As we celebrate the 2025 UNESCO International Day of Women and Girls in Science themed "Her Voice in Science," we honour the remarkable contributions of women academics across diverse fields in the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Science. This day reminds us of the importance of amplifying female voices in science and fostering an inclusive environment where talent thrives.
In celebrating this international occasion, we proudly feature two remarkable scientists from the Faculty of Science - Dr Maxleene Sandasi, a dedicated staff member from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, whose work is advancing healthcare solutions; and Dr Jean Purdon, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Nature Conservation, whose research contributes to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.
Their achievements embody the spirit of this celebration, showcasing the impact of women in science at TUT and beyond.
Dr Maxleene Sandasi – Department of Pharmaceutical Science
Dr Maxleene Sandasi’s journey in Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of dedication, innovation, and a passion for advancing medicinal plant research. Having earned her Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from TUT, she has since established herself as a leading researcher in the field. She currently serves as a Technologist at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is a core member of both the SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit and The Phytomedicine Research Group. Her work focuses on integrating phytomedicines into modern healthcare systems, ensuring their quality, safety and efficacy.
Dr Maxleene Sandasi
“My goal is to advance knowledge in medicinal plant research and support the integration of phytomedicines into modern healthcare systems,” says Dr Sandasi. “By using advanced scientific techniques, we can validate the quality and safety of these products, ensuring they are both effective and suitable for therapeutic use.”
Her research is dedicated to evaluating herbal raw materials and products, using advanced techniques such as chromatography, vibrational spectroscopy and imaging technologies. Through chemical profiling of secondary metabolites in South African medicinal plants, she plays a crucial role in species authentication and the detection of adulterations or species substitutions. Her expertise in plant metabolomics and chemometrics has allowed her to monitor metabolite patterns across various plant species, helping to identify key biomarker compounds that contribute to medicinal properties.
Beyond chemical analysis, Dr Sandasi explores the biological effects of medicinal plants, including their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. She has also pioneered research using zebrafish larvae as an in vivo model to assess wound healing, skin pigmentation and neurological disorders such as epilepsy and anxiety. “The zebrafish model allows us to study various biological effects of medicinal plants in a way that provides valuable insights into their potential therapeutic applications,” she explains. Her efforts in this field were instrumental in establishing the zebrafish research facility within the Faculty of Science, where she continues to oversee its daily operations.
Her scientific contributions are extensive, with an impressive h-index of 19. She has published 47 papers in accredited journals, contributed four book chapters, co-edited two books and delivered 20 presentations at both local and international conferences. As a dedicated mentor, she has co-supervised and graduated four postgraduate students and is currently supervising eight others, fostering the next generation of researchers in her field.
In addition to her research and teaching, Dr Sandasi serves as the Managing Editor for the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Elsevier) and is an active reviewer for numerous scientific journals. Her expertise and commitment to advancing pharmaceutical research were further recognised in 2023 when she received a prestigious Bronze Award from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). This award, granted under the SAMRC Herbal Drugs Research Unit, honoured her outstanding contributions to scientific research, particularly in assessing the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal medicines.
Reflecting on this achievement, she states, “Receiving the SAMRC Bronze Award was a tremendous honour. It affirms the importance of our work in ensuring that herbal medicines meet the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.”
Through her ground-breaking work, Dr Sandasi continues to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and modern healthcare, ensuring that herbal medicines are both scientifically validated and safely integrated into healthcare systems. Her contributions to medicinal plant research, mentorship and scientific leadership serve as an inspiration to aspiring scientists and a testament to the vital role women play in shaping the future of pharmaceutical sciences.
Dr Jean Purdon – Department of Nature Conservation
Having recently joined TUT as a Post-doctoral fellow, Dr Jean Purdon has worked as a Marine Mammal Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitor throughout Africa since 2012. Here is her story.
Dr Jean Purdon
“My interests have always focused on applied science, where the outcomes have specific management and conservation implications. Over the years, my research has encompassed multiple species in both terrestrial and marine environments. Science has allowed me to work in incredible and pristine environments with a variety of taxa. These have ranged from the beautiful Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, where I studied lions, to the diverse Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa, where I focused on ants as bioindicators.
I later found myself on the remote, pristine Marion Island, studying elephant seals, fur seals and orcas. From there, I went on to work with cetaceans as a marine mammal observer and a passive acoustic monitor on seismic vessels. It was during this time that I realised South Africa lacked the appropriate regulations to protect marine fauna from acoustic pollution. This realisation led me to embark on a lengthy PhD, focusing on how anthropogenic activities impact cetaceans in South Africa and how we could best protect them. To mitigate existing threats, I examined their distribution in relation to marine protected areas (MPAs), important marine mammal areas (IMMAs) and ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSAs).
Now, as a postdoctoral researcher at TUT, I am continuing this work in collaboration with the Whale Unit at the MRI, University of Pretoria. Our research focuses on acoustic pollution in the ocean and how best to regulate it. We have also launched the CetEZZ Project, which is exploring South Africa’s offshore environment to determine where cetaceans occur and what threats they face.
As a woman in science, the journey is not always easy. I have had two children, which has significantly altered my career path. At present, spending extended periods at sea is an impossible task and I do miss that part of my work. Your career inevitably slows down at times and may take an unexpected route. However, opportunities always arise if you stay focused and follow your passion. That is the key.
As E.O. Wilson so aptly stated: "You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honourably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give."