Prof Sonia Fidder

Prof Sonia Fidder
Image by: Stellenbosch University

Prof Sonia Fidder

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6533-1781

+27 (01)21 808 4225
General Engineering Building, Banghoek Road, Stellenbosch

About

I am an associate professor of Applied Mathematics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. I hold a BSc degree in Physics and a HonsBsc, MScEng and PhD in Applied Mathematics which I obtained from Stellenbosch University. In 2010 I was awarded the L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship. As a result of this award I had the priviledge of being honoured by the South African minister of Science and Technology, minister Naledi Pandor, at a gala evening in April 2010. 

Research

My research involves the mathematical modelling of fluid flow through porous media. In my PhD dissertation geometrical pore-scale models are presented and analytical equations proposed to predict the pressure drop and permeability of different types of porous media. My research is focused on adapting the models and improving the generic equations by relaxing the assumptions which are based on physical principles. The goal is to continuously extend the range of applicability of the models so that it can be used to predict the transport phenomena in various industrial porous media applications. The geometric models include a model for granular media, foams and fibrous porous media. I am involved in a few research projects in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Environmental Systems at IMT Atlantique in France. These projects involve the permeability prediction of :

  • fibrous porous media subject to compression
  • fibrous porous media used in air filtration and
  • predicting the effect of biofilm growth on the pressure drop over a biofilter. 

The latter project is also in collaboration with the University of Groningen in The Netherlands.

Awards

In 2015 I was selected to be part of the ERASMUS MUNDUS European Union Saturn Staff Exchange programme which enabled me to spend a one month research visit at a European university. In 2019 I was awarded the European Union Coimbra Scholarship for young African researchers to spend a two months research visit at a European university. In 2016 and 2018 I have spent two six-months sabbaticals at the Department of Applied Physics at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. In 2023 I was awarded the EU Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Scholarship to attend a Summer School at Radboud University in the Netherlands. In 2024 I have attended the EQUiiP (Educational Quality at Universities for inclusive international Programmes) Summer School at the University of Groningen for which I received an EduBadge after proving my competency by submitting a portfolio and giving an online presentation.

Teaching

I teach undergraduate Applied Mathematics courses to both Science and Engineering students and a postgraduate course to Science students. In 2025, I taught:

  • AM 354 - Flow modelling
  • AM B124 - Statics

Modules taught in previous years:

  • AM 794 - Tensor Analysis
  • AM 144 - Modelling in Mechanics

Master's students supervised

Doctoral students supervised