Position: Senior Lecturer & Acting HOD
Phone: +27 35 902 6780
Email: HlengwaN @ unizulu.ac.za
Building &Room: office 248, Natural Science Building KwaDlangezwa
Biography:
Dr. Nokulunga Hlengwa is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Zululand, with over 5 years of academic, research, and supervisory experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, tissue culture, and public health research.
She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Zululand, completed in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in Cape Town. She further holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Management Development Programme Certificate from Stellenbosch Business School.
Dr. Hlengwa’s research portfolio spans water quality monitoring in formal and informal settlements, pathogen detection, herb–drug interactions, and phytotherapy evaluation of indigenous herbal medicines for infectious and chronic diseases. She has supervised Honours, Master’s, and PhD students and actively collaborates with national institutions, including the SAMRC, Cochrane South Africa, SAMRC Genomics Centre, Stellenbosch University, the University of Venda, and the University of Limpopo.
In addition to her academic role, Dr. Hlengwa serves as Chair of the Faculty Marketing Committee, where she leads initiatives aimed at strengthening faculty visibility, student recruitment, and stakeholder engagement. She is also a member of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (FSAE) Teaching and Learning Committee, contributing to curriculum renewal and quality assurance, and is also a member of the Faculty’s Pandemic Preparedness Niche Area.
Lecture ‘s the following modules:
- 4BCH211 – Biomolecules and Enzymology
- 4BCH321 – Metabolic Regulation
- 4BCH502 / 4MCB502 – Techniques in Molecular Biology
Academic Qualifications:
- PhD in Biochemistry – University of Zululand (based at SAMRC, Cape Town)
- MSc in Biochemistry – University of Zululand (based at SAMRC, Cape Town)
- BSc Honours in Microbiology – University of Zululand
- BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology – University of Zululand
- Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDip) – University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Management Development Programme Certificate – Stellenbosch Business School
Research Grants
- South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Research Capacity Development (RCD) Grant
- Water Research Commission (WRC) Research Grant
Honours/Awards (include online reference for each honour/ award):
Novartis development grant award in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, Medicines for Malaria Venture and the Department of Science and Technology 2018-2019.
South African Medical Research Council Research and Capacity Development Initiative Grant (RCDI) 2020-2022.
Oral Presentation: South African Society for Microbiology SASM –UKZN-PMB 1st place 2014.
Poster Presentation: Evaluation of excipients for enhanced intestinal absorption of Rooibos flavonoids. South African Medical Research Council Young Scientist Conference 1st place 2015.
Oral Presentation: Evaluation of excipients for enhanced intestinal absorption of Rooibos flavonoids. South Africa Medical Research Council (Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform) Symposium 1st place 2015.
Poster Presentation: Evaluation of excipients for enhanced intestinal absorption of Rooibos flavonoids. 51st Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa Congress (SEMDSA) 1st place 2016.
Research Interests
Dr. Nokulunga Hlengwa’s research is positioned at the interface of molecular biology, public health, and indigenous medicine. Her primary research focus is on herb–drug interactions, with particular emphasis on how indigenous herbal remedies influence drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy.
In parallel, Dr. Hlengwa conducts applied public health research in water quality surveillance, employing molecular techniques such as qRT-PCR to detect, quantify, and characterise pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater and environmental water sources. Her work specifically addresses the health implications of waterborne pathogens in informal settlements and rural communities.
She has contributed to several high-impact, interdisciplinary research initiatives, including the SAMRC COVID-19 wastewater surveillance programme and a Water Research Commission funded project focused on water quality indicators in semi-urban and informal settlements in South Africa. Through these projects, she integrates molecular diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and community health perspectives to inform evidence-based public health interventions.
Professional Membership
- African Pharmacogenomics Network