Prof Rachel Makungo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Venda, South Africa. She has served as an academic for 19 years. She holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences with a specialisation in Hydrology. Her research interests include surface water and groundwater hydrology, water resource systems analysis, water quality, hydrological modelling, climate change and adaptation. She has published more than 30 peer reviewed publications (articles and book chapters), conference proceedings, conference presentations and professional/technical reports. She has successfully managed and led several research projects which have provided funding opportunities for more than 20 postgraduate students. She is a National Research Foundation rated researcher (level Y2). She fully participated in the Department of Higher Education and Training’s future professors programme (FPP) phase 2 cohort 1 from 2021 to 2023. She has contributed to successful training of 71 postgraduate students (which includes PhD, Masters and Honours) in the field of surface and groundwater hydrology.