Staff Faculty: Science and Technology

Mr. Kao is the Demonstrator in the Department of Physics and Electronics and the member of the Energy Research Center. He is in charge of Physics practicals and tutorials. He holds MSc in Sustainable Energy from National University of Lesotho. His research interests are primarily on mini-grids systems design and analysis (solar PV, wind) as well as performance analysis of solar thermal systems.

Mr. Lara is in charge of Physics practicals and tutorials Work in 1st year physics laboratory; responsible for conducting physics tutorials and experiments; marking tests and exams. His research interests are related to material science and nanotechnology (under experimental and solid state physics).

Mr. Mokeke is a Laboratory Instructor in the Department of Physics and Electronics and the member of the Energy Research Center. He holds MSc in Sustainable Energy from National University of Lesotho. His research interests include assessment of impact renewable energy generators to the grid, modelling simulations and optimization of microgrids, energy management systems and design and evaluation of solar thermal systems.

Mr. Mokoena teaches microcontrollers, control systems and instrumentation and conducts student project supervision. His research interests are in embedded controllers built around microcontrollers and Software for control engineering applications.

Mr. Koetje’s teaches control systems and instrumentation, theory of electronics and conducts student project supervision. His research interests are in Optimisation and Multivariable Control, Control application in Renewable energy systems, Nuclear instrumentation and applications.

Mr. Mohlalisi’s duties involve teaching Analogue Circuit Design, Digital Circuit Design, and Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design (VLSI) and Supervision of student projects. His research Interests cover Reconfigurable Hardware, VLSI, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, Astroparticle Physics.

Mr. Molapo is a lecturer in the Department of Physics and Electronics at NUL and a member of the Energy Research Centre. He holds Masters of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering from Lehigh University, USA; where he worked on Reliability and Efficiency Assessment of Lehigh Electricity Distribution System and Implementation of Fault Indicators on 12 kV feeder lines. His research interests include solar thermal systems, solar PV, wind energy and energy demand and supply modeling based on renewable energy technologies.

Mr. Fabiane teaches a number of general physics courses including thermodynamics and statistical physics. His research area is in Carbon technology and materials with specific activities in Large-area graphene film synthesis, characterization and applications in photovoltaic cells, supercapacitors and electronic devices.

Academic Background: – Completed his BEng in Electronics Engineering at the National University of Lesotho (NUL). – At the University of Cape Town (UCT) in the Electrical Engineering department (in conjunction with iThemba LABS), he completed his MSc which focused on applying concepts of computer vision, image processing and control theory to solve a medical image processing problem involving prostate cancer. – At the Laser Research Institute (Stellenbosch University), in close relations with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), he completed his PhD in Atomic & Laser Physics focusing on demonstration (and control) of the first trapped Ytterbium ion qubits in Africa. Research interests include: 1. Image processing & Computer vision, 2. Machine Learning & Data Science, 3. Adaptive Control & State Estimation, 4. RF Systems & Power Law Noise Modelling, 5. Ion Trapping & Quantum Computing, 6. Quantum Measurement & Feedback Control, 7. Quantum Foundations & Interpretations, 8. Econophysics & Quantum Economics. Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=I_hyY2kAAAAJ Lecturing: Currently teaching the following courses in the department of Physics and Electronics; 1. P2500 Mechanics & Mechanical Properties of Matter, 2. P2508 Introduction to Electronics, 3. P441 Electromagnetic Theory II, 4. P443 Solid State Physics.

Mr. Mathaha has been a consultant in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry for many years and he now teaches thermodynamics and modern physics. His research interests are in utilization of renewable energy technologies for electricity generation in non-grid rural electrification.