Dr Simiso Moyo; MSc (People’s Friendship University, Moscow), PhD (Brunel University, UK)

Dr Simiso Moyo is a serving Head of Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Venda having had the position renewed 3 times since 2005. From 2012 to 2019 he served on the senior management team, as Deputy Dean (from 2012 to 2019) and as Acting Dean (from 2013 to 2015) of the School of Mathematical and natural Sciences. Of late he has been working with other mathematicians as a member of the Strategy and Steering Committee entrusted with establishing the National Graduate Academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (NGA-MaSS) of South Africa. The academy aims at enhancing the development of strong mathematicians and statisticians in the country. He is also the current Univen Coordinator of an MSc in e-Science Programme after spearheading its development, accreditation and registration (at Univen). The programme is run by a consortium of 6 local universities.

Before joining Univen, from 1996 to 2003, Dr Moyo worked for the National University of Science and Technology of Zimbabwe (NUST) as a lecturer and later as a Head of Department till 2003. He had also lectured at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo from 1990 to 1992. Dr Moyo did his MSc at the People Friendship University (in Moscow) till 1987 before returning home to work as a High School teacher before joining Hillside Teacher’s College as a lecturer for 2.5 years. This was followed by a stint at Brunel University (UK) on a scholarship from NUST which resulted in him obtaining a PhD in applied mathematics in 1996.

His interests have been in differential equations and, in particular, he has worked on computational fluid dynamics. The problems worked on included application of computational methods to fluid flow problems involving Stokes and non-linear Navier-Stokes equations. Dealing with big data involved in computational fluid flows was instrumental in fueling his interests into data science. Currently, he is coordinating an MSc in data science Progamme, at Univen, as well as supervising some students in that area. 

He has also been involved in community engagement as a regional coordinator of National Mathematics Olympiad contests sponsored by the South African Mathematics Society (SAMS). He is a member of Southern African Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA).