Dr Thulwaneng Mashifane is a Biogeochemical Model Developer at the Southern Ocean
Carbon and Climate Observatory (SOCCO) within the CSIR. His current research at SOCCO
aims to improve parameterisations of physiological processes for phytoplankton in coupled
physical-biogeochemical models. This involves using the coupled one to multi-dimensional
models configured on the Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC) to improve the
biogeochemical representation.

Dr Mashifane graduated with a PhD in Ocean and Atmosphere Science specialising in
Biogeochemical Modelling from the University of Cape Town. His thesis investigated shelf
biogeochemical interactions and feedback processes in the Benguela upwelling system. During
his PhD, he also participated in several research and training cruises in the Atlantic and Indian
ocean onboard the SA Agulhas II, R/V Meteor, R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen and R/V Maria S. Merian
gaining insightful observational skills which complement his modelling expertise.