UBC Math-Bio Colloquium

The UBC Mathematics-Biology research group is delighted to host four distinguished speakers from South Africa as part of the University Staff Doctoral Program: Building Capacity in Applied Mathematics (USDP-BCAM). This international collaboration, which includes six universities across South Africa, the UK, Belgium, and Poland, aims to increase the number of academics with PhDs at South African institutions.

This visit is a key part of the ongoing research exchange activities between Canada and South Africa, and we are excited to strengthen our collaborative ties.

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SPEAKERS

	PROF. FARAI J. MHLANGA Principal Investigator & Supervisor   Talk tile: Zero-coupon bond pricing when short rates are driven by skew geometric brownian motion
	DR. GERALD TENDAYI MAREWO Supervisor Talk title: Taking a glance at some trials and tribulations of using deal
	HAZEL SEKGOTHE PhD Student Talk title: Bulk-surface finite element methods for non-linear semi-parabolic partial differential equations of reaction-diffusion type.
	RICHARD KAGISHO MAHLAKWANA PhD Student Talk title: Modelling, analysis and simulation of a mechanobiochemical model for 2D and 3D cell migration.

Schedule

About the Building Capacity in Applied Mathematics (USDP-BCAM)

The Universities of Limpopo (South Africa), Sussex (United Kinfdom), Johannesburg (South Africa), the London School of Economics (United Kingdom), the University of Hasselt (Belgium), and the Warsaw School of Economics (Poland) established a multilateral collaboration under the theme University Staff Doctoral Programme: Building Capacity in Applied Mathematics (USDP-BCAM). The initiative aims to train ten (10) permanent academic staff members at South African institutions to obtain doctoral qualifications, thereby increasing the number of permanent academics with PhDs and strengthening supervisory capacity in postgraduate programs. The project is funded by the Newton Fund in partnership with the British Council and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The program has already produced seven (7) PhD graduates, with two (2) more expected in 2026, while one (1) participant has transitioned to a different doctoral program.

The visit to the University of British Columbia from 28 September to 12 October 2025 is part of the research-exchange activities between Canada and South Africa under the SA-UK University Staff Doctoral Programme (SA-UK USDP) grant. The visit will strengthen ongoing collaboration between South African and Canadian universities in support of doctoral training for academic staff at South African institutions.