The research work of Karen Cloete (MSc cum laude, PhD) is focused on the interdisciplinary and translational applications of biological material chemical fingerprinting with ion beam and synchrotron radiation technologies and the biological applications of nanosciences and nanotechnology. She is currently a senior researcher at the UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology Laboratories at the University of South Africa and the Nanosciences African Network at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Science – National Research Foundation as well as a member of Nanoenergy for Sustainable Development in Africa, where her work is guided by the sustainable development goals. She has been a successful applicant for the International Centre for Theoretical Physics-Training and Research in Italian Laboratories visiting research fellowship, The World Academy of Sciences-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Associateship, and The World Academy of Sciences-National Centre for Physics fellowship. She has also been the recipient of notable scholarships, grants, and awards; selected for international schools in France and Brazil; and as visiting scientist, visited and received training at international research centres of standing in Pakistan (National Centre for Physics), Brazil (Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory), Italy (ELETTRA), Slovenia (Jozef Stefan Institute), and France (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility). She is a valued educator who has developed, convened, lectured, and examined courses supported by e-learning platforms in microbiology as well as science communication and has published in the field of education to promote the use of ion beam analysis for forensics applications. She has also assisted in guiding the development a microscopy course for the African Bioimaging Consortium. She has organized, chaired, and presented workshops to registrars, clinical consultants, and medical scientists at Stellenbosch University and the Medical Research Council Cochrane Centre as well as to young fellows and academics in Pakistan. She has mentored and co-supervised national and international fellows from interdisciplinary fields. She has published interdisciplinary research papers in high-impact international journals; she has been invited, featured at, or presented her work in oral format at international academic and non-academic conferences of standing; and served as a session chair, panellist, and invited speaker. She has further served as a reviewer and on the editorial board for journals, has served as a technical editor. Her international collaborators have included to date, Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Brazil Pakistan, Jamaica, Cameroon, Ghana, Sudan, Kenya, Botswana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and USA. She is a current member of the Global Young Academy, past South African Young Academy of Science co-chair, and alumnus of the World Economic Forum Young Scientist Community. She strongly believes in the power of science to effect positive change.
