:

The CHPC and NITheCS calls for all talented students registered for Honours, Masters, PhD including postdoc in South Africa to submit their applications. The registration fee is free for all successful Applicants. As public-funded institutions, the CHPC and NITheCS support the transformation of South Africa and thus the School organizers highly encourage students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to submit their applications. 

There will be no scholarship for successful applicants as the school will be hosted on at university locations. 

Should you wish to attend the CSS, kindly complete the application form and register online at: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/  before 13 December 2024. 

Once registered, students must complete the entrance test found here: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/surveys/8

Successful candidates will be notified within a month of registration and completing the entrance test.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

For more information see: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/overview

For general inquiries please submit a ticket here: https://chpc.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new and choose the “Coding Summer School” category.

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Software Carpentry: Shell, Git, Programing with R

Learn basic computing skills to conduct research
Software Carpentry aims to help researchers get their work done in less time and with less pain. This hands-on online workshop covers basic concepts and tools, including programme design, version control, data management and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and apply their learning to their own research problems.

Who should attend?
Graduate students and other researchers. You don’t need any previous
knowledge of the tools that will be presented at the workshop.

Venue
Training takes place online. The instructors will send you the information
you need to connect to this workshop.

Requirements
You will need access to a computer with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating
system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) on which you have administrative
rights. You will also need an up-to-date browser and a few specific software
packages installed – see here: https://bit.ly/3LLL0Dp.

Questions?
If you have a query, please email thuthukile.khumalo@nithecs.ac.za or
visit https://bit.ly/3LLL0Dp.

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CHPC-NITHeCS Coding Summer school — 29 January to 9 February 2024

Registration has opened for the Coding Summer School (CSS) 2024.

This is a joint effort between the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Institute for Theoretical Computational Science (NITheCS) aimed at training researchers across South Africa and Southern Africa in the fundamentals of programming, data science, HPC, and computational sciences. 
The CSS will take the format of a hybrid event where participants will be required to attend specific universities and research locations. The University of the Western Cape will be one of these locations for the CSS, taking place from Monday 29 January 2024 until Friday 9 February 2024.
Eligible Applicants:

The CSS is aimed at postgraduate students and researchers in STEM fields focusing on the fields of astronomy, biology, computer science, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medical, and physics.
Format:

- Lectures/tutorials occur Monday to Friday
- Lecture/tutorial times: 10:00 - 16:00 with breaks each day
- Notes, quizzes, and assignments provided
- Certificates awarded to qualifying students
Week 1:

Participants will learn the fundamentals of Python and data science which will allow them to analyze and manipulate various datasets. They will also be introduced to Linux and Bash in order to learn HPC skills.

Week 2:

In week two, participants are exposed to Python applications, covering machine learning, probability & statistics, and various domain specific topics.
How To Apply:

For more information and if you wish to attend the CSS, kindly follow the link below to register:

https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/120/

Space is limited at the various locations so make sure to register soon to book your place.

There are representatives from each university and some research institutes, known as champions. For any further queries and logistics @UWC, contact fisingizwe@uwc.ac.za

For general inquiries please contact: training.chpc@csir.co.za
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Software Carpentry Workshop to be held 24-28 July 2023

Learn basic research computing skills so you can do your work in less time and with less pain

This hands-on workshop will cover basic concepts and tools, including programme design, version control, data management and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and apply what they have learned to their own research problems.

Who should attend and Requirements

he workshop is aimed at graduate students and other researchers. You don’t need any previous knowledge of the tools that will be presented at the workshop.

You will need access to a computer with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) and administrative privileges. You will need to install a few specific software packages – view these here: http://bit.ly/3puTC9K. You also need access to Zoom and Internet connectivity.

How to apply

Click HERE to complete and submit your Application Form by 19 July. Successful applicants will be notified on 20 July 2023.

For more information, please email rene.kotze@nithecs.ac.za.

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CHPC-NITheCS Coding Summer School 2023

30 January 2023 – 10 February 2023

The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) are organizing a coding summer school that offers introductions to Foundations of Theoretical and Computational Sciences on topics such as Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Modelling and Simulation, Stochastic Methods, Machine Learning and Software Management.

A basic programming course that introduces participants to Linux (Ubuntu) command line and bash scripting, and the Python programming language will be given as a foundational tool for the school.

Students registered for Honours, Masters and PhD studies as well as postdoc fellows, in South Africa are eligible to apply and the attendance is free of charge. The school will take on a physical form at various university locations around the country, therefore participants will be required to attend one of the university locations.

The University of the Western Cape will provide one of these locations on its campus, and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply.

Course content

  • Daily lectures and interactive tutorials
  • Moodle used as the learning management environment
  • PDF notes, exercises, and YouTube videos provided
  • Zoom used for live streaming
  • Slack used as official communication medium
  • Prizes awarded to select students

Requirements and Registration

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops but where it is not possible, the organizers might assist to access an on-site computer. No programming skills and basic Linux knowledge are required, although that would be an advantage. Applications can be done at this registration link and more information on the can be obtained here.

Important dates

  • Closing date for registration: Saturday, 31 December 2022
  • Notification of successful candidates: by 16 January 2023
  • School start and orientation: Monday, 30 January 2023
  • School end: Friday, 10 February 2023
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Digital Transformation Short Course

Technology Skills for Industry 4.0 with applications to the Pharmaceutical and Food Processing/Manufacturing industries

Applications are open for a short course on Digital Transformation applied to the pharmaceutical and food processing/manufacturing industries that will focus on enhancing knowledge, skills and competencies associated with the concepts of digital transformation and the evolution of life science manufacturing from a traditional reactive process to the emergence of Industry 4.0 and Pharma 4.0.

This course will be the first of its kind on the African continent, and InnoGlobal is behind the initiative, in partnership with Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) Big Data, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa. This is the first time that this course will be offered under the DARA Big Data partnership, with SARAO and AIMS South Africa leading the local implementation of the course in South Africa. Read more about the partners here.

Learners will research current and future trends in life science manufacturing; the application and impact of greater use of technology, data analysis and visualisation on current performance; the impact on organisations and their levels of maturity to complete such transformations as well as ethical and corporate social responsibilities associated with such changes. The programme aims to equip learners for employment within life science organisations that are transforming their processes to integrate data, new technologies, data analytics, improved ways of working and improved support processes.

Digital Transformation refers to the smart integration of technologies, processes and data to improve operational effectiveness and capability in any environment. Within manufacturing sectors, expertise is needed in process digitalisation, data management, data analytics and data visualisation to successfully transform to what is known as industry 4.0.

DETAILS

Applications are open to participants from South Africa and the SKA Partner countries (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia). Applicants must have a 4-year BSc Honours or BEng degree or are currently undertaking or have completed a MSc or MEng degree. Graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical and food processing/manufacturing industries are strongly encouraged to apply for the course.

Only complete applications adhering to all the required criteria will be considered.

Application Deadline: 9 September 2022

Course structure and dates
The course will be divided into 3 components
October 2022 Online learning
November 2022 Week-long intensive in-person workshop in Cape Town
December 2022 – February 2023 Career guidance and mentorship sessions

Apply here by 9 September: https://sites.google.com/aims.ac.za/digital-transformation/

Read more: https://sites.google.com/aims.ac.za/digital-transformation/

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IADF Summer School: Computer Vision for Earth Observation

Applications are Open

A great opportunity is available for anyone wanting to expand their skills in computer vision for remote sensing. Computer Vision for Earth Observation (CV4EO) is an online Summer School, organised by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) GRSS (Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society) and Image Analysis and Data Fusion Technical Committee, and will be the first of its kind.

The GRSS’s IADF serves as a global and multi-disciplinary network for geospatial image analysis. They aim to connect people and resources, educate and promote theoretical advances and best practices in image analysis and data fusion. This includes machine learning, deep learning, image and signal processing, and big data. The summer school will focus on applying computer vision (CV) methods to address challenges in remote sensing.

An exciting line-up of speakers will contain a series of lectures on the existing methods utilised for analysing satellite images, along with the challenges encountered, and cover topics including Image Fusion, Explainable AI for Earth Sciences, Big Geo-Data, Multi-source Image Analysis, Deep Learning for Spectral Unmixing, SAR Image Analysis, and Learning with Zero/Few Labels. The school will include lectures, theoretical sessions and hands-on practical sessions.

DETAILS

The summer school is open to everybody who has a strong motivation and interest in the topics. Participants will not be charged a registration fee. The number of participants is limited to 75, but the course will be broadcast to everyone who applies. Those who attend the course will receive a certificate.

Application deadline: 23 September
Summer School dates: 3-7 October
Apply here: https://iadf-school.org/

Speakers include:
Avik Bhattacharya
Melba Crawford
Saurabh Prasad
Behnood Rasti
Sylvain Lobry
Lichao Mou
Caleb Robinson
Alejandro Frery