People

Dr. Fernando Camilo

Dr Fernando Camilo is the Chief Scientist  at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. He is a former Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University in New York, Director of Astronomy at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, and Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University. He holds a B.S. degree in Physics and Mathematics from Stony Brook University in New York and … Read More

Assoc. Prof. Carolina Ödman-Govender

  Associate Prof. Carolina Ödman-Govender  is the Associate Director of Development and Outreach at IDIA. Trained in physics at EPFL in Switzerland, she holds a PhD in cosmology from Cambridge University, UK. After a Marie Curie research fellowship in Italy, she became the first international project manager of Universe Awareness. She joined the South African Astronomical Observatory as an SKA … Read More

Dr. Jasper Horrell

  Dr. Jasper Horrell is the Associate Director of Operations at IDIA. He has also held various senior positions in computing and innovation such as C.E.O. of Deep Data, Technical Director at Saratoga Software, MeerKat Science Processing Managing and General Manager: Science Computing and Innovation at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. He holds a BSc. Honours in Physics (1990), … Read More

Prof. Rob Simmonds

  Prof. Rob Simmonds is the Associate Director of New Technologies at IDIA. He is a professor at the UCT Department of Computer Science. Before moving to South Africa, he spent more than ten years as Chief Technology Officer of WestGrid, which is part of the Compute Canada organization. He was an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Computer … Read More

Prof. Russ Taylor

  Prof. Russ Taylor is the Director of the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy. He is a professor and SKA Research Chair at the University of Cape Town and the University of Western Cape. Russ is the founding Executive Secretary of the International Square Kilometre Array Steering Committee, the founding chair of the International SKA Science Advisory Committee, the … Read More

Prof. Kevin Naidoo

Prof. Kevin Naidoo is the Director of the Scientific Computing Research Unit at the University of Cape Town. Prof. Naidoo  holds a Master’s degree from the University of Cape Town, and a PhD from the University of Michigan, USA. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University, USA, he joined the Faculty of Science at UCT as a computational scientist based in … Read More

Prof. Sunil Maharaj

Prof. Sunil Maharaj is the Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT at the University of Pretoria. Prof. Maharaj holds a MEng in Electronic Engineering (University of KwaZulu Natal), an MSc in Operational Telecommunications (Coventry University) and a PhD in Electronic Engineering (University of Pretoria) with specialisation in wireless communications. He is a Professional Engineer (Pr Eng) and … Read More

Prof. Burtram Fielding

Prof. Burtram Fielding is the Director of Research at the University of the Western Cape. Prof. Fielding has previously held the position of acting Research Director, and acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Prof. Fielding holds a BSc., BSc. (Cum Laude) and a PhD from the University of Cape Town. Prof. Fielding has been actively involved in Food Security … Read More

Prof. Josè Frantz

Prof. Josè Frantz is currently the DVC Research and Innovation at the University of the Western Cape. She has held the position as the Dean of the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (2013 -2017) and the Deputy Dean of Research prior to that. Prof. Frantz holds a BSc. Physiotherapy, MSc. Physiotherapy, and PhD. In 2017 she received the South … Read More

Prof. Stephanie Burton

Professor Stephanie Burton is the Vice-Principal responsible for research, postgraduate education, and international partnerships at the University of Pretoria. She holds an MSc in Organic Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry from Rhodes University. Professor Burton has lectured at Rhodes University and at the University of Cape Town. After fulfilling the role of  Director of Postgraduate Studies, and leader of … Read More