Stellenbosch University (SU) student Simon Malan, from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has been named one of the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Global Google PhD Fellowships.

These fellowships recognise outstanding graduate students conducting exceptional and innovative research in computer science and related fields, specifically focusing on candidates who seek to influence the future of technology. Through the programme, fellows receive direct financial support for their PhD studies and are paired with a dedicated Google Research Mentor.

Being accepted into the Google PhD Fellowship Programme is “a great privilege,” says Malan, who is currently in his second year of a Master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering. His research explores how computational models can learn words from a language purely by listening to speech in that language.

“Of course, the name ‘Google’ speaks for itself, and although slightly daunting, it is mostly very exciting,” says Malan. “This fellowship allows me to continue exploring my field of research, for which I have developed a deep passion.”

He attributes much of his success to his supervisor, Prof Herman Kamper, whose “passion, enthusiasm, and expertise have inspired me to truly care about the research at hand”. Kamper, who received the Google Faculty Award in 2018 and 2019, says Malan’s exceptional performance during his Master’s studies, including the presentation of a paper at a premier global conference during his first year, made him a strong candidate for the fellowship.

“Even strong PhD students struggle to get an international publication from work in their first year, so this shows that Simon is an exceptional student with the capacity for independent research,” Kamper notes. He adds that the fellowship will allow Malan to remain at Stellenbosch University to pursue his PhD. “Any international group would have been happy to have him, so we are fortunate to have him here to continue making both local and international contributions.”

According to Google, applications for the fellowship are evaluated on the strength of the research proposal, research impact, academic achievements, and leadership potential.

Another SU student, Haingo Andry from the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, was also recognised for his research focusing on data-driven methods to model climate-driven human migration and its impact on public health in Africa.