Personal Insight into a Life in Physics 

Dr Emanuela Carleschi is a lecturer in the Department of Physics on Auckland Park Campus. She moved to South Africa from Italy and does research on Ruthenate compounds. She lives with her husband in Melville and loves working at UJ.

Emanuela wrote an article on "Moving to SA from my home country, Italy..." giving an account of her move to South Africa.

Dr Bryan Doyle is a senior lecturer in the Department of Physics at UJ. He completed his studies at Wits University and then moved to Europe where he worked at international synchrotron facilities. He moved back to South Africa in 2009 and made a concious choice to join UJ Physics. He is married and lives with his wife close to the university.

In a short article "Why I returned to South Africa and joined UJ!" Bryan describes his life in Europe and why he returned home.

Dr Lerothodi Leeuw is a lecturer in the Department of Physics on the Auckland Park Campus of UJ. He lived and worked in the USA and most recently held a research fellowship in Space Science and Astrophysics at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California - before he joined UJ in 2010. The photograph onthe left shows Lerothodi in front of  the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) on Mauna Kea (white mountain) in Hawaii. Lerothodi is adjusting to the challenges of his new role as a South African academic, but is finding it very rewarding.  

Read about Lero's life in the USA and why he came back to join UJ.  

Dr Ceren Ulusoy moved to South Africa from Turkey. She obtained a post-doctoral fellowship from the South African National Research Foundation. Her research has brought her to the Southern skies that she loves. Her research together with Dr Engelbrecht promises to yield interesting results.

To gain more insight into Ceren's current life read "Loving Southern Skies", a short article describing her choice to join UJ and her experiences in South Africa.

Mrs Susan Jacobs is a lecturer in the Physics Department on the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus of UJ. She is currently registered for a PhD in magnetic properties of matter and she enjoys the challenges this study offers. She is originally from India and now lives with her husband and young son in Midrand.

Do read Susan's short article on "My Life in Physics", this will give you insight into how she is ballancing work and family life.

Mr Paul Molefe is a lecturer in the Physics Department at UJ. He started his studies at Vista University in Soweto and did his BSc Honours and MSc degrees at UJ. He is passionate about Science Education and will soon start working on research in this regard towards his PhD studies. He lives with his wife and two children close to UJ.

Read more on how Physics changed Paul's life in the small article "Physics changed my Life".

Ms Buyi Sondezi-Mhlungu is currently a lecturer at UJ in the Physics Department. She is working on her PhD studies under the supervision of Prof Strydom. Buyi has received many awards and grants in recent years. She is working hard to establish herself as a researcher in her field and is the mother of two young daughters that she adores.

Do read on "Buyi's Award for Women in Physics" and get her views on "Balancing a scientific career and family life".

Mr Doomnull Unwuchola recently joined the APK staff as a lecturer for the first year extended program. While he is currently busy finalising his MSc thesis, he is enjoying his new life as a lecturer in the Physics Department. 

Read more about Doomnull in his article "My new life as a lecturer in the Physics Department".

Mr Mubarak Yagoub (on the left) and his friend Prosper Ngabonziza (on the right) enjoying tea and cake on the balcony just outside the kitchen of the Physics Department. They both joined UJ Physics after completing their postgraduate diploma at AIMS in Cape Town.

Read on Mubarak's experience at UJ and Prosper's visit to Soleil.