​Two decades of eminent research has earned Professor Soraya Seedat Stellenbosch University's coveted Chancellor's Award for Research.

Seedat is a distinguished professor in psychiatry and the Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). She holds the South African Research Chair in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation.

“Seedat is an internationally renowned clinician-scientist whose research interests include gender-based violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV/neuroAIDS, early-life adversity and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Drawing on different disciplines, the more than 350 journal articles and book chapters from her pen have had a substantial impact on clinical practice and policy, and are widely cited in scientific literature globally," Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the FMHS, said at the Faculty's graduation ceremony where the prize was awarded to Seedat.

Other accolades bestowed on this high-impact researcher include fellowships of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry and the Lundbeck Institute, along with an award from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

She has 19 years of clinical, epidemiological and basic neuroscience research experience as a psychiatrist in the field of traumatic stress and anxiety. She has also been involved in neuroAIDS research for 15 years and foetal alcohol spectrum disorders research for the past 10 years. She directs a number of research programmes in the Department of Psychiatry and mentors several master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students. 

She has experience in research ethics and is currently a member of Stellenbosch University's Senate Research Ethics Committee and a board member of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. She serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and as an associate editor of the journals PLoS One, Global Mental Health and the South African Journal of Psychiatry.

“I'm delighted about the acknowledgment and support, especially from Prof Volmink and his management team. I am very fortunate to work with many talented colleagues (staff and students), and the award is an affirmation that all good work happens by, with and through people," said Seedat.

Caption: Prof Soraya Seedat received the Chancellor's Award for Research.