Prof Anja Franken

  Associate Professor
  +27 18 299 2437
  anja.franken@nwu.ac.za
  F10-G11, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Occupational Hygiene
  Occupational Hygiene

Prof Anja Franken’s research is focused on the in vitro skin permeation of platinum group metals and the different factors potentially influencing the skin permeability. Her focus has expanded to include the investigation of the skin as a barrier and workplace factors that may influence the effectiveness of this barrier. She is registered as an Occupational Hygiene Technologist with the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH). Prof Franken lectures undergraduate modules in Occupational Hygiene and she is part of the team that has developed the first professional degree in Occupational Hygiene in South Africa (BHSc in Occupational Hygiene).

  Prof Sanette (JS) Brits

  Associate Professor, Director: School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
  +27 18 285 2789
  10069917@nwu.ac.za
  F12-124, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Physiology
  The effect of stress on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems

Prof Brits has a passion for creative classroom environments and community outreach projects to enhance education and health. Effective science communication through different teaching approaches can create opportunities for active participation and co-operative learning in the lecture hall. Crossing pedagogical boundaries of physiology, kinesiology and education broadened her view on teaching, learning and research.

  Prof Yolandi Breet

  Associate Professor, Subject chair: Physiology
  +27 18 299 2442
  21195706@nwu.ac.za
  F12-116, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Physiology
  Large artery stiffness and early vascular aging

Prof Yolandi Breet is an Associate Professor and researcher in the field of cardiovascular physiology and is also the subject chair of Physiology. Her research focuses on factors leading to the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Her specific interests include large artery stiffness and early vascular aging. She holds a Y-rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and is also a member of the Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology, Sub-Saharan Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN) and serves on the Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE) Northern Region Executive Committee.

  Dr Annemarie Wentzel

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 299 2436
  annemarie.wentzel@nwu.ac.za
  F12-108, Potchefstroom Campus,
  PhD Physiology, MSc Physiology, Diploma in Mental Health (DipMH)
  Neuro-cardiology and cardiometabolic stress reactivity

Dr Wentzel is a senior lecturer and researcher in Physiology. She focuses on exploring the physiological mechanisms activated during acute and chronic cardiometabolic, hydrodynamic and psychological stress responses within healthy and at-risk populations. Ultimately, she wants to investigate how these mechanisms may differ in, and translate to specific health outcomes (specifically diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease). She is a member of the American Heart Association (AHA), American Autonomic Society (AAS), South African Heart Association (SAHA) and Physiological Society of South Africa (PSSA).

  Dr Gontse (GG) Mokwatsi

  Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader: Physiology
  +27 18 299 2489
  Gontse.Mokwatsi@nwu.ac.za
  F12-104, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Physiology, Post Graduate Certificate in Education - FET phase.
  Cardiovascular physiology

Dr Mokwatsi is appointed as a senior lecturer at the Department of Physiology and has researcher responsibilities within the Hypertension in Africa Research Team. Her research interests include the use of home blood pressure monitoring, early development of hypertension, blood pressure (morning and night-time) and arterial stiffness, especially in young South Africans. She is a member of the South African Hypertension Society (SAHS), Golden Key International Honour Society, Organization for Women in Science in the Developing World (OWSD), International Society of Hypertension New Investigator Network and a research fellow with the International Society of Hypertension.

  Dr Sonette du Preez

  Programme Leader
  +27 18 285 2689
  dupreezsonette@nwu.ac.za
  F10-G09, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Occupational Hygiene
  Occupational hygiene

Dr du Preez is a researcher and lecturer in the field of Occupational Hygiene and is mainly focused on identifying the health risks associated with Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) processes undertaken at different facilities in South-Africa. Her research is also aimed at providing important information necessary for training employees on the health consequences of being exposed to the materials used in additive manufacturing and to deliver effective control measures. Dr du Preez lectures undergraduate modules in Occupational Hygiene and is registered as an Occupational Hygiene Assistant with the Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH).

  Prof Leandi Lammertyn

  Associate Professor
  +27 18 299 2435
  Leandi.Lammertyn@nwu.ac.za
  F12-107, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Physiology, Post graduate certificate in education - FET phase
  Haemostasis, metabolic risk factors and cardiovascular disease

Prof Lammertyn is a Senior Lecturer in the department of Physiology at the North-West University. In addition, she is also involved in conducting cardiovascular research as part of the Hypertension in Africa Research Team. She is the principle investigator of the Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africa study. Her own research interests lie in the investigation of metabolic, cardiovascular and lifestyle markers, and how they relate to microvascular and macrovascular changes, especially in the South African population.

  Dr Adriaan Jacobs

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 299 2438
  adriaan.jacobs@nwu.ac.za
  F12-111, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  MSc in Biochemistry, PhD in Physiology
  Metabolism, biomarkers, cardiovascular physiology

Dr Jacobs is appointed as a senior lecturer at the Department of Physiology and conducts research within the Hypertension in Africa Research Team. He holds an MSc in Biochemistry (with a specific focus on metabolism) and has several years of experience as a laboratory technician in diagnostic and research laboratories. His PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology focused on the association between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vascular structure and function. His current research interests include biomarkers and their association with lifestyle factors and cardiovascular disease.

  Dr Esmé Jansen van Vuren

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 299 2080
  esme.jansenvanvuren@nwu.ac.za
  F12-106, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Physiology
  Cardiovascular physiology and biological psychiatry

Dr Jansen van Vuren is a senior lecturer and researcher in the field of Physiology. Her research interests are to investigate cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric disorders as co-morbidities in African populations. She is a member of the American Heart Association (AHA), Physiology Society of Southern Africa (PSSA) and the Southern African Neuroscience Society (SANS).

  Dr Hlengiwe Mbongwa

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 389 2807
  hlengiwe.mbongwa@nwu.ac.za
  A13-102, Mahikeng Campus,
  PhD, MBA
  Diabetes, pharmacognosy

Dr. Mbongwa is appointed as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Physiology, NWU in 2021. She has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from NWU and an MBA from UKZN. She is also a scientific researcher within the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART). Her research areas of interest include type II diabetes (T2DM), gestational diabetes (GDM), and pharmacognosy (plants or alternative natural sources used for medicinal purposes). She is a member of the South African Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SASBMB) and the Southern African Society of Human Genetics (SASHG).

  Dr Stefan (SJL) Linde

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 285 2456
  Stefan.Linde@nwu.ac.za
  F10-G10, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  PhD in Occupational Hygiene
  Occupational hygiene

The main focus of Dr Linde's research is the assessment of total exposure to hazardous chemical substances that workers, in different industries, experience via all routes of exposure. These industries include mining and refining of chemicals, such as precious metals, and additive manufacturing. His teaching focuses on occupational hygiene and the methods used to measure chemical and physical stressors in the workplace, as well as other occupational hygiene subjects such as occupational toxicology and biological monitoring.

  Ms Cynthia Ramotsehoa

  Senior Lecturer
  +27 18 299 2062
  cynthia.ramotsehoa@nwu.ac.za
  F12-113, Potchefstroom campus, Potchefstroom
  MSc in Occupational Hygiene
  Occupational hygiene

My main research focus is in occupational exposure of outdoor workers to solar ultraviolet radiation (SUVR). The primary aim of the research is to establish a baseline exposure dose of these workers to seeing that there is no occupational exposure limit in South Africa and very little work has been done in this regard. The secondary aim is to establish a database of the number of workers likely to be exposed, evaluate their knowledge of health effects associated with SUVR and effectiveness of the clothing provided or worn. In the longer term, I aim to widen my footprint through collaboratory projects with other national and international researchers in this field.

  Mr Corné (CJ) van der Merwe

  Subject Chairman
  +27 18 299 2079
  12835439@nwu.ac.za
  F12-112, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  MSc in Occupational Hygiene
  Basic physiology, occupational hygiene legislation, asbestos and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure

Mr van der Merwe lectures ventilation and risk management within the context of occupational hygiene to undergraduate students and supervises postgraduate students pursuing a MSc in Occupational Hygiene. His current research focusses on Occupational Hygiene Education in the South African context.

  Ms Alicia van der Merwe

  Lecturer
  +27 18 299 1984
  alicia.vandermerwe@nwu.ac.za
  F12-123, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  MPH (Master of Public Health)
  Occupational hygiene, public health, physiology

Ms Alicia van der Merwe is involved with teaching and learning of undergraduate students in the field of physiology and occupational hygiene and supervises postgraduate students in the field of occupational hygiene.

  Mr Clyde (CA) Uren

  Junior Lecturer
  +27 18 299 2440
  22327932@nwu.ac.za
  F12-110, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
  BSc (Hons) in Occupational Hygiene
  Occupational hygiene

Mr Uren’s research is focused on the influence of alcohol based hand rubs on skin barrier function. He is involved as a junior lecturer in the teaching and learning of undergraduate students in the field of occupational hygiene.