Sinegugu Khulu
Sessional Lecturer
Moffat View
Summary
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management, problem-solving skills, communication and team work skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Sessional Lecturer
Wits University
Johannesburg
02.2023 - Current
- Prepared and delivered Chemistry content to undergraduate and Research methodology content to honours students.
- Designed tutorials, practical experiments, tests, assignments and examination for assessment.
- Graded written and presented assessments using the required university Learning Management System
- Supervision of laboratory demonstrators and overseeing the running of experiments
Research Coordinator
Wits University
Johannesburg, South Africa
02.2019 - Current
- Managed multiple research thrusts ensuring that they reach their yearly targets and work on a project based approach e
- Mentored research assistants, providing guidance on best practices for coordiantion of the research portfolio.
- Develop research plan templates and other tools needed to collate data and consolidate into an annual School Research Plan.
- Develop tool for collating research budgets from research groups, to show links to pledged research outputs for the development of quantitative research output reports.
- Increase the school’s research visibility by managing the annual research calendar through organizing and advertising research seminars, keynote seminars and professional development seminars, workshops and facilitation of these.
- Analyze evaluation surveys into quantitative and qualitative informative reports.
Senior Laboratory Technician
Wits University
Johannesburg
09.2016 - Current
- · Coordination, administration and providing technical support to 1styear to 4th year BEd undergraduate, BEd honours and PGCE students of the science division.
- · Coordinator for all technical staff members i.e. 2x lab technicians, 2x technical assistants and ~40x laboratory demonstrators.
- · Recruitment of laboratory demonstrators
- · Conduct workshops with demonstrators, holding quarterly feedback meetings for the betterment of the demonstration programme.
- Briefing of demonstrators before each practical or tutorial making sure they understand the activity and they can make a link between theory and the practical.
- Making sure that demonstrators conduct practicals in a manner that is in line with the required academic standards and adhering to all safety precautions.
- Development of annual budgets for demonstrators as well as monthly processing of their claims.
- Ordering of required chemicals, consumables, lab equipment, glassware etc.
- Knowledge of GLP and chemical waste management
- Conducting winter workshops with Physical Science teachers from disadvantaged schools through the “targeting talent programme” funded by SETMU
Natural Science Assessments Moderator
Lyceum
Remote
02.2023 - Current
- Moderation of assignments and examination question papers for Natural Science courses.
- Moderation of marked student’s scripts for natural science courses
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Wits University
Johannesburg
08.2022 - 11.2022
- Supervision of postgraduate students (honours and Masters)
- Mentoring postgraduate students on method development and academic writing
- Guide postgraduate students on the use of LC-MS
- Coordination of research group meetings, development of presentation roster and chairing research meetings.
Quality Control/Utilities Technician
SRF Flexipack
Cato Ridge
02.2014 - 08.2016
- Supported the production team by running routine and non-routine analysis, quality assurance of the final products analysis with compliance to OHSAS 18001/ISO 22000 and making sure they are in line with customer requirements.
- Conducted routine analysis of cooling towers, softener water and boiler, data processing, calibration of equipment and preparation of daily and monthly reports.
- Addressed and accounted for any deviations from process specifications, working together with the production team to ensure for optimal operation.
Applications Engineer/Laboratory Analyst
Nalco Africa
Durban
01.2012 - 02.2014
- Responsible for routine and non-routine analysis using wet chemistry and instrumentation eg. UV-Vis.
- Assisting in preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly reports detailing technical problems and initiate necessary corrective measures.
- Provided services required by a customer, installation of checklist and roll-out support.
Laboratory Demonstrator
Durban University of Technology
Durban
02.2011 - 11.2011
- Training students on instrument operations and assisting the lab technician with setting up laboratory practicals.
- Practical demonstrations and supervision of students during practicals with emphasis on general lab safety and the big idea of the practical.
Inservice Trainee
SA Bioproducts
Umbogintwini
12.2008 - 11.2009
- Routine and non-routine analysis of samples, Quality assurance of in-process (intermediate) and final products analysis via analytical analysis in line with HACCP/ISO 9001/ISO 17025.
- Assisting on deciding on the validity of results and deciding when to resample/re-test based on the reliability of the results.
- Preparation of standards, evaluation of materials and preparation of reports.
- Participated in on-the-job training, working closely with supervisors and coworkers
Skills
Teamwork and Collaboration
Computer Skills
Supervision and leadership
Excellent Communication
Flexible and Adaptable
Microsoft Office
Problem-Solving
Team Management
Time Management
Dependable and Responsible
Academic and professional qualifications
- MEd (Science), Science Education, Wits University, In-progress- Final year
- PhD (Chemistry), Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Wits University, 2022
- Certificate, Project management, Wits University, 2017
- MASc (Chemistry), BioAnalytical Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT), 2015
- BTech (Chemistry), Analytical Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT), 2010
- N. Dip. Analytical Chemistry, Durban University of Technology (DUT), 2009
Membership of professional bodies
- Member of European Science Education Research Association (ESERA)
- Member of Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics Science and Technology Education (SAARMSTE)
- Member of Chromatography society of South Africa (ChromSA) - a division of SACI
- Reviewer for South African Journal of Chemistry (SAJC)
- Reviewer for Chemosphere journal
- Reviewer for Water research Journal
- Reviewer for polymer bulletin journal
- Reviewer for Frontiers
- Reviewer for Green Analytical Chemistry
Supervision of higher degrees
- Tebogo Kgame: 2018 - honours
- Sandiso Sithole: 2022 - honours
- Zamazwi Mthiyane (current) – Masters
- Mangaliso Mavuso (current) – Masters
- Thabiso Letseka (unofficially mentored for Masters)
Research publications
- Sinegugu Khulu, Somandla Ncube, Yannick Nuapia, Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela, Elizabeth Mavhunga, Luke Chimuka, Development and application of a membrane assisted solvent extraction-molecularly imprinted polymer based passive sampler for monitoring of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water, Water Research, 225, 2022, 119145, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.119145
- Sinegugu Khulu, Somandla Ncube, Yannick Nuapia, Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela, Hlanganani Tutu, Heidi Richards, Kuria Ndungu, Elizabeth Mavhunga, Luke Chimuka, Multivariate optimization of a two-way technique for extraction of pharmaceuticals in surface water using a combination of membrane assisted solvent extraction and a molecularly imprinted polymer, Chemosphere, 286, 2022, 131973, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131973
- Sinegugu Khulu, Somandla Ncube, Tebogo Kgame, Elizabeth Mavhunga, Luke Chimuka, Synthesis, characterization and application of a molecularly imprinted polymer as an adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of selected pharmaceuticals from water samples, Polym. Bull., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03553-9
- Lawrence Mzukisi Madikizela, Cornelius Rimayi, Sinegugu Khulu, Somandla Ncube, Luke Chimuka, Pharmaceuticals and personal care products as emerging freshwater pollutants in developing countries, Emerging Freshwater Pollutants, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-822850-0.00009-0
- J Bradley, S Khulu, P Moodie, M Mphahlele, Using microscience kits to address a student-teacher misconception in electric circuits: at the interface between chemistry and electricity, African Journal of Chemical Education, 2019
- Akinyemi, J Bradley, S Khulu, E Mavhunga, From compliance to integration: Microscience enables learning through practical activities, African Journal of Chemical Education, 2019
- JD Bradley, S Khulu, P Moodie, M Mphahlele, Pre-service teachers’ misconceptions about current and potential difference in electric circuits–using microscience kits in a POE activity, African Journal of Chemical Education, 2019
- K Bisetty, MI Sabela, S Khulu, M Xhakaza, L Ramsarup, Multivariate optimization of voltammetric parameters for the determination of total polyphenolic content in wine samples using an immobilized biosensor, Int. J. Electrochem. Sci, 2011
- Thabiso Letseka, Sinegugu Khulu, Heidi Richards, Mulala Simatele, Lucien James, Luke Chimuka, A comprehensive assessment of urban river pollution – The case of the Hennops River in Gauteng South Africa, (under preparation)
Conference presentations
- Institutional Research Day (2014), Study of NSAIDs interactions with Human Serum Albumin by Capillary Electrophoresis Frontal Analysis and molecular docking, Oral presentation
- ChromSA postgraduate student workshop, 2019, Synthesis and application of a selective molecularly imprinted polymer in solid-phase extraction of emerging pollutants from dam water, Oral presentation
- ChromSA postgraduate student workshop, 2021, Multivariate optimization of a two-way technique for extraction of pharmaceuticals in surface water using a combination of membrane assisted solvent extraction and a molecularly imprinted polymer, Oral presentation
- Saarmste 2021, From compliance to integration: micro-science enables learning through practical activities, Oral presentation
- Saarmste 2022, Recalibrated Laboratory Practicals and Demonstration, Oral roundtable presentation
- ICCE 2022, Recalibrated Laboratory Practicals and Demonstration: Student Performances in fourth year Physical Science, Oral Presentation
- TUSE 2022 Education week, Effects of human activities on water quality sustainability: A case of water pollution in South Africa, Invited guest Lecturer
- SACI Young Chemist Symposium 2022, Development And Application of a Membrane Assisted Solvent Extraction-Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Based Passive Sampler for Monitoring of Selected Pharmaceuticals in Surface Water, Oral Presentation
- ISPAC 2023, Synthesis, characterization and application of a molecularly imprinted polymer as an adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of selected pharmaceuticals from water samples, Oral Presentation
- ISEAC41 2023 (Amsterdam), Development of a novel passive sampler based on membrane assisted solvent extraction and molecularly imprinted polymer for monitoring of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water, Oral Presentation
- SAARMSTE 2024 (Namibia), Application of teacher-related science content knowledge in teacher development programmes: A case with organic chemistry, Oral Presentation
- SAARMSTE 2025 (accepted for presentation), Investigating the impact of a TerSCK based curriculum in improving pre-service teachers’ content knowledge: A case with organic reaction mechanisms, Oral presentation
Awards
- Institutional Research Day (2014), Best Oral presentation in the Faculty of Science
- TÜSE 2022 Education week, (Invited guest Lecturer), all expenses funded by NRF-DAAD
- ChromSA postgraduate student workshop, 2021, 3rd place for Oral presentation
- ICCE 2022, Oral Presentation, all expenses funded by ICCE through competitive awards
- ISPAC 2023, Oral presentation, travel grant awarded by IUPAC
Professional references
- Luke Chimuka, Wits University, Professor in Analytical Chemistry, Luke.Chimuka@wits.ac.za
- Elizabeth Mavhunga, Wits University, Professor in Science Education, Elizabeth.Mavhunga@wits.ac.za
- Reuben Dlamini, Wits University, Head division, Reuben.Dlamini@wits.ac.za
- Leketi Makalela, Wits University, Deputy head of school: Research, Leketi.Makalela@wits.ac.za
Timeline
Sessional Lecturer
Wits University
02.2023 - Current
Natural Science Assessments Moderator
Lyceum
02.2023 - Current
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Wits University
08.2022 - 11.2022
Research Coordinator
Wits University
02.2019 - Current
Senior Laboratory Technician
Wits University
09.2016 - Current
Quality Control/Utilities Technician
SRF Flexipack
02.2014 - 08.2016
Applications Engineer/Laboratory Analyst
Nalco Africa
01.2012 - 02.2014
Laboratory Demonstrator
Durban University of Technology
02.2011 - 11.2011
Inservice Trainee
SA Bioproducts
12.2008 - 11.2009