MSc graduates (1972 - present)

Sriram Sankar - 2023 (Astronomy)
Dissertation: Kinematics of neutral hydrogen in interacting galaxies in two groups from the MeerChoirs survey
Current position: PhD position in Australia

Brian Bichanga - 2022 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Three-Dimensional Structure of Edge-On Disk Galaxies in the COSMOS Field to z = 0.5

Current position:

Robbie Lees - 2022 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Searching for ultra-compact binary stars with the MEERLICHT Southern All-Sky Survey

Current position:

Katlego Ramalatswa - 2022 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Multi-dimensional simulations of bow shocks of massive, high-velocity runaway stars

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), Munich (D)

Aphiwe Bangiso - 2022 (Data Science: Astronomy)

Dissertation: Machine Learning techniques to discover and understand the population of flare stars in MeerLICHT data

Current position: Data scientist

Timothy Roelf - 2022 (Data Science: Astronomy)

Dissertation: Log mining to develop a diagnostic and prognostic framework for the MeerLICHT telescope

Current position:

Anke van Dyk - 2022 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Capturing transients: an application of biostatistics to astronomy

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), SAAO/UCT

Munira Hoosain - 2021 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The effect of the cosmic web on galaxy evolution in RESOLVE-A

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), UCT

Omphemetse Mputle - 2021 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The WiFeS ionized gas kinematics of the edge-on galaxy J1447-17

Current position:

Wanga Mulaudzi - 2021 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: The galaxy velocity function from MIGHTEE-HI early science data

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), University of Amsterdam (NL)

Kelebogile Gasealahwe (nee Bonokwane) - 2021 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: SALT HRS and TESS observations of young multipolar planetary nebulae

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), UCT/SAAO

Nadine Hank - 2021 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Exploring HI asymmetries in real and simulated galaxies

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), University of Groningen (NL)

Petro Janse van Rensburg - 2021 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Characterisation of small, close-approaching near-earth asteroids

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), SAAO/UCT

Jeremy Smith - 2020 (Data Science: Astronomy)

Dissertation: A statistical approach to automated detection of multi-component radio sources

Current position: Operations Manager, IDIA

Simon de Wet - 2020 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Transients in the errobox of GW910814

Current position: PhD student, UCT Astronomy

Geoff Murphy - 2020 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Stellar Halos: modelling formation in the L-galaxies 2020 semi-analytic model

Current position:

Orapeleng Mogawana - 2020 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Meshless hydrodynamic simulations of young supernova remnants

Current position: PhD student, UCT Astronomy

Dante Hewitt - 2020 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: MeerKAT observations of novalike cataclysmic variables

Current position: PhD student, University of Amsterdam (NL)

Ryan le Roux - 2020 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: XMM-Newton Survey of the Magellanic Bridge

Current position: Private Tutor, SmartScience

Nazir Makda - 2019 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Ultra Diffuse Galaxy Candidates in Stripe 82 Clusters

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), UCT/SAAO

Abubakr Ibrahim - 2019 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Dispersion Measure Variations in Pulsar Observations with LOFAR

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy)

Themba Gqaza - 2019 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Optimisation of Galaxy Identification Methods on Large Interferometric Surveys

Current position: Data Scientist

Melaku Tafere - 2019 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Gas Flows and Feedback in Star-forming Galaxies

Current position: Data Science, University of Texas at El Paso (source: LinkedIn)

Anja Genade - 2018 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Stellar Occulations by Bodies in the Outer Solar System at the South African Astronomical Observatory

Current position: PhD student (Astronomy), SAAO/University of Cape Town

Tamlyn August - 2018 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Deconstructing the WISE Nearby Galaxy Population

Current position: 

Lauren Burnham-King - 2017 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Detecting the Magnetic Cosmic Web through Deep Radio Polarization Imaging

Current position: Data Scientist at Shutterstock, Ireland (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Julia Healy - 2017 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Using HI Stacking to Study Galaxy Properties in the Nearby Universe (Looking for Needles in the HI-stack)

Current position: Postdoctoral fellow ASTRON, Netherlands

Buntu Ngcebetsha - 2016 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Star Formation in the Bars of Nearby Galaxies

Current position:  Software Engineer, South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (source: LinkedIn)

Simon Malinga - 2016 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Lenticular Galaxies - The One in the Middle

Current position: Mathematics educator, Department of Basic Education (source: LinkedIn)

Michael Hlabathe - 2016 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Post-common Envelope Binary Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae in the OGLE-IV Survey

Current position: PhD student, University of Cape Town / South African Astronomical Observatory

Dr Avishek Dusoye - 2015 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Accretion and outflow in black hole X-ray binaries 

Current position:

Wendyam Blaise Tapsoba - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Analysis of SALT Fabry-Perot medium resolution data 

Current position:

Louise Steward - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The Integrated Sachs-Wolfe Effect with Planck and the 2MASS Photometric Redshift Catalogue

Current position: Educational Technologist (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Letjatji Legodi - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Multicolor Analysis of Galaxy Clusters with Radio Halos and/or Relics

Current position: Astrophysicist at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (source: LinkedIn)

Zwidofhelangani Khangale - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: A Spectroscopic Analysis of the Eclipsing Nova-Like EC21178-54

Current position: SARAO Postdoctoral Fellow, UCT

Dr Elizabeth Naluminsa - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: SALT Fabry-Perot Fellow, South African Astronomical Observatory

Riona Ramraj - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Exploring Star Formation in Dwarf Galaxies at z = 1

Current position: Marketing and Technology Manager (Sub-saharan Africa), Uber, Netherlands (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Priscilla Chauke - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: WISEly Deconstructing the Great Andromeda Galaxy

Current position: Data Scientist, Hamburg, Germany (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Itumeleng Monageng - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: How circumstellar discs affect mass accretion in Be X-ray binaries

Current position: Lecturer (Astronomy), University of Cape Town, and SAAO

Dr Rajeev Manick - 2014 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: In Search of Binary Wolf-Rayet Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae

Current position: Scientific researcher at IPAG, Grenoble, France (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Toky Randriamampandry - 2013 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Homogeneous Sample of Dwarf and Spiral Galaxies to Test Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND)

Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, KAVLI Institute, Peking University, China

Dr Khaled Said - 2013 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The NIR Isophotal Tully-Fisher Relation and its Cosmological Applications in the Zone of Avoidance

Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Queensland, Australia (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Getachew Mekonnen - 2013 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Gravitational Microlensing and the Search for Extrasolar Planets

Last known position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Namibia (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Rocco Coppejans - 2013 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: Project Manager, Coventry, UK (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Vinesh Rajpaul - 2012 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: A Novel Algorithm for Analysing Gravitational Microlensing Events

Current position: Research Associate in Experimental Astrophysics, Cambridge, UK (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Mpati Ramatsoku - 2012 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: HI Line Mapping of Large Scale Structures in the Zone of Avoidance

Current position: Senior Lecturer, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, RSA

Kosma von Maltitz - 2012 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The Deep Optical ZoA Galaxy Catalogue in Vela - First Indications of Previously Hidden Large Scale Structures

Current position: Data Scientist (source: LinkedIn)

Bryoni Martin - 2012 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Last known position: Data analytics at Rand Merchant Bank (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Sally Macfarlane - 2012 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Spectral Analysis of the Helium Nova V445 Pup

Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, South African Astronomical Observatory

Dr Deanne Coppejans (nee de Bude) - 2012 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Characterising the Dwarf Nova Population of the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey

Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Warwick, UK

Dr Moses Mogotsi - 2012 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: A Comparison of the HI and CO Velocity Dispersions of Nearby Galaxies

Current position: SALT Astronomer, South African Astronomical Observatory

Dr Roger Ianjamasimanana - 2011 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The HI Super Profiles of the THINGS Galaxies

Current position: Postdoctoral fellow at IAA, Spain (source: LinkedIn)

Henrik van Heerden - 2011 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Robotic Control of a Photometric Telescope

Last known position: PhD student, University of Johannesburg

Dr Wendy Williams - 2011 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: A Near Infrared Tully-Fisher Survey Behind the Galactic Plane

Current position: Scientist at SKA Observatory HQ, UK (source: LinkedIn)

Thuso Simon - 2011 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: Head of Data and ML at Credrails (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Rojovola Zara-Nomena Randriamanakoto - 2011 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Super Star Cluster Candidates in the Star Forming Regions of Luminous Infrared Galaxies

Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow (Astronomy), University of Cape Town

Zolile Mguda - 2010 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: Lecturer (Physics), University of South Africa

Dr Bishop Mongwane - 2010 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: Lecturer (Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), University of Cape Town

Dr Oyirwoth Abedigamba - 2010 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The Structure of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Last known position: Senior Lecturer (Physics), Northwest University

Dr Francois Nsengiyumva - 2010 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Asymptotic Giant Branch variables in NGC 6822 

Last known position: PhD student, University of Kwazulu-Natal

Janus Brink - 2010 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: SALT Spectropolarimetry Commissioning

Current position: Southern African Large Telescope

Dr Tana Joseph - 2009 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Towards an HI Census of the Local Universe

Current position: Equity and Inclusion Officer for Dutch Astronomy (source: LinkedIn)

Nikki Pekeur - 2009 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Investigating the Relationship between the HI and Optical Diameter for a Sample of Galaxies from the Local Volume HI Survey (LVHIS)

Current position: PhD student, University of Cape Town

Prof Roger Deane - 2008 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: The Giant LSB Galaxy NGC1512: A High Resolution Analysis of the HI, Star Formation and Dark Matter in this Nearby Interacting Galaxy

Current position: SARAO SARChI Professor, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA

Ewald Zietsman - 2008 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Time-series Photometry and Spectroscopy of the Cataclysmic Variable EC21178-5417: Exploring New Avenues with the Southern African Large Telescope

Last known position: Team Lead: Data Science and Engineering at 24.com (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Nebiha Shafi - 2008 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: A HI Search for Galaxies Hidden by the Galactic Bulge

Current position: Data Scientist (source: LinkedIn)

James Tagg - 2008 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Optimising the Near-Infrared Survey Strategy in Unveiling Hidden Galaxies in the Great Attractor

Current position: Director at Quicket (source: LinkedIn)

Dr Roslyn Skelton - 2007 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Current position: SALT Astronomer, South African Astronomical Observatory

Dr Paul Kotze - 2007 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: A Deep Photometric Survey of the Abell cluster SO423: A Pilot Study for the UCT SALT Supercluster Survey

Current position: Data scientist

Thapelo Tshenye - 2007 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Quality Control of Astronomical CCD Observations

Last known position: Financial analyst

Dr Ed Elson - 2006 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Heuristic Optimisation and Parameter Estimation Methods for Modern Cosmological Surveys

Current position: Lecturer (Physics and Astronomy), University of Western Cape

Karsten Markus - 2006 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Photometry of Elliptical Galaxies in Crowded Starfields

Current position:

Prof Michelle Cluver - 2005 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: Probing Distant Clusters: A Pre-SALT Photometric Survey of Intermediate Redshift Galaxy Cluster

Current position: ARC Future Fellow, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia

Michelle Wiehahn - 2005 (Astrophysics and Space Science)

Dissertation: An Investigation of Eclipsing Polars

Current position:

Dr Retha Pretorius - 2004 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Rapid Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables

Current position: Astronomer, South African Astronomical Observatory

Dr Kurt van der Heyden - 2000 (Astronomy)

Current position: Senior Lecturer (Astronomy), University of Cape Town; Director: Strategic Science Support NRF

Dr Pierre Vermaak - 1998 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: The Detection of Gravitational Microlensing Anomalies

Current position: MD, Head of Data Forum, UBS, London, UK

Dr Liza van Zyl - 1997 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Pulsations in the White Dwarf Primary of a Cataclysmic Variable Star

Current position: 

Prof Thebe Medupe - 1997 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Atmospheric temperature structure in the RoAp stars 

Current position: Professor, Northwest University, Mafikeng

Yuri Andersson - 1997 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Southern Voids: Structure and Cosmological Implications

Current position:

Prof Lerothodi Leeuw - 1997 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: IRAS Oxygen- and Carbon-rich Miras Close to the Galactic Plane

Current position: Professor, University of the Western Cape

Kate Harrop-Allin - 1996 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Superhumps in AM Canum Venaticorum Stars

Current position:

Prof Peter Martinez - 1990 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: A Frequency Analysis of the Rapidly Oscillating Ap Star HD 101065

Current position: Professor (Electrical Engineering), University of Cape Town

Dr Guinevere Kauffmann - 1990 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Voids in the Distribution of Galaxies: An Assessment of their Significance and Implications for Large-Scale Structure Formation Theories

Current position: Director, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (Germany)

Sue Allen - 1986 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Rapid Oscillations in Cataclysmic Variables

Current position:

Brian Carter - 1984 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: The New SAAO Infrared Photometric Standards Based on the E Regions

Current position:

B S C Robertson - 1980 (Astronomy)

Current position:

Prof Chris Koen - 1976 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: Accretion disks in the Cataclysmic Variables 

Current position: Professor (Statistics), University of the Western Cape

Patrick Hurly - 1976 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: UBV Photometry of Close Visual Double Stars using an Area Scanner

Current position:

Anthony Brickhill - 1974 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: The Gravity Oscillations of White Dwarf Stars

Current position: 

John Harwood - 1973 (Astronomy)

Dissertation: On the Model for U Geminorum

Current position:

[Last updated: 26 December 2022]