Twelve new graduates-in-training join SARAO for 2023
Twelve new graduates-in-training have joined SARAO for the 2023 Graduate Programme, the largest number of recruits the organisation has welcomed in recent years.
The Graduate Programme (previously the Young Professionals Development Programme) is one of the SARAO Human Capacity Development programmes, and has been providing employment opportunities to talented science and engineering graduates since 2014. SARAO Inside Info caught up with a few of the new recruits.
Thamari Dlamini (28) is from Barberton in Mpumalanga. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Sciences, majoring in Chemistry and Physics, and an Honours degree in Physics. She joined the Telescope Operations team at SARAO as a graduate-in-training. “I find SARAO fascinating because to me, it is an ocean of experts and I am excited to fish as much as I can and be well equipped careerwise,” says Thamari.
Luvo Xaba (22) joined the Electrical Engineering department at SARAO. He hails from uMzimkhulu at Mahawini village in KwaZulu-Natal and obtained a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He plans on completing a Masters degree at the University of Cape Town soon, focusing on Harmonic mitigation in power networks: doing an investigation into the potential of intelligent control of grid-integrated renewable energy sources.
“As a graduate in training I believe I am working with very good and kind people in my department. They are always ready to help, within these few months I have been exposed to real world work. I have taken part in some of the projects already and I am working very hard to make contributions to the team,” says Luvo.
Tamera Kassie (22) joined the Science, Technology and Processing division at SARAO and studied at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she obtained a BSc degree and an Honours degree in Applied Mathematics and Astronomy. Her Honours research was focused on synergistic tests of cosmology with HIRAX and the Rubin-LSST Survey, and she is currently registered as a first year MSc student at the University of the Western Cape. Her research will focus on cosmology with MeerKAT.
“The SARAO graduate programme provides me with an opportunity to further equip myself with expertise in radio astronomy. Being a part of the MeerKAT community in the Pipelines Team and actively working with MeerKAT within SARAO is in itself a phenomenal opportunity, with many avenues for acquiring the necessary skills for pursuing radio astronomy as a career in South Africa,” says Tamera.
Siphilisile Dhlamini (25) hails from Harrismith in the Free State and holds a Diploma in Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering, both obtained from the Durban University of Technology. Her next goal is to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering), followed by a Masters degree in Engineering.
She joined the Civil and Structural Engineering department at SARAO.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to combine science and engineering to build radio telescopes of the highest caliber. My exposure to a multi-engineering setting will enhance my vision and experience beyond their scope. This along with a chance to further my education is what I have always dreamed of as the most ideal career launch,” says Siphilisile.
Vuyolwethu Mlipha (23) joined the SARAO Project Management Office as a graduate-in-training and hails from Mkhondo in Mpumalanga. She has a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Industrial Engineering and a Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours in Industrial Engineering from the Durban University of Technology.
“To be part of the Graduate Programme and SARAO is amazing. I say this because it is a new environment, quite exciting to adapt to. It is healthy. It is perfect for me because I always want to learn something new, or be around people that are developing/growing each day either by education or personality. It also allows me to learn more about science as I have always loved science,” says Vuyolwethu.
Jake Thuketane (23) joined SARAO’s Civil and Structural Engineering department. He obtained a BEng Tech in Civil Engineering in 2021 and completed a BEng Tech (Honours) in Civil Engineering in 2022, both at the University of Johannesburg. His Honours research was based on The flood frequency analysis of the Jukskei River, using statistical probability methods to predict flow values corresponding to specific return periods. Jake hails from Tzaneen in Limpopo.
“The finest thing that has ever happened to me is becoming a part of the graduate program at SARAO. They do have their employees’ best interests in mind. Rarely does a business invest in the professional growth of its staff without also considering how the staff will pay back all costs. I am grateful!”, says Jake.
Ahmed Vanker (21) grew up in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering specialising in Mechatronics from the University of Cape Town. His research topic for the final project was ISAR imaging for aircraft, an innovative way of identifying aircraft with radar. At SARAO he is based in the Electronics department.
“I always had an interest in astronomy and the world beyond our planet. SARAO has been the foremost company in this regard in the country especially through its MeerKAT radio telescope. I remember reading about this during my matric year, and I was amazed at the advanced technology that we have in South Africa. I never thought that I might end up in this position one day,” says Ahmed.
Xitsembiso Baloyi (23) hails from Limpopo and obtained a BSc Honours degree in Computer Science at the University of Limpopo in 2022. Her future plans include enrolling for a Masters degree in Data Science or Software Engineering. At SARAO she is a graduate-in-training in the Software department.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and I thank SARAO for offering me the opportunity to learn and apply my skills. It is an honour being part of the graduate programme and SARAO because you get to learn more about radio telescopes and software engineering at same time,” says Xitsembiso.
Nomzamo Mokoena (22) hails from Qwaqwa in the Free State. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree specialising in Astrophysics and Mathematics. She completed an Honours degree in Astrophysics through the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme at the University of Cape Town.
“I am a graduate in training in the Telescope Operations department at SARAO. This is a great environment for me to grow and I appreciate learning how all the departments work together. I was fortunate that during my university career, I became familiar with MeerKAT data. Now, working in operations where we control the telescope and observe it, gives me the opportunity to appreciate MeerKAT’s wonders and understand how observations work,” says Nomzamo.
Suprise Sithole (25) is from Pretoria and studied Information Technology at the Tshwane University of Technology. He joined the SARAO Software team.
“This programme is a great experience and a great opportunity to learn and grow my career,” says Suprise.
