21/08/2026
21 August 2026
COMMUNIQUÉ FROM THE OFFICE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
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PROFESSOR TRICIA NAICKER NAMED DISTINGUISHED YOUNG WOMAN RESEARCHER
Dear Staff and Students
It is with immense pride that we congratulate Professor Tricia Naicker, Director of the Catalysis and Peptide Research Unit at the University, on winning the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher category at the 23rd South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) ceremony held in Johannesburg last night.
Presented by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the SAWiSA celebrate the achievements of South African women in science, technology and innovation, particularly researchers whose work advances knowledge, drives innovation and inspires the next generation of women and girls to pursue careers in these fields.
This is a fitting recognition for Professor Naicker, whose research excellence and commitment to scientific advancement continue to make an impact well beyond UKZN.
Professor Naicker has led multidisciplinary research that brings together synthetic chemistry, microbiology, and biochemistry to advance drug discovery. Her work has contributed to the development of novel compounds capable of restoring the activity of existing antibiotics, with some now entering Phase 1 clinical trials. This research addresses antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing challenges facing global health.
Her recognition also reflects the strength of UKZN’s research environment and the contributions of our academics to advancing knowledge and developing solutions to complex societal challenges.
It reinforces our ambition to become a globally top-ranked, research-intensive university that responds to major societal, economic and environmental challenges. It also speaks to UKZN’s ability to nurture research talent, create opportunities for collaboration and innovation, and provide an environment in which emerging researchers can realise their full potential.
Professor Naicker’s own journey reflects this commitment to developing academic talent. A proud UKZN alumna, she obtained her M.Sc. (cum laude) in 2008 for her work in synthetic chemistry and completed her Ph.D. at UKZN in 2011, focusing on the development and application of novel tetrahydroisoquinoline-based organocatalysts.
She began her academic career in 2013, following postdoctoral studies in Denmark, and has since risen through the ranks to become one of UKZN’s leading researchers.
Her distinguished record includes the 2018 NRF Research Excellence Award for Early Career and Emerging Researcher in South Africa, the UKZN Vice-Chancellor’s Award in 2019 and the 2020 Raikes Medal from the South African Chemical Institute.
An NRF C1-rated researcher, Naicker has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications, one patent, and three book chapters. She also contributed to Dear Woman in STEM: A Collection for the Next Generation, and has produced invited works focused on mentoring and empowering women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
We congratulate Professor Naicker on this well-deserved recognition. Her achievement is a source of immense pride for the University and an inspiration to young women and girls pursuing careers in science, technology and innovation.
Professor Nana Poku
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
