MUST Deep Learning

🎉 Massive congratulations to Minnike on her graduation this past 29 July! 🎓

Minnike has been an integral part of the MUST Deep Learning Research Group at NWU - North-West University. Her dedication to her work on sign language translation using deep learning has been truly inspiring to all of us in the lab.

We also extend our thanks to her supervisors, Prof. Marelie Davel and Prof. Samuel Tsoeu, for their guidance and support throughout her research.

We are incredibly proud of your achievement, Minnike, and we cannot wait to see the impact you will continue to make in the field of machine learning.

Well done, Minnike. This is thoroughly deserved. 👏

Postgraduate scholarships for 2027 are now open at MUST Deep Learning, part of NWU Faculty of Engineering at NWU - North-West University!

We are a machine learning research group focusing on deep learning. Our research involves understanding and improving deep learning tools, applying deep learning in selected domains with external partners, and investigating the fundamental principles of generalisation in deep neural networks. In 2027, student projects will span deep time series modelling and applications ranging from space science and agriculture to assistive technologies and biomedical imaging.

Master's: R185k p.a. | PhD: R205k p.a. (tax-free)
Deep learning research in space science, agriculture, assistive tech & biomedical imaging.

Apply here 👉 https://form.jotform.com/261743368632563
Closing 30 Aug 2026

Research Assistant Application

The MUST Deep Learning Research Group is looking for volunteers to gather mobile video data for a biometric livestock security study (compensation provided).

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfa7Qqrd2L8m3q3iuBOjrnaCXqK6-IF9EErZH6nSFADmR9jcQ/viewform

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Big congratulations to our alumni Ruan Van der Spoel and Leon Freese on graduating with Master’s degrees with Distinctions! 🎉

Thank you for your valuable contributions to MUST Deep Learning. Wishing you continued success and great achievements ahead!

Proud of you both!

NWU Faculty of Engineering

A belated but very proud celebration for our Director, Prof Marelie Davel, who completed this year's Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56 km) in a net time of 04:54:21, finishing 10th in her category. 🏃‍♀️🌊

What stands out most is not just the finish, but how she ran it. Steady, controlled pacing through the early kilometres, holding form through the brutal Chappies climb, and then steadily moving up the field in the second half, passing hundreds of runners while many were fading.

Congratulations, Prof! The MUST Deep Learning group is incredibly proud. 👏

NWU Faculty of Engineering

The MUST Deep Learning team had an incredible time at the NWU Faculty of Engineering Open Day.

We loved chatting and showing learners, parents, and future engineers what’s possible when code meets creativity.

Congratulations to all our MUST Deep Learning members who received awards at the NWU Faculty of Engineering Awards Ceremony!

Aldrin Ngorima received an award for publishing five research papers during his PhD studies, consisting of two conference papers and three special-issue journal publications.

Ruan Van der Spoel and Leon Freese each received two awards: one for completing their Master’s degrees with distinction, and another for publishing a journal article or conference proceeding during their postgraduate research.

Christiaan Borcherds, Stephan Oberholzer were honoured as Top 10 Academic Performers in their final year of undergraduate studies.

Khoduwe Kgopolang Tshabalala was recognised for graduating with distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering.

Well done to all!

This week, Coenraad Mouton is representing us in London🇬🇧 at the IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI 2026).

Sharing our latest findings on "Useful Nonrobust Features are Ubiquitous in Biomedical Images." This research dives deep into the nature of features in medical imaging and their implications for model robustness.

Great to see our work being shared on the global stage!