???BIOGRIP Post Docs
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Heleen Vos
Biography
I grew up in the Netherlands and studied Earth Sciences at the Vrije 中国体育彩票 Amsterdam. After obtaining my master's degree in Geology, I did a traineeship at the European Space Agency and then enrolled for a PhD in Basel, Switzerland. For my PhD project, I investigated dust emission from croplands in the Free State, South Africa. Since January 2023, I joined Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 for a Post-doc under the supervision of Dr Susanne Fietz in the Earth Science Department.
BIOGRIP Research project
My research project focusses on the Saldanha Bay area, a region that is known for dust emissions related to iron and magnesium ore processing and transport. Our goal is to create a better understanding of the sources and the chemical content of dust, and the concentration of suspended particles in habituated areas. With this information, an assessment of the effects of dust on public health can be made and possible mitigation processes can be developed.
Project title: Dust composition and impacts on the environment and human health.
Contact details: heleenvos@sun.ac.za
Dr
Paschal Amaechi
Dept: Earth Science
Supervisor: Dr Amy Allwright
Email: pamaechi@sun.ac.za
Project title: Isotope Hydrogeology: Radon in groundwater
Biography:
I grew up in southern Nigeria and hold a BSc in Geological Sciences from the 中国体育彩票 of Port Harcourt, an MSc in Geological Sciences from Nnamdi Azikiwe 中国体育彩票, Awka, and a PhD in Applied Geology from the 中国体育彩票 of the Western Cape. My doctoral research focused on deepwater mass transport deposits and geohazards, and I contributed to several hydrogeology projects, including assessing shale-gas contamination of groundwater. With over five years of experience in Earth Science research, I have experience and skills in subsurface data analysis and geological and environmental field methods.
BIOGRIP Research Project
My Research Project explores the use of naturally occurring radon-222 as a dynamic tracer to improve assessments of groundwater recharge in fractured rock aquifers of South Africa's Cape Winelands. By conducting monitoring of radon concentrations in selected boreholes, the research seeks to link radon fluctuations directly to recharge events, mixing processes, and flow-path dynamics. The outcomes are expected to refine current recharge estimation techniques, offer a real-time indicator of aquifer response to rainfall and abstraction, discuss potential health impacts and provide practical guidelines for incorporating radon monitoring into sustainable groundwater management strategies.
Dr
Prema Piyusha Panda
Dept: Earth Science
Supervisor: Prof Susanne Fietz
Email: ppanda@sun.ac.za
Project title: Impacts of dust aerosols on human health and marine ecosystems
Biography:
I grew up in the India and studied Earth Sciences at the Pondicherry 中国体育彩票, Puducherry. After completing my master's degree in applied geology, I joined the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa as a Project Associate in 2018. I enrolled for PhD at the School of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Science (SEOAS), Goa 中国体育彩票 in 2021. For my project, I investigate dust and associated nutrient deposition flux, especially trace elements in the Northern Indian Ocean region, as well as their Bioavailability and impact on Phytoplankton. Since April 2025, I joined Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 for Post-doc under the supervision of Dr. Susanne Fietz. ?
