• Professor Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, South Africa’s first PhD in biophotonics, leads Unisa’s Photonics Research Centre, applying light-based technologies to address challenges in healthcare, agriculture, and energy.
• Her work focuses on developing accessible diagnostic tools, improving agricultural productivity, and advancing sustainable energy systems, while integrating artificial intelligence and nanotechnology.
• Committed to building Africa’s scientific capacity, she mentors future researchers and drives multidisciplinary innovation to create solutions tailored to the continent’s needs.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has placed one of the country’s leading scientists at the forefront of research aimed at addressing critical challenges, particularly those involving diagnostic systems.

Professor Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, the first South African to obtain a PhD in biophotonics, is driving innovation in the interdisciplinary field, which combines biology and photonics to research, image, and manipulate biological materials using light.

Explaining the biophotonic process, she said: “When you shine light on a cell, it’s like switching on a light in a dark room. You can see what is happening inside, whether there are diseases or genetic changes.”

Since one of the key challenges in South Africa is the late detection of disease, often due to limited access to rapid diagnostic tools, according to Mthunzi-Kufa, the work has significant implications for healthcare.

“Our work focuses on photonics-based point-of-care diagnostic technologies that can detect diseases quickly and affordably,” she said.

Her team is developing compact “lab-on-a-chip” systems that can be used in clinics, remote areas, or even at home and are aimed at improving early detection and reducing delays in treatment.

Mthunzi-Kufa leads the Photonics Research Centre within Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Her work spans healthcare, agriculture, water, and energy, with a focus on applying light-based technologies to real-world problems.

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Her journey into the field began in 2004 at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where she joined the National Laser Centre as a medical biochemist working at the intersection of biology and laser science.

“My background in medical biochemistry, particularly HIV research, made it possible to bridge biology with photonics and start exploring solutions in the biomedical space,” Mthunzi-Kufa said.

At the time, biophotonics was still largely undeveloped in South Africa, prompting her to pursue doctoral studies abroad. She went on to complete her PhD at the University of St Andrews in Scotland under the supervision of Professor Kishan Dholakia.

Transitioning into physics from a biochemistry background required significant adjustment, including revisiting foundational concepts and undertaking additional coursework.

“When I started, I had to go back to fundamentals, teach physics, and enrol in additional coursework to strengthen my foundation,” Mthunzi-Kufa said.

The academic demands were intense.

“During my PhD, I was merely existing. The workload was overwhelming, but I took it in my stride and eventually completed the qualification.”

Even though she was offered a position overseas, she returned to South Africa to help grow the field locally, where it was still in its early stages.

“We later established the biophotonics lab at the CSIR, secured funding, built human capital, and conducted meaningful research. It has been incredibly rewarding,” Mthunzi-Kufa said.

Soil health

Beyond healthcare, her research extends to agriculture and food security.

Photonics technologies can be used to assess soil quality before planting and monitor crop health, helping farmers make more informed decisions.

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“By combining optical sensing with artificial intelligence, we can create smarter agricultural systems that improve productivity while protecting food quality,” she said.

According to her, ensuring soil health is critical to human health because contaminants in soil can ultimately enter the food chain.

Energy, nanotechnology, and AI

In the energy space, her work explores how photonics can support more efficient and sustainable systems, particularly when integrated with emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.

At Unisa, Mthunzi-Kufa is now focused on expanding this work through a multidisciplinary research platform that connects these sectors while building scientific capacity.

“The aim is to build a centre that develops Africa’s solutions to Africa’s challenges, while training the next generation of scientists in areas like nanophotonics, optical sensing and artificial intelligence,” she said.

The initiative aligns with the university’s broader strategy to advance high-impact research and contribute to Africa’s knowledge economy, while strengthening collaboration locally and internationally.

Mthunzi-Kufa has also prioritised developing the next generation of researchers, saying her early experience as the only graduate in the field has motivated her to create opportunities for others.

“Our responsibility as scientists is to open doors for others,” she said.

She has since supervised numerous postgraduate students, many of whom are now active in research and contributing to the growth of the field.

“It’s a cycle of human capital development, and it’s exciting,” Mthunzi-Kufa said.

Her contributions to science and innovation have earned her national and international recognition, including the Order of Mapungubwe in bronze.

As she continues to expand the reach of photonics research, her focus remains on ensuring that scientific advances translate into practical benefits for society.

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