Prof Andrew Swarts is an Associate Professor at the Chemistry department of North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom campus.
He was awarded a PhD degree under the supervision of Prof Selwyn Mapolie from Stellenbosch University in 2014. Prof Swarts' doctoral studies focused on the development of late transition-metal complexes for the oligomerization/polymerisation of alpha-olefins.
Since 2014, Prof Swarts has established a research niche within the Catalysis and Synthesis Research Group at NWU, focussing on the development and mechanistic elucidation of benign homogeneous catalysts for oxidative and reductive organic transformations. His research thrust over the past four years has been supported by a number of sources: NWU Young Researcher Grant, NWU Research Infrastructure Grant and a National Research Foundation's (NRF) Thuthuka Grant. To date, the total grants have been in excess of ZAR 2 million.
In 2018 Prof Swarts spent five months in the laboratory of Prof Martin Albrecht of the University of Bern in Switzerland. Prof Albrecht is an internationally renowned Expert in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. Funding support for the research visit was provided by an NRF/ERC Collaborative Grant, NWU Mobility Grant and Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Sabbatical Scholarship.
Prof Swarts has acted as Reviewer for a number of scientific journals. He has served and continues to serve as Panel Review Member and Moderator for NRF funding instruments. In addition, he has served as Internal and External Examiner for a number of MSc and PhD candidates. External institutions include the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits).
He was a Member of the Catalysis Society of South Africa's (CATSA) National Executive Committee from 2018-2020, a Member of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Board and have taken Leadership of the Catalysis and Synthesis Research Group at North-West University.
Prof Swarts' career plan is focused on establishing a research group with interests in transition metal-mediated organic transformations, with a focus on developing catalytic protocols which employ earth-abundant metals under benign reaction conditions.
