Unisa College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Department of Life and Consumer Sciences - PhD in Life Science
2018 master’s and doctoral research focus areas
Department / Department of Life and Consumer SciencesQualification / PhD of Life Science
Contact details for the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences / Ms Emelda Pimentel for all applications to the PhD of Life Science programme
E-mail:
Prof S Gildenhuys, Postgraduate Coordinator for the PhD of Life Science programme,
Tel: +27 11 471 3295
E-mail:
Curriculum: / A research proposal module (DPLCS00) and a dissertation (TFLSC01). Students are required to first register and comply with the requirements for completion of the research proposal module and ethics application before registration for the dissertation will be allowed.
Purpose of Research Proposal Module: DPLCS00 for PhD in Life Sciences / The purpose of this module is for students to gain the knowledge and skills required in their field of research within the various disciplines within the Life Sciences in order to complete a research proposal for a research project for the purposes of the PhD thesis.
Students credited with this module can:
· identify a research problem
· compose relevant literature resulting from a systematic and purposeful literature search and review
· set realistic aims and objectives to complete a research proposal
· identify a necessary research methodology with which to address the stated aims and objectives
· Gain knowledge and skills in the field of research
· Complete a research proposal for a single research project for the purposes of the PhD Degree.
Purpose of Thesis Module: TFLSC01 for PhD in Life Sciences / The purpose of this module is for students to gain the knowledge and skills required in their identified field of research within the various disciplines within the Life Sciences in order to complete a research thesis for the purposes of the PhD in Life Sciences. Students credited with this module demonstrate a wide range of specialised skills in implementing practical research towards identified research projects that address complex and challenging problems within the field of Life Sciences. Students will be able to conduct scientific research, provide scientific arguments, challenge existing theories, processes and procedures and propose new knowledge and academic arguments through the research conducted.
Application dates / Students interested in the PhD in Life Science program need to apply during the bulk application dates of Unisa as posted on the Unisa website.
Applications for PhD in Life Science closes on 31 October 2017.
Interviews may be held with potential PhD candidates during November 2017.
Admission requirements for the PhD of Life Science / Admission to PhD studies is dependent on the candidate being in possession of an MSc (or equivalent) in any of the Life Sciences fields. In the case of a course work Master's Degree the applicant must submit a PDF version of the research project that formed part of such a degree. In addition to the above requirements, all applicants may be required to submit a transcript or an academic record, as well as a 4- page PDF concept document describing their intended research. Students will be accepted on the following criteria: Suitability and viability of the intended research; Adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the department. An approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department will be implemented. Students, who are awaiting Masters examination results, must still submit applications by the due date. Applications will be considered once results become available.
Selection procedure / An approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa’s policies and equality and diversity in the discipline or department will be implemented. The following selection procedure will be applied:
· All students are required to first choose a qualification within the College of their choice
· All applicants are required to initially apply for a student number
· Students are then required to apply for admission and provide the required supporting documents
· Administrative verification will take place whereby students will be informed if any documentation is outstanding
· Application should reach the student admission office no later than the closing date indicated on the Unisa website
· The application will be forwarded to the Postgraduate Coordinator in the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences for consideration
· A selection committee consisting of the Research Committee within the department, supervisors in the Life Sciences discipline and Postgraduate Coordinator for the PhD in Life Sciences will complete the review process of the application by a date determined early in 2018
· In cases where clarity is required on the application, the Postgraduate coordinator may consider requesting an interview (telephonic or in person) with the candidate
· Applications of selected candidates will be forwarded to the College Office for Research and Graduate Studies where after the selected applications will be forwarded to the College Research Innovation and Higher Degrees committee for final approval
· Successful candidates will be notified by the M&D section who will then assist with further registration for the Research Proposal Module.
Procedures for unsuccessful applications / · Candidates who were unsuccessful may apply to the Postgraduate Coordinator for the PhD of Life Science programme for the reasons for rejection of the application.
· All appeals will be considered by an appeal committee consisting of the Head of the College office for Research and Postgraduate Studies, Director for the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chair of the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences and members of the Research Committee of the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences.
· The outcome of the appeal will be submitted to College management for approval
· A further appeal may be submitted through the appropriate Unisa procedures.
· To appeal the following document should be completed and submitted to the Postgraduate Administrator in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at
Documents to support application / In addition to the admission requirements, ALL APPLICANTS WHO HAVE NOT STUDIED WITH THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES BEFORE must submit the following documentation:
· A transcript or an academic record,
· A 4 page PDF concept document describing their intended research according to the project details and descriptions provided on the departmental website and after consulting with a potential supervisor: which will have to include an appropriate topic, research problem, objectives, brief literature background, suggested methodology and references.
· The Departmental Selection Document Form 1
· An updated CV
APPLICANTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED A MASTERS IN LIFE SCIENCES OR STUDIED WITH UNISA ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
· Academic record
· Copy of ID document
· A page on which the title of the study and potential supervisor is indicated
All documentation has to be submitted in pdf format.
Selection criteria / Students who have not completed a qualification with Unisa before will be accepted on the following criteria as will be evaluated in the template provided:
· Applicant information provided
· Suggested research focus
· Research concept document evaluation
If there is no supervisor capacity for the detailed project the application will not be considered for admission.
Alignment to Enrolment plan 2018
The admission of PhD in Life Science students are aligned to the 2012 - 2019 Enrolment plan developed by the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences
New intake for 2018 / The Enrolment plan for 2018 was designed to accommodate 26 students in the PhD in Life Science programme. The selection committee will select 30 students from the applications received. Depending on the number of applicants, an additional 4 students will be placed on a secondary list in case any of the selected students on the primary list is unable to register. The selection committee may decide not to accommodate any applicants due to the quality of the concept documents submitted. The selection committee may also not make use of the secondary list of students depending on the number of applications received and the quality of the submission. Should 26 students apply and are found not to be successful in their application they will not be admitted. Students interested in multidisciplinary research or research with a teaching and learning focus may apply for the PhD in life Sciences and will be evaluated according to the relevant focus of the research within the Teaching and Learning and ODL supervisors in CAES.
Motivation for intake / The PhD in Life Sciences programme to annually increase their intake intends to annually increase by 4.5% the PhD student intake. Currently there are 8 permanent senior Life Scientists with PhD’s. There are also academic staff appointed on contract who will add greatly to co-supervision and supervision where applicable as well as laboratory staff that can assist with technical aspects of projects. Additional posts will be filled in the current year. There is sufficient capacity within the Department to supervise students.
PhD in Life Sciences Thesis Module code: TFLSC01 / Students who successfully completed the proposal module will qualify to register for the PhD in Life Science thesis module (Module code: TFLSC01). Students have to submit a thesis in chapter format and produce an article as per the authors guidelines of an accredited journal and successfully submit the article to the selected journal.
Alignment of intake to Research Fields
Applicants will be required to align the proposed research they will be presenting to any one of the research themes stipulated below. The research outline if required should be presented as a four-page PDF document and should be in line with the research interest of a potential supervisor. The proposed research should be developed within the broad context of the research project in consultation with the potential supervisor.
Potential Life Science supervisors and their specialisation areas / Potential supervisors / Specialization area of supervisors
Prof SL Lebelo / Male reproductive function
Prof S Gildenhuys / Protein biochemistry
Prof MM Ntwasa / Drug Discovery & Development
Prof JB Dewar / Microbiology and Molecular biology
Dr M Dingaan / Grassland Ecology
Dr TJ Makhafola / Biochemistry
Dr N O Mapholi / Molecular genetics
Dr FT Tabit / Food Microbiology
Dr Swanepoel / Sodium and blood pressure
Motivation for the number of students accommodated / Depending on changing circumstances, the number of students admitted will also be determined by the availability and capacity of a supervisor. This may mean that a supervisor may be able to take more students than the enrolment numbers or as allocated in the projects listed above. The enrolment number may also be determined by the number of applications received which may be fewer than required. The selection committee will determine the circumstances for selecting more or fewer students depending on unplanned changes to the profile of the available supervisors.
Research project options
Potential supervisor with contact details / Research Theme / Number of PhD projects within this theme
Prof SL Lebelo
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11471 3644 / Medicinal plants effects on the processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis / 1
Prof SL Lebelo
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11471 3644 / Effects of medicinal plants on the function of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells / 1
Prof S Gildenhuys
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11471 3295 / Characterizing structure function relationships of proteins / 1
Prof MM Ntwasa
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11 471-2272 / Anticancer and antimicrobial Drug Discovery / 1
Prof JB Dewar
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11 471- 3112 / Molecular epidemiology and characterization of gastroenteritis viruses and bacteria / 1
Prof JB Dewar
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11 471- 3112 / Water analysis / 1
Dr T J Makhafola
E-mail: / Ethnopharmacology (Antimicrobial, anticancer, antimutagenic activity, Chemoprevention) / 3
Dr T J Makhafola
E-mail: / Toxicology (Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects of South African plants) / 3
Dr M Dingaan
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11471 3580 / Plant diversity and productivity in the Grassland Biome, South Africa / 1
Dr N O Mapholi
E-mail: / Population genetic variation, identification of genomic region associated with disease resistance using DNA markers, and DNA/RNA sequencing for genes associated to economic important traits. / 1
Dr FT Tabit
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11471 2080 / Prevalence and characterisation of foodborne pathogens isolated from food products / 1
Dr B Swanepoel
E-mail:
Tel: +27 (0)11 471 3438 / Sodium consumption and blood pressure in children aged 6 – 12 years / 1
Research Proposal module details
All research projects listed above feed directly into the development of the research proposal DPLCS00 for which students will register if they have been successfully admitted to the Master of Life Sciences.
Assessment mode for DPLCS00 / The research proposal will be assessed through the use of an assessment template consisting of key assessment categories that pertain to a research proposal
Assessment criteria for Research proposal / The assessment of the research proposal will be conducted as follows:
· The proposal will also be vetted by two appropriate internal departmental experts of which one should at least be familiar with the field of research. If these experts’ results are consistent and in agreement, the result will be communicated to the students’ supervisor from the office of the COD. If the experts’ results differ substantially (acceptance and rejection), a third examiner will be asked to review the proposal and provide an outcome.
· A vetting committee consisting of the Research Committee in the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences consisting of the following profiles - senior staff members and/or may have NRF rating and/or are supervisors or co-supervisors of students and/or have examined research proposals before and/or have been requested to act as an external examiner for other universities - will meet and determine the outcome for students where examiners reports were substantially different and if there are any particularly extraordinary circumstances with a proposal or student.
· The supervisor is required to be present at the vetting committee meeting convened for a student under their supervision.
· Verbal feedback will be given to the supervisor and the template on which the comments were documented will be returned to the supervisor in order to amend the proposal where necessary
· If the proposal is approved, the student and supervisor will receive a letter of approval from the COD
Assessment criteria for Research Proposal for PhD in Life Sciences
Mode of delivery of DPLCS00 / · Online delivery will be followed through means of various tools on myUnisa,
· Video conferencing sessions may be organised by the post graduate programme coordinator for all PhD students in the department of Life and Consumer Sciences
· A seminar may also be organised for the presentation of completed research proposals which may be delivered through video conferencing or on the Florida campus
Mode of supervision for DPLCS00 / Supervision may be delivered in different modes depending on the requirement of the supervisor and study design:
· One-on-one contact sessions may be required which can be delivered through video conferencing for students in remote areas or through personal visits to the supervisor if the student is able to visit the Unisa Science Campus
· Email contact on a personal basis to assist in addressing student queries will be the main mode of delivery
· Track-changed documents or scanned pdf documents in which the supervisor has made corrections or provided suggestions will be used.
External supervision / Should the need arise to include an external supervisor, the decision will be made based on the expertise or assistance required from an external supervisor on a particular part of the project. This will only be implemented if the internal capacity of supervision cannot support the requirement of the research project. Students undertaking research outside the borders of South Africa must be allocated an external supervisor/co-supervisor who is knowledgeable, or resides in the area in which the research is undertaken. Students are welcome to identify possible external supervisors, however, the selection and contract appointment of these external supervisors remains the responsibility of the Department of Life and Consumer Sciences.
Collaboration / The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences has collaborative agreements with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Agricultural research council (ARC)
Where relevant, a student may be placed in collaborative research with the above institution or with any other institution as and when collaborative agreements are made.
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