Meet the Finalists in Human and Social Sciences – Distinguished Young Woman Researcher Category at the South African Women in Science Awards 2025

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) proudly unveils the finalists of the South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA) 2025. These exceptional women exemplify excellence, leadership, and transformative impact in research and innovation. Today, we spotlight the finalists in the Distinguished Young Woman Researcher category in the Human and Social Sciences.
Associate Prof. Jess Auerbach Jahajeeah is based at the UCT Graduate School of Business, where she directs the inclusive innovation stream and the Light Lab research entity – an innovative, interdisciplinary research lab that is gaining international recognition for its groundbreaking work.
She holds a P rating from the NRF for her pioneering work in developing and coining the field of knowledge mobilities. This field explores the intersection of knowledge systems and infrastructure, particularly in contexts where physical structures such as fibre optic cables interact with human decisions, language and global systems. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research, conducted at Stanford University and the Open University of Mauritius, spans Angola, Brazil and Mauritius, and investigates how knowledge systems influence and are shaped by social mobility within the constraints and possibilities of planetary realities.
Her interdisciplinary research at the nexus of the humanities, social sciences, management and private-sector collaboration has led to meaningful changes in curriculum design, digital infrastructure choices, and global understandings of innovation. She is the author of nearly 40 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in high-impact journals such as Nature Ecology and Evolution and African Arguments. She is also a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences and has received several national and international awards for her scientific contributions.
She began her academic career with a focus on transforming undergraduate education to meet the demands of the 21st century within a pan-African context.
The Prof. has supervised eight master's students to completion, with 11 more currently underway, alongside five PhD students.
Prof. Auerbach Jahajeeah is a member of SAYAS and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Southern African Studies and the Canadian Journal of African Studies. She is also a regular peer reviewer for leading academic journals, including Nature.
Stay tuned as we continue to profile the 2025 finalists during Women’s Month