Africa Scientifique Alumni Contributors Profiles

Siyabonga Mthimkulu, PhD Candidate in Topology, AIMS South Africa 

Siyabonga is a PhD student working in the field of Higher Category Theory at AIMS South africa. He is from a small area of Bedford Park, Johannesburg. Siyabonga obtained his BSc (Hons) in mathematics in 2021 from the University of the Western Cape and went to complete his masters at AIMS South Africa in 2023. He is a passionate and dedicated young mathematician that appreciates the elegance and beauty of mathematics in a peculiar way. One of his dreams is to write a mathematics book in his own language. Siyabonga is an Alumni of the 2023 Africa Scientifique Programme at AIMS. 

Tsiry Meva Sisih Rakotondratoetra, MSc Candidate, AIMS South Africa 

Tsiry earned her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching and Didactics of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, Antananarivo, Madagascar, in 2021. In 2022, she pursued advanced studies to develop in-depth scientific competence in mathematics at the same institution. In July 2024, she completed her Masters degree in Mathematical Sciences at AIMS South Africa. Her passion lies in pure mathematics, particularly topology. Her Master’s thesis, supervised by Dr. Cerene Rathilal from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focused on pointfree topology. Currently, Meva is pursuing a Research MSc in Graph Topology at AIMS South Africa, funded by the National Research Foundation through an AIMS Bursary. She also serves as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Representative for the AIMS Network, supporting scholar engagement and community development.

Thembelihle Dlamini, PhD Candidate, University in Augsburg, Germany 

Thembelihle is a researcher and a PhD student in Quantum Computation and Information at the University of Augsburg. She obtained her  MSc in Applied Mathematics from Stellenbosch University and a MSc in Mathematical Sciences from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)-South Africa. Her research interests span from Quantum Error Mitigation, Quantum Machine Learning, to Quantum Algorithms and devices. Prior to joining her PhD program, she interned as a Quantum community advocate then as a Quantum Technology research scientist at IBM South Africa. She is actively involved in the quantum community, advocating and volunteering in online education programs such Qiskit, Qworld and QSouthAfrica. 

Pride Duve, PhD Candidate, Researcher, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany 

Pride is a PhD student at the University of Hamburg in Germany and an alumnus of the Africa Scientifique programme (2021–22 stream) and AIMS South Africa. With a passion for science communication, Pride is committed to bridging the gap between complex scientific research and public understanding. His academic background in modeling mosquito-borne diseases reflects his dedication to addressing critical public health challenges and effectively communicating findings to diverse audiences, including policymakers and affected communities. The Africa Scientifique programme was transformative in shaping Pride’s approach to science communication. Through this experience, he developed valuable skills in audience engagement and simplifying complex research for non-specialist audiences. Demonstrating his passion for accessible science, Pride wrote the abstract of his AIMS Master's research project on malaria modeling in his mother tongue, IsiNdebele, ensuring that key insights from his project reached the communities most affected. These skills have enabled him to participate in public engagement activities, workshops, and outreach initiatives that make science both meaningful and impactful. His journey through the Africa Scientifique programme has not only enriched his career but also equipped him to mentor others in leveraging communication to enhance the societal impact of their research.

Enock Ndunda, Data Analyst & at MarcTina Consultancy, Zambia

Enock is a mathematical scientist hailing from Southern Zambia. He currently works as a Data Analyst at MarcTina consultancy in Zambia on a full-time basis. He is also working on a freelance basis as a Freelance  Training Manual Developer at Strategic Acumen Centre Limited in Botswana. He earned his Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Copperbelt University in Zambia and later earned  his master's degree in mathematical sciences from AIMS South Africa. Enock Through his extensive studies, Enock recognizes the significant role mathematics plays in social and economic development. He is deeply committed to promoting an economically free Africa and believes that mathematics is a crucial tool for achieving this goal. His interests in data science and machine learning which he believes have a direct impact on the day-to-day decision-making making process, may bring both long and short-term impacts to addressing most pressing African issues. He is passionate about community development for he strongly believes in happy and economically independent communities. While at AIMS South Africa, Enock served as a House of Science volunteer and a student assistant. With his passion and knowledge, Enock is a valuable asset to any project or team. 

Thembelihle Dlamini, Research Intern and Quantum Community Advocate, IBM, South Africa

Thembelihle is a Quantum enthusiast with a Master's in Applied Mathematics from Stellenbosch University and a Master's in Mathematical Sciences from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)-South Africa. Currently serving as a Research Intern and Quantum Community Advocate at IBM, South Africa. Her research interests are Quantum Error Mitigation, Quantum Machine Learning, and Quantum Algorithms. 

Milanto Rasolofohery, MSc Student, AIMS South Africa

Milanto is a current AIMS research student pursuing postgraduate studies in applied mathematics at Stellenbosch University. He obtained his undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Antananarivo-Madagascar. He also completed the structured AIMS Master's program in 2021, where he had the opportunity to explore the exciting intersection of machine learning and quantum computing through a unique project. He is currently working on research for conservation ecology using machine learning techniques with the Machine Learning for Ecology Research Group at AIMS. His love of nature led him to use science and technology as tools to help protect biodiversity. Milanto is an Alumni of the Africa Scientific Programme at AIMS with the African Gong, and he would like to share his science communication journey with us.