Prof Grace Manyelo (second from left) and Dr Edwin Makhado (fourth from left) are congratulated on their NRF awards by Dr Thembinkosi Mabila (left), Director for Research Administration and Development at UL, and Prof Tebogo Mothiba (third from left), holder of the DSTI/NRF Decadal Plan-Aligned Research Chair at UL.
Prof Grace Manyelo and Dr Edwin Makhado recognised for research excellence
By Johannes Selepe – Mosela.selepe@ul.ac.za
The University of Limpopo (UL) achieved notable institutional recognition at the 2026 National Research Foundation (NRF) Research Excellence Awards, securing two accolades for its researchers in the agricultural and physical sciences
Prof Grace Manyelo, Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Animal Production, alongside Dr Edwin Makhado, Senior Lecturer in the School of Physical and Mineral Sciences, were conferred the NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers. The ceremony took place in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Thursday, 3 September 2026.
A proud moment for Prof Grace Manyelo (middle) as she receives the 2026 NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers in recognition of her contribution to agricultural research.
Prof Manyelo’s scholarly portfolio focuses on poultry production, animal nutrition, alternative feed additives and livestock management.
Complementing her academic work, she recently completed an international research fellowship at the University of Georgia in the United States through Phase 2, Cohort 3 of the Future Professors Programme. This appointment facilitated advanced training, where she gained practical experience in molecular techniques used in poultry research.
Her investigations included DNA and RNA analysis, PCR, gene-expression analysis, high-throughput data analysis, gene-network construction and application of molecular markers in poultry breeding.
“This award is not only about what I am doing; it also contributes to the scientific community at large and helps bring solutions to challenges that people face in their daily lives,” Prof Manyelo remarked.
Throughout her career, Prof Manyelo has published more than 50 research articles and three book chapters, and has presented 25 posters and oral presentations based on her research at national and international levels. She is the sub-editor of the South African Journal of Animal Sciences (SAJAS) and has peer-reviewed articles for both international and local journals.
Dr Edwin Makhado (middle) receives the 2026 NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career/Emerging Researchers for his innovative research in polymeric materials and hydrogels, with potential applications in healthcare and wastewater treatment.
For Dr Makhado, the recognition comes after years of research focused on polymeric materials, with a primary emphasis on hydrogels, and their potential applications in wastewater treatment and healthcare.
His research scope extends across drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, electrochemical hydrogen sensors and nanomedicine. Notably one of his recent developments is a method of preparing hydrogels without external energy, with potential applications in biomedical research.
Dr Makhado has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 book chapters and three conference proceedings. His work has attracted more than 2,100 citations, alongside three registered patent fillings..
Beyond his publications record, he demonstrates a strong commitment to academic mentorship, having successfully supervised 10 honours, four master’s and one doctoral graduate, while currently co-supervising two honours, nine master’s and three doctoral students.
According to Dr Makhado, research should not stop with publications but should reach communities and produce solutions that people can see and use.
“We tend to focus only on publishing and forget about other aspects of research. We should also bring out something tangible that people can see,” he said.
He said community engagement was important in inspiring young people to consider careers in science.
Dr Thembinkosi Mabila, Director for Research Administration and Development at UL, congratulated the researchers, saying their achievements reflected the hard work being done across the University.
“I think there is much more potential at the university than what we see here,” said Dr Mabila.
He encouraged more researchers to participate in national research awards, saying the recognition reflected the work researchers had been doing.
“I think this year is a culmination of the hard work and dedication that researchers have been doing as we receive numerous research awards,” he said.
“This award is not only about what I am doing; it also contributes to the scientific community at large and helps bring solutions to challenges that people face in their daily lives.”
