Dr Cerene Rathilal and Ms Mabotja Moshima

Dr Cerene Rathilal (UKZN) is currently hosting intern Ms Mabotja Moshima (UL), who began her 21-day internship on 2 June 2025.

We have officially kickstarted our hybrid Winter Internship Programme 2025, aimed at nurturing the next generation of researchers in the fields of theoretical and computational science.

The programme began on 2 June and will run until the end of July, spanning up to 21 days, depending on the arrangements made by host supervisors.

Designed for BSc Honours and first-year Master’s students, the internship enables participants to engage in hands-on, small-scale research projects aligned with our core thematic areas. These projects are structured to serve as stepping stones for more extensive Honours or MSc-level research in the future.

This year’s call attracted significant interest, with 79 applications submitted. Following a competitive selection process, 19 candidates were chosen to join the winter cohort.

Interns will be hosted at several institutions across South Africa, namely:

  • Nelson Mandela University
  • University of Cape Town
  • University of the Witwatersrand
  • University of Johannesburg
  • South African National Biodiversity Institute
  • University of Venda
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Stellenbosch University

This year’s hybrid format blends online and in-person engagement, promoting flexibility while maintaining a high level of mentorship and collaboration across institutions and research environments.

NITheCS is committed to broadening participation in high-impact science, strengthening national research capacity, and promoting equitable access to research opportunities. The 2025 Winter Internship Programme is a testament to this mission, and offers students a transformative research experience that may shape the future direction of their academic and professional careers.