Nano November 09

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DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials

CONTENTS

1. Editorial.
2. The South African Nanotechnology Initiative Student Chapter.
3. Report on the National Workshop on the Development of MSc
Nanoscience Curriculum.
4. Wits Inaugurates New Nanoscale Transport Physics Laboratory.
5. Prof. Viness Pillays Inaugural Lecture: Breaking Barriers in Neuro-
Nanopharmaceutics
6 ICPCNanoNet Project
7. South African Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Summer School.
8. Seminar on the Development of the Nanobioscience Curriculum.
9. Applying Nanotechnology to Gene Therapy for Treatment of Serious
Viral Infections.
10. Post Doctoral Position in Nanotechnology at Wits
11. List of Forthcoming NanoConferences

Editorial

This coming month will be a hectic month for many in the nano community. In
Gauteng three nanoschools are to be held in late November. On top of that we
have the meeting at UWC to investigate the feasibility of commencing a MSc
course in Nanobioscience. And of course the inauguration of the SANi student
chapter takes place this month as well. Plenty of action within this thriving
community.

Let us hope the 2010 SA budget that was announced this week will not impact
on science and in particular in the nanoscience/technology arena this coming
year. The shortfall in tax collection will mean tighter soft money but hopefully
soft will not be interpreted as research funding.

Remember if you have contributions for the newsletter; please send to
Patience. She is a great hustler and has really worked hard to get the articles
in this newsletter. But anyone with something to add and to make this a
mouthpiece of the community will be gratefully accepted.

Neil Coville
Volume 6, November 2009

Edited by: Patience Iyuke Co-edited by: Neil Coville & Tanya Capecchi
Phone: 011 717 6873 Fax: 011 717 6830 Email: patience.iyuke@wits.ac.za
University of Witwatersrand
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The South African Nanotechnology Initiative Student Chapter

The South African Nanotechnology Initiative (SANi) Student Chapter will be
launched on the 24th November 2009 at the Farm Inn Lodge, Pretoria,
Gauteng, South Africa at 17h00. The launching will take place during the
South African Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Summer School event that
will take place on the 22nd - 2nd December 2009.

The student chapter will be managed by the students in accordance with the
vision of the SANi. While the SANi has identified an interim committee of the
student chapter, the formation of a constitutionally elected committee will take
place during the official launching of the student chapter. The constitution of
the student chapter which bears the vision and objectives the student chapter
will be presented during the event. The programme of the launch will be
issued at the nanoschool.

Post graduate students involved in nanoscience and nanotechnology (e.g.
engineering, physical sciences, biotechnology, medicine etc) are encouraged
to participate in the nanoschool and the launching of the student chapter.
Students are encouraged to avail themselves or send nominations to any
member of the interim committee.

Interim Committee:
Sabelo Mhlanga (chair); smhlanga@csir.co.za Ntombi Mathe (secretary);
nmathe@csir.co.za James Ramontja; jramontja@csir.co.za Nikiwe Kunjuzwa;
nikiwe.kunjuzwa@students.wits.ac.za
Thabo Gcwabaza; tgcwabaza@csir.co.za
Batsirai Magunje; batsirai.magunje@uct.ac.za

Submitted by Sabelo Mhlanga

Report on the National Workshop on the Development of MSc
Nanoscience Curriculum.

The workshop on the Development of MSc Nanoscience Curriculum was held
in Room 1.35 Physics Building, University of the Western Cape, on Thursday
17 September 2009 from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

1.0 Aims and objective of the workshop
The MSc Nanoscience programme is envisaged to have a national outlook
and as a result every effort would be made to include and engage, as much as
possible, all the nanoscience expertise within the country in the development
and implementation of the MSc curriculum (including the delivery of lectures,
performing of laboratory work and supervision of projects and internships).

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This is in recognition of the fact that there are several researchers and
lecturers all across the country who specialize in various aspects of
nanoscience. The programme is also expected to address the nanoscience
skill needs of local industries and institutions (e.g. health, water and
environment), which requires the participation of this class of stakeholders in
the development of the nanoscience curriculum. The first national workshop
focused on the engagement of academic and research institutions in the
development of the MSc Nanoscience curriculum.

The objectives of the workshop were to:
(i) Properly inform the nanoscience community in South Africa about the
intended MSc Nanoscience degree and request their full participation
in the development of the curriculum.

(ii) Assess the interest of the nanoscience community in participating in
the development and delivery of the nanoscience programme.

(iii) Initiate discussions on, and prepare an outline of, the general structure
and content of the MSc curriculum.

(iv) Form a National Working Committee on the MSc Nanoscience
programme.

2.0 Participants
Invitation were sent out to the heads of nanoscience research groups at
universities and research institutes across the county including the University
of Cape Town, University of Free State, University of Johannesburg,
University of Kwazulu-Natal, University of Pretoria, Rhodes University,
Stellenbosch University, University of Witwatersrand (WITS), University of
Zululand, CSIR, Element 6. ITHEMBA LABS, MINTEK and National
Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA). In addition, an open invitation to
the workshop was published in the September issue of Nano Newsletter
published by Prof Neil Covilles group at WITS.

Of the 35 persons invited from outside the University of Western Cape (UWC),
16 people representing chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science,
materials science and physics attended the conference. 16 UWC delegates
from biotechnology, chemistry, medical biosciences and physics departments
also attended the workshop.

3.0 Presentations at the workshop
3.1 Opening of workshop
The workshop was opened by The UWC Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic
Affairs), Prof R. Bharuthram, who spoke on the prioritization of nanoscience
education and research in the new Institutional Operational Plan of UWC.

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In his presentation titled Introduction to nanoscience centre, Mr J. Molapisi
from DST informed the workshop that the nanoscience centre was established
to focus on nanoscience education, as part of the South African National
Nanotechnology Strategy which included the establishment of the
Nanotechnology Innovation Centres, Nanotechnology Equipment Programme,
Nanotechnology Flagship Projects and the Nanocentre for Africa at the
iThemba Laboratories. Dr L. Petrik gave the historical perspective of the UWC
Nanoscience Centre including the fact-finding visits to three European
institutions offering MSc degree programmes in nanoscience. The institutions
visited were NEEL Institute at the French National Centre for Scientific
Research (CNRS)-Joseph Fourier University (UJF) Grenoble, France; CIVEN
(Coordinamento Interuniversiterio Veneto per le Nanotechnologie) Venice,
Italy; and Nanometer Structure Consortium at Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Dr Malik Maaza who is the Director of the Nanocentre for Africa at the
iThemba Laboratories made a presentation on the status of nanoscience
research in Africa and the role of the centre in nanoscience education across
Africa and in the development of a network of nanoscience practitioners within
the continent.

3.2 Keynote address by Prof Dan Hessman
The Keynote address of the workshop was given by Prof Dan Hessman from
the Nanometer Structure Consortium at Lund University and the Director of
the MSc Nanoscience programme. In his presentation titled, Nanoscience
Education at Lund University, Prof Hessman informed the delegates that the
Lund MSc Engineering Nanoscience degree programme was launched in
2003 as part of the education programme of the Nanometer Structure
Consortium of the Faculty of Engineering. The MSc programme was initially
conceived as a 5-year programme which included a 3-year undergraduate
nanoscience component. Later the 2-year MSc programme was developed to
cater for those who already have BSc degree in science and engineering. The
Lund curriculum has an interdisciplinarity foundation followed by specialisation
in nanobiomed, nanomaterials, nanoelectronics and nanophysics.

4.1 Philosophical framework
Prof E. Iwuoha presented the Framework of the UWC Prospective MSc
Nanoscience degree. The workshop was informed that the framework was
based on an interdisciplinarity philosophical approach that would allow
students to think across domains and appreciate the unique recent
developments in nanoscience. In addition the programme framework should
be based on the required knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and learning goals
shared by academia and industry. Accordingly, the UWC Nanoscience Centre
was conceptualised as a strategic vehicle that would enable the development
of a distributed and emerging nanoscience education community. In this
regard the MSc Nanoscience degree programme would be based at UWC but

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would be developed and implemented by a concerted national effort. Such
combination of effort from different institutions was found to be one of the
accepted models for offering MSc nanoscience degree. For example, the
participating institutions in the Grenoble MSc Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology (MSc N2) degree programme include UJF, the Grenoble INP
(Grenoble Institute of Technology), CEA (Centre for Atomic Energy,
Grenoble), the CNRS, ILL (Institut Laue-Langevin) and other major research
centres in Grenoble. Also the CIVEN MSc programme at Venice Italy, aptly
called the Interuniversity MSc Nanotechnology (IMN), was jointly established
in 2003 by University of Padova, University Ca'Foscari of Venezia and the
University of Verona and it is funded by the Veneto Regional Government in
Italy.

4.2 Prospective outline of the nanoscience programme
(i) Degree: MSc Nanoscience (awarded by UWC).

(ii) Composition: 50/50 research and course work.

(iii) Graduates should be able to proceed to PhD or work in industry as
nanotechnologists or be entrepreneurs.

(iv) Curriculum Strategy: The curriculum should consist of an
interdisciplinary nanoscience foundation followed by specialisation in
Nanobiomed, Nanochem or Nanophysics. Course delivery will be
implemented through a formal engagement of a pool of lecturers and
use of facilities from national universities, research institutes, national
facilities as well as international invitations.

4.3 Prospective curriculum content
The development and sorting of curriculum ideas were managed by Prof
Jasper Rees. This process involved all the delegates at the workshop and led
to the identification of prospective topics to be included in the envisaged areas
of specialisations of the MSc nanoscience degree, namely, Nanobiomed,
Nanochem and Nanophysics. The suggested curriculum topics agreed by
workshop are listed below.


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Table of suggested topics for the MSc Nanoscience Curriculum

Specialization Topics Content Description/Comments
Basics of
Nanoscience

Introduction:
what is
nanoscience?

History, nature and
development of
nanoscience.
Properties of
nanomaterials

Types of nanomaterials

Nano-tubes, -rod,
particles, etc.
Different fields of
nanoscience.

Interdisciplinarity

Practical
matters
Sources of information
and nanoscience
literature

Principles and
techniques of
nanoscience
Analytical approaches
Synthetic approaches
Research methodology
Experimental protocols
Application of
nanoscience
Materials and
nanotechnology
Mathematics
For
Nanoscience
Modelling and
Computation

Bridging
courses
Introduction to Biology,
physics and chemistry

Applications of
Nanoscience
Devices and
Nanotechnology
SA landscape, Current
devices and possibilities
(Engineering
Requirements)
Nanoscience
and Society
Ethics
Safety
Toxicology
Regulation
Standards
Environmental protection,
Public awareness , Gov-
ernment policy, Monitor-
ing, Networks, Funding,
Job opportunity
Nano-Business Entrepreneurship
Commercialization
Marketing
Innovation Skills
IP Issues
Management
Financial Planning
(E Learning) Seminars by
Experts
Patenting

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Nanobiomed Fundamentals of
bio-nanotechnology

Physiological, cellular,
biological, etc.
Effect of nano-systems
in vivo/vitro procedures
.
Nanomedicine Techniques for
nanomedicines
Drug Delivery systems
Medical Devices
Regenerative Medicine
Bio-Sensors/
Diagnostics
Characterisation of
nanosystems
Biological, Physico
chemical characteriza-
tion of nanosystems
nvitvo/vivo
Correlation (Parameters
& Techniques)
Other topics Bio-electronics

Biomimetics

Social issues Safety, Toxicology &
Ethical issues

Professional
issues

Registration
Requirements

Nanochemistry Introduction to
Nanochemistry

Role of chemistry in
nanoscience and
technology

Synthesis of nano-
materials
Inorganic
Organic
Typical examples
Techniques
Characterization Spectroscopy
Microscopy
Physical Techniques
FTIR, NMR, TEM,
SEM, UV VIS, XPS,
XRD, AFM
Chemical
Electrochemistry

Structure
Electron transport
Size
Applications Energy Devices Fuel cell
Lithium
Super capacitors
Catalysis
Health

Sensors
Water
Catalysis
Mining & Minerals
Beneficiation Materials and
manufacturing
Chemical processes
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5.0 Other decisions of the workshop
(i) Formation of the National Working Committee (NWC) on the MSc
Nanoscience programme

(ii) All the delegates at the conference voted unanimously to constitute the
NWC.


Nanophysics

Physics for non
physicists

Quantum Physics
Solid State physics
and chemistry
Surface science
Properties of
nanomaterials
Basic theories,
principles and
examples.
Introduction to
analytical methods
Microscopy Electron microscope
based measurements
( TEM, SEM)
Atomic force
microscopy.
Spectroscopy FTIR, Raman; XRD.
Fabrication /
synthesis

Physical methods for
producing
nanomaterials and
nanostructures.
Soft materials.
Carbon nanotubes,
semi-conductors,
plastic and polymers,
etc
Quantum
mechanics
Schrdinger equa-
tions, wave functions
for various systems,
tunnelling in
nanomaterials.
Nanotubes, nanorods,
particles.
Analytic
techniques

Microscopy Photon based
Techniques
Surface science
(FTIR, Raman, XRD,
etc)
Properties of
nanomaterials
Physical properties Conductivity, thermal
properties, electronic
properties, etc.
Nanoelectronics/
Nanophotonics
Plastic electronics,
LCDs, physical
sensors

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(iii) The prospective curriculum content was discussed and approved as
the working document for the development of the MSc programme.

(iv) Representatives of industries and other interest groups should be
invited to participate in the curriculum development process in order to
incorporate their nanoscience knowledge, skills and materials
requirements in the MSc programme.

6.0 Time line for the 2011 launching of the MSc programme
(i) February December 2009: Curriculum development workshops,
curriculum drafting and curriculum presentation seminar/workshop.

(ii) 28 February 2010: Submission of curriculum for Senate approval.

(iii) January 2010: Appointment of Director and other staff of the
Nanoscience Centre.

(iv) March - August 2010: Finalisation of Memorandum of Understanding
with Universities and Institutions that will participate in the nanoscience
programme.

(v) October 2010: Approval of MSc Nanoscience degree programme by
the Department of Higher Education.

(vi) January 2010 December 2010: Identification of and planning for
laboratory facilities required for the MSc programme.

(vii) January 2011: Implementation of the MSc programme.

Prof Ramashwar Bharuthram: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha: Chairperson Steering Committee, Centre for Nanoscience
Steering Committee Members of the Centre for Nanoscience: Prof Donald Cowan, Prof
Emmanuel I. Iwuoha, Prof Basil Julies, Prof Dirk Knoesen, Dr Lindiwe Khotseng, Dr
Leslie Petrik, Prof Jasper Rees and Chyril Abrahams (Administrative Assistant).

Contacts - Tel: 021 959 3054; Fax: 021 959 1562; e-mail: chabrahams@uwc.ac.za;
eiwuoha@uwc.ac.za

Submitted by Prof. Emmanuel Iwuoha (UWC )

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Wits Inaugurates New Nanoscale Transport Physics Laboratory

Prof. B. Bozzoli, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research of the University of the
Witwatersrand (Wits) officially inaugurated the new Nanoscale Transport
Physics Laboratory on Thursday, 22
nd
October 2009. The event which took
place in the School of Physics, Wits was presided over by Prof. J. Rodrigues,
the Head of School of Physics. The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof
Andrew Crouch, emphasized the importance of rejuvenating research efforts
in the Faculty of Science, particularly in the School of Physics.

Prof. B. Bozzoli and Prof. S. Bhattacharyya during the
inauguration of the Nanoscale Transport Physics Laboratory (Photo: Douglas Clark)

At the inauguration ceremony of the laboratory, Prof Somnath Bhattacharyya,
head of the new lab gratefully acknowledged the financial support from the
Wits University Research Office (URC), School of Physics, DST/NRF Centre
of Excellence and CSIR-NLC. Prof Bhattacharrya mentioned that the facilities
in the laboratory are to be used to conduct research in carbon-based nano
electronics and spintronics. He hoped in the future to convert it to a National
Centre for Nano-electronics.

Guests were then taken on a tour of the laboratory and introduced to the new
research facilities. Demonstrations were given on the instruments used in the
laboratory, for example, the Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition
equipment (HFCVD) is used for research in nano material synthesis; the High
Field Measurement System, used for sample characterization; the PNA

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Network Analyser, used for high frequency measurements; and the
Semiconductors device Analyser, used for electronic characterization of semi-
conductor devices amongst others.

The tour was concluded with explanations on some of the recent results
stemming from this laboratory such as the prediction of the first carbon tunnel
diode, measurement of magneto-resistance at high field and low temperatures
of metal-filled carbon nanotubes and the first measurements of angle-
dependent magneto-resistance at 300mk showing high mobility in
nanoscystalline diamond films.

Patience Iyuke

Prof. Viness Pillays Inaugural Lecture: Breaking Barriers in Neuro-
Nanopharmaceutics

Prof. Yunus Ballim, Chairman and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic cordially
invites you to an Inaugural Lecture to be delivered by Prof. Viness Pillay from
the School of Therapeutic Sciences entitled Breaking Barriers in Neuro-
nanopharmaceutics: The Unnerving Thought of Matter over Mind.

There is an unlimited potential for growth in knowledge based societies in
neurotherapeutic drug delivery research with global benefits. This lecture will
highlight the need for merging the fundamentals of Polymeric Science and
Nanotechnology with Clinical Neuroscience to design and synthesize
metamorphic scaffold-like implantable devices that would penetrate the Blood-
Brain Barrier and feed drug into brain tissue over a prolonged period of time
for the effective treatment of NDs.

Date: Thursday, 12 November 2009
Time: 17:30 for 18:00
Venue: Marie Curie Lecture Theatre, Wits Medical School, Parktown
More info: Michelle Scorgie-Gallant on (011) 717-1194 or email
Michelle.Scorgie-Gallant@wits.ac.za

ICPCNanoNet Project

ICPCNanoNet is a 4-year project, funded by the European Commission under
the 7th Framework Programme, which aims to provide wider access to
published nanoscience and nanotechnology research and opportunities for
collaboration between organisations and scientists in the EU and International
Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC).

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Plans are underway for the 2nd annual workshop to be held in Beijing, China
from the 14
th
-15
th
June 2010. Work has also commenced on the second set
of annual reports on N&N in ICPC regions.

If you are a researcher or part of an N&N organisation and would like your
details to be registered on our networking database, contact the Project
Coordinator, Lesley Tobin: lesley.tobin@nano.org.uk

Read the latest research articles from NanoAfNet on the publications archive:
www.nanoarchive.org and upload your own peer-reviewed papers.

For further information on ICPCNanonet, please visit the project websites:
www.ICPC-nanonet.org or email lesley.tobin@nano.org.uk
Your involvement in the ICPCNanoNet project will help increase networking
opportunities for nano-stakeholders across the globe.
Source: Lesley Tobin, Institute of Nanotechnology, UK.

South African Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Summer School

Aim
The vision for the South African nanoscience and nanotechnology school is to
create a pool of nanoscientists sufficiently trained to conduct nanoscience
research. The theme for 2009 is addressing the fundamentals of nanoscience
and advanced applications in the field of health and water

The school will focus on training aspirant and experienced scientists from all
corners of the globe, on the frontiers and fundamentals of nanoscience and
the application of the technology in the field of water and health. The school
will bring together experts in the field to present courses, covering topics in
physics, chemistry, life sciences, advanced materials characterization,
electronics and fabrication techniques. Participants will have an opportunity for
hands-on experience in characterization techniques. In addition discussions
and debates on very interesting topics such as Health, Safety and Ethics of
Nanotechnology will be held.

Date: 22 Nov 2 Dec 2009
Venue: Farm Inn Lodge, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Further Information:
Ms. Thereza Botha t: +27 (0)12 807 0869
School Organizer f: +27 (0)12 807 1699
e: Thereza@technoscene.co.za
www.sananoschool2009.co.za
Submitted by: Refilwe Ngoata (DST)

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Seminar on the Development of the Nanobioscience Curriculum

The Centre for Nanoscience at the University of Western Cape invites you to a
Seminar on the Development of the Nanobioscience Curriculum for MSc
Nanoscience Degree. The seminar is intended to articulate aspects of
nanobiology, nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine that should be central to
the nanobioscience curriculum.

Date of Seminar: Friday 20 November, 2009.
Time: 10.30 am - 2.30 p.m.
Venue: Room 1.35, Physics Building, University of Western Cape.

The Guest Speakers are:
Prof Marc Block, Albert Bonniot Institute, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble,
France.

Dr Raymond Sparrow, Biophotonic Bionanodevices Research Group, Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria, South Africa.

The Nanoscience Centre will provide same day (Friday 20 November, 2009)
return flight ticket and airport transfer to/from the departure airport. Airport
transfer to UWC will be provided at the Cape Town International Airport.

If you will be available to attend the seminar please contact Prof. Emmanuel
Iwuoha at eiwuoha@uwc.ac.za by Thursday 5 November, 2009. Your reply
should include your name as it appears on your ID or passport for flight
reservation.
Submitted by Prof Emmanuel Iwuoha, CSci, CChem, FRSC.
Chairperson, Nanoscience Centre Steering Committee.

Applying Nanotechnology to Gene Therapy for Treatment of
Serious Viral Infections

Applying nanotechnology to medicine is rapidly gaining in
importance and has particular relevance to the field of gene
therapy. Since genes are central to all biological processes,
controlled alteration of gene function has enormous
potential for developing new approaches to disease
treatment. The term Gene Therapy was coined in the
1970s and refers to the use of procedures that are intended
to treat or alleviate disease by genetically modifying the
cells of a patient. The approach may involve the repairing of damaged genes
(e.g. inherited diseases) or silencing rogue genetic elements (e.g. of cancers

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and viruses) to restore the health of cells. Gene therapy is rapidly becoming
part of mainstream research of modern molecular biology and medicine. The
technology has exciting possibilities and it is likely that new solutions to
overcoming serious infectious diseases of importance to South Africa will
emerge from harnessing gene therapy techniques.

Most approaches to gene therapy require the delivery of nucleic acids to a site
of action in target cells. Unlike traditional small molecule drugs, nucleic acids
are large and highly negatively charged. This poses serious difficulties for drug
development researchers who aim to achieve safe and efficient delivery of
therapeutic sequences across the lipid bilayers of target cells. Several
approaches have been used to engineer nanoparticles as vectors (carriers) to
deliver therapeutic nucleic acids to cells. These include the use of genetically
manipulated (recombinant) viruses and chemically synthesised lipoplexes.
The focus of the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU), directed by
Patrick Arbuthnot, has been to use these nanoparticle vectors to deliver
nucleic acids that are capable of silencing gene expression of viruses that are
responsible for infections of serious public health importance to South Africa,
viz. persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV infection.

Globally it is estimated that there are 387 million carriers of hepatitis B virus
(HBV) and most of these individuals are from the developing world. The
infection is endemic to sub Saharan Africa, east and south east Asia as well
as the western Pacific islands. Chronic infection with the virus is associated
with a very high risk for the serious complications of liver cancer and cirrhosis.
Liver cancer is a particularly aggressive malignancy and the prognosis is
grave. Licensed treatments for HBV infection do not have a durable effect and
development of new effective therapy to prevent HBV-related liver cancer is
an important global medical priority. Recent discovery of the naturally
occurring RNA interference (RNAi) pathway has led to considerable
enthusiasm for advancing novel nucleic acid-based HBV therapies. The
pathway can be harnessed to bring about powerful and specific gene silencing
of pathology-causing genes, such as those of viruses. Work to date from the
AGTRU has entailed the optimisation of antiHBV and antiHIV RNAi
sequences. To develop nanotechnology for their ultimate therapeutic
application, the focus of research is to incorporate HBV silencing sequences
into viral (adenoviral), non viral and virus-like vectors that can achieve
sustained HBV knockdown in vivo. Although significant hurdles remain before
RNAi-based therapy can be used for treating viral diseases, the field now has
significant momentum. Enthusiasm, the enormous potential of RNAi-based
therapy and multidisciplinary efforts of nanotechnology researchers are likely
to result in considerable progress during the coming years.
By Prof. Patrick Arbuthnot: Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit
Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology
University of the Witwatersrand

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Postdoctoral Positions in Nanotechnology at Wits

Professor V. Pillay who is the National Research Chair in: Pharmaceutical
Biomaterials and Polymer-engineered drug delivery technologies at wits
medical school, department of pharmacy is in the process of recruiting suitable
candidates who would want to work as members of a team within the drug
delivery research platform for pharmaceutics as postdoctoral fellows in 2010.

What would you be doing?
undertaking cutting-edge research in advanced and globally-competitive
drug delivery laboratories employing state-of-the-art equipment and
techniques

breaking the frontiers in novel biomaterials, polymers and drug delivery
systems design

leading to patents and potential pharmaceuticals.

For more details on funding, projects and duration of study contact
Professor Viness Pillay : viness.pillay@wits.ac.za, Tel: 011-7172274.
Mr. (Yahya Choonara (Yahya.Choonara@wits.ac.za) or
Ms. Lisa du Toit (Lisa.DuToit@wits.ac.za)

List of Forthcoming Nano Conferences

Local conferences

i) Entrepreneurship for Scientists and Engineers from Developing
Countries in Africa, iThemba Labs, Cape Town, South Africa, 9
th
-13
th

November 2009.
http://www.saip.org.za/events/entrepreneurship/

ii) Seminar on the Development of Nanobioscience Curriculum for MSc
Nanoscience Degree, Room 1.35, Physics Building, University of the
Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, 20
th
November 2009

iii) South African Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Summer School, Farm
Inn Lodge, Pretoria, 22
nd
November-2
nd
December 2009:
www.sananoschool2009.co.za


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International conferences

i) Indo-Us Workshop on Nanotechnology: Applications and Implications,
Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India,
10
th
-12
th
November, 2009: http://www.iictindia.org/nano/

ii) The Nano Petro, Gas and Petro-Chemical Industries Conference,
Cairo, Egypt, 13
th
-15
th
November 2009: http://www.npg.sabrycorp.com

iii) NanoBio-Tech, Montreux, Switzerland, 16
th
-18
th
November 2009
http://www.nanotech-montreux.com/

iv) Cambridge CNT Symposium 2009, University of Cambridge, UK, 13
th

November 2009: http://www.nanopaprika.eu/profiles/blogs/cambridge-
cnt-symposium-2009
or www.cambridgecnt.org

v) First Nanosafety Autumn School, Venice, Italy, 16
th
-20
th
November
2009
http://www.unive.it/nanosaf

vi) NanoEurope Symposium 2009, Rapperswill, Switzerland, 25
th
-26
th

November 2009: http://www.nanoeurope.com

vii) Nanotech Business Summit, Cairo, Egypt, 4
th
-7
th
December, 2009
http://www.nanobus.sabrycorp.com/conf/nanobus/09/

viii) The 5th International Conference of the African Materials Research
Society and the 8th Nigerian Materials Congress, Abuja, Nigeria, 14
th
-
18
th
December 2009: http://mri63.adtech.icair.org/pls/portal/docs/
PAGE/IVI_IUMRS/DOC/5TH%20AFRICA-MRS%20CONFERENCE%
20POSTER.PDF

ix) Nanotech 2010: International Nanotechnology Exhibition &
Conference, Tokyo, Japan,17
th
-19
th
February 2009:
http://www.nanotechexpo.jp/en/

x) The 2
nd
Annual ICPC NanoNet Workshop, Beijing, China, 14
th
-15
th

June 2010: http://www.icpc-nanonet.org/



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