VICE CHANCELLOR’S RESEARCH AWARDS Professor Ikechukwu (Ike) Umejesi Faculty of Social Science and Humanities Department: Sociology/Anthropology NRF Rating category: C2 Professor Ikechukwu Umejesi is a multidisciplinary scholar with research interests in land use and natural resource extraction and the conflicts and exploitation that can arise as a result. He has also published on gender-related issues including domestic violence. In 2009 Professor Umejesi was awarded a fellowship by the Young Scientist Programme hosted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Applications (IIASA) in Austria, one of only two fellows from Africa that year. Since then, he has been involved in a number of international projects, often as principal investigator/ grant holder. Prof Umejesi has also produced two literary works in poetry and fiction. He holds qualifications from universities in South Africa, Nigeria, Austria and Poland including a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Fort Hare. Dr Leocadia Zhou Faculty of Science and Agriculture Department: Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) NRF Rating category: C3 Rating Dr Leocadia Zhou is Director of the UFH Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) in the Faculty of Science & Agriculture. Her research activities focus on climate change related studies with an emphasis on water, energy, food security, vulnerability and adaptation. She is currently involved in six collaborative research projects involving stakeholders from a number of different entities including universities in South Africa, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as the Department of the Environment, Forestry and. Fisheries and the Water Research Council. Dr Zhou holds a doctoral degree in Geography and Environmental Science awarded by the University of Fort Hare. Dr Gloria Aderonke Otunola Faculty of Science and Agriculture Department: Biochemistry NRF Rating Category: C2 Dr Gloria Aderonke Otunola is a senior research fellow and co-leader of the Medicinal Plants and Economic Development Research Niche Area (MPED-RNA). Her research focuses on applied nutritional, biochemical and pharmacological evaluation. She is currently involved in research formulating functional foods, beverages and nutraceuticals targeted at specific chronic diseases. Products developed as a result of her research are currently being tested for acceptability and efficacy and intellectual property (IP) rights and patenting. Dr Otunula is also involved in research on the development and functionality of bio-nanoparticles in in delivering bioactive compounds into target organs to combat diseases such as cancer. Dr Otunola a doctoral degree from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria. Research Report 2021/2022 | 78