Dr Tshepiso Ndhlovu a self-motivated and passionate academic with a focus on medicinal plants and their applications. He completed his Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (BIKS) in 2016 at North West University (NWU), South Africa, followed by a Master’s degree (MIKS) in Ethnobotany in 2019, where he researched medicinal plants used by women for cosmetics in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. His research was published in peer-reviewed journals and featured in media outlets like The Conversation and SAFM. Driven by a passion for childhood health, Dr Ndhlovu pursued a PhD focused on medicinal plants used to treat childhood diseases. His thesis on medicinal plants in North West Province was published in 4 international peer-reviewed journals and shared through popular science platforms and radio. He has also collaborated with national and international researchers, including those from the Agricultural Research Council, University of Mpumalanga, and the Salk Institute.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr Ndhlovu received several awards, including Faculty Emerging Researcher of the Year 2024 and the Best Post-PhD Oral Presentation at the South African Annual Young Scientist Conference 2024. He has also been awarded for his research addressing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Dr Ndhlovu is committed to mentoring emerging scholars, having co-supervised numerous students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He actively contribute to course development and review at the University of Mpumalanga and North West University (NWU). With expertise in ethnopharmacology, ethnobotany, and indigenous knowledge systems, he continues to research and promote the conservation of medicinal plants, publishing 23 peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters. His research has been cited over 331 times, and he currently have an H-index of 11 and an i10-index of 11.
