Meet the Team
Professional. Progressive. Persistent.
The Analytical Lab has a dedicated 7-member team with experience analysing a variety of routine and non-routine samples, particularly those with complex matrices.
Chief Scientific Officer
Mmboneni Tshivhase
Mmboneni was appointed Chief Scientific Officer/Lab manager to the Analytical Lab in 2023. She is responsible for overseeing the Analytical Team and other operations in the lab.
Lab Assistant
Christophe Cibangwa
Chris holds a Dip. in Analytical Chemistry from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He is an associated member of SACI. Chris is currently pursuing his Adv. Dip. in Analytical Chemistry in 2023.
Chris started his internship with the Analytical Lab in 2021, then started working for the Analytical Lab part-time from 2022. He is responsible for analyses on MP-AES and ICP-OES. In his spare time, he enjoys the visual arts and playing basketball.
![SMALL CHE Departmental Staff Russell 002[99].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b94b28_4076f8c68b5e447b994b273ed97b5ec3~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_375,w_1890,h_2085/fill/w_289,h_319,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/SMALL%20CHE%20Departmental%20Staff%20Russell%20002%5B99%5D.png)
Senior Technical Assistant
Russell Geland
Russell holds a N. Dip. in Analytical Chemistry from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Russell started his internship with the Analytical Lab in 2014, then worked for the Analytical Lab as a Lab Analyst from 2015.
In 2019, he was appointed as Technical Assistant and in 2021, as Senior Technical Assistant. He is responsible for microwave-assisted acid digestion, gas, and waste disposal services for the Department of Chemical Engineering. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor physical activities and listening to music.
Lab Assistant
Sibongile Nyimbinya
Sibongile holds a N. Dip. in Analytical Chemistry from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Sibongile started her internship with the Analytical Lab in 2018, then worked for the Analytical Lab as a Lab Assistant from 2019.
She is responsible for performing analyses on ICP-OES, MP-AES, and sometimes microwave-assisted acid digestion, as well as assisting with the procurement of consumables. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor physical activities.
QC Lab Assistant
Shene Rogers
Shene holds a N. Dip. in Analytical Chemistry from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Shene started her internship with the Analytical Lab in 2018, then worked for the Analytical Lab as a Lab Assistant from 2019. In 2021, she was appointed as Quality Control Lab Assistant.
She is responsible for analyses on the MP-AES, ICP-OES, assisting the Lab Manager to procure consumables, chemicals, and other ad-hoc duties. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to gospel music and spending time with family.
Junior Lab Assistant
Mufudzi Chaza
Mufudzi holds a BSc(Eng) and MSc(Eng) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. His postgraduate research revolves around developing ruthenium-based catalysts suitable for production of next generation green fuels in Power-to-Liquids-based Fischer Tropsch synthesis. He is responsible for material characterisation using chemical adsorption techniques on our Micrometrics Tristar II 3020, ASAP 2020 and Autochems 2920 and 2950.
In his own time, he enjoys hiking and playing sports when he is not watching sports.
Junior Lab Assistant
Zahra Motlekar
Zahra is a final year undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. She is on schedule to complete her BScEng in 2023. She started working part-time for the Analytical Lab in 2022.
She is responsible for particle size analysis on the Malvern Mastersizer and Zetasizer. She also assists with training of students and ad-hoc duties for the Lab Manager.
In her spare time, enjoys spending time with family and friends when she is not reading one of her favourite books.
Team Activities
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