Dr Boitumelo Makgabutlane-Mhlongo
About me
Boitumelo Makgabutlane-Mhlongo is a PhD degree holder from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently working at SabiNano Pty Ltd as a Research and Development Manager. Boitumelo is a published researcher who has received several awards amongst those being the South African Women in Science Award in 2023. Her interests are in sustainable innovation and commercialization for societal impact and global change. Furthermore, she is passionate about science communication and demystifying the complexities of science for public understanding.
Background
Dr Boitumelo Makgabutlane-Mhlongo is a PhD degree holder and a Research and Development Manager with experience in leading innovation, product development, and technical operations within science and technology-driven environments. With a strong foundation in chemistry, material science, research methodology, materials analysis, and applied laboratory science she has successfully translated complex scientific concepts into commercially viable products and operational solutions.
Throughout her career, Dr Boitumelo has overseen multidisciplinary teams, driving projects from concept development through prototyping, testing, validation, and commercialization. She is skilled in experimental design, data-driven decision-making, and performance optimization, ensuring that research initiatives align with strategic business objectives.
Dr Boitumelo has experience in laboratory management, quality assurance systems, regulatory compliance, and SHEQ frameworks. She has implemented structured project management methodologies, managed R&D budgets, mitigated technical risks, and maintained strict adherence to industry standards and safety regulations.
A strategic thinker with strong leadership capabilities, Dr Boitumelo excels at fostering innovation, building collaborative partnerships, mentoring and supervising emerging researchers and students. She is passionate about continuous improvement, sustainability, and advancing scientific excellence to create measurable impact within industry and society. Her drive is centred around paving a way and creating opportunities for young black females especially from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive in the STEM careers.
Experience
Research and development
Managing laboratory resources and equipment
Performance management and skills development
Product formulation and development
Experimental design and testing
Materials characterization and performance validation
Process optimization and scale-up
Academic and business presentations
Scientific writing and editing
Teaching and tutoring
Project and events management: Organizing and planning events, monitoring & controlling status reports
Achievements
Making product prototypes and securing industry partnerships (2025)
Promotion from a production scientist to a research and development manager (2024)
South African Women in Science Award (2023)
Securing research funding from the Technology Innovation Agency (2022)
Tutor and Teaching Assistant Award at the University of the Witwatersrand (2022)
1st place PhD oral presentation: 8th Collaboration Symposium (2022)
2nd place PhD oral presentation: WITS 13th Cross-Faculty Postgraduate Symposium (2022)
3rd place PhD oral presentation: NYRS (2021)
UK Leaders in Fellowship (LIF) program (2021)
(vii) 1st place Masters oral presentation: Researchers’ SACI Symposium (2017)
(viii) 1st place Masters oral pitch presentation: Young Researchers’ SANi Symposium (2016)
Speaker Invitation
The 2nd Annual Scale Up Women in Business Summit: SMMES is Construction and Facilities Management (2024)
Department of Science and Innovation, United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Women in Science Leadership: A New Era for Sustainability Webinar (2024)
14th Green Building Convention (2021)
Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town Women’s Day Celebration Webinar (2021)
South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), Role Modelling Workshop (2020)
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees:
• Facile floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition synthesis of carbon nanotubes for application in sustainable construction composites, B Makgabutlane, M Maubane-Nkadimeng, N Coville, S Mhlanga, TechConnect, 75-78 (2022)
• Plastic-fly ash waste composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes for sustainable building and construction applications: A review, B Makgabutlane, MS Maubane-Nkadimeng, NJ Coville, SD Mhlanga, Results in Chemistry, 100405 (2022)
• Green synthesis of carbon nanotubes to address the water-energy-food nexus: A critical review, B Makgabutlane, LN Nthunya, MS Maubane-Nkadimeng, SD Mhlanga
• Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9 (1), 104736 (2021)
• Microwave irradiation-assisted synthesis of zeolites from coal fly ash: An optimization study for a sustainable and efficient production process, B Makgabutlane, LN Nthunya, EN Nxumalo, NM Musyoka, SD Mhlanga, ACS omega 5 (39), 25000-25008 (2020)
• Microwave-assisted synthesis of coal fly ash-based zeolites for removal of ammonium from urine, B Makgabutlane, LN Nthunya, N Musyoka, BS Dladla, EN Nxumalo, RSC advances 10 (4), 2416-2427 (2020) RSC advances 10 (4), 2416-2427