Dr. Palesa Mothapo

Dr. Palesa Mothapo is an award-winning scientist, research strategist, and higher education leader currently serving as Director: Research Support and Management at Nelson Mandela University. In this role, she provides strategic leadership for institutional research development, research policy and governance, grants and contracts management, research intelligence, and research business advancement, while supporting the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Internationalisation (RII). She has established herself as a leading voice in research management, research capacity strengthening, and science policy in Africa, with extensive experience in securing research funding, leading high-impact interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary initiatives, and advancing equitable international research partnerships. Her work operates at the intersection of research strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, policy, and internationalisation, supporting institutions and researchers to achieve global excellence and societal impact.

Dr. Mothapo holds a PhD in Zoology and an MPhil in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University, as well as a certificate in Research Management and Leadership from George Mason Universityopens in new tab/window. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree focused on science and policy studies, with research examining the scholarly contribution, productivity, and advancement of early career researchers and postdoctoral fellows in Africa. Her professional contributions extend across several continental and international research management platforms. She has served on committees and advisory structures including the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), the Research Management Network Africa (ReMNet Africa), and the Technical Sub-Committee for Good Research Management Practice (GRMP) under the African Academy of Sciences and ReMPro Africa. She also contributed to initiatives such as the BRECCIA Project focused on strengthening research capacity for sustainable water and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2022, Dr. Mothapo founded the Pan-African Postdoctoral Research Network, an initiative aimed at strengthening doctoral and postdoctoral training, enhancing mobility and collaboration across Africa, and developing transferable skills, policy engagement, and industry-linked opportunities for emerging researchers. She is a strong advocate for the advancement of early career researchers, women in STEM, Black academics, and research management professionals across the continent. Her leadership and impact have been recognised through numerous prestigious awards and fellowships. She was selected as a Leadership Fellow in the highly competitive IREX University Administration Support Program (UASP) Research Management Fellowship funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, named one of the InspiringFifty Women in STEM South Africa winners in 2020, and is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. She has also received the GreenMatter WWF Nedbank Green Trust Emerging Leaders Award and was listed among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans in 2014.

Dr. Mothapo is passionate about advancing research excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy-aligned scholarship in Africa. Her work continues to shape institutional research ecosystems, strengthen research governance and capacity, and position African universities as globally connected contributors to knowledge, innovation, and sustainable development.