Stef Roux has two doctoral degrees: one in electronic engineering from the University of Pretoria (UP) and another in theoretical particle physics from the University of Toronto in Canada.
Roux, 47, says he became interested in optics while at UP. He then joined the CSIR Aerotech (now known as the CSIR Defence, Peace, Safety and Security’s Aeronautics Systems Competency) in the late 1980s. He later left for the then Potchefstroom University (now North-West University) to work there as a researcher/lecturer.
“While there I developed an interest in particle physics.” Roux could not resist the hankering to study particle physics. He left the university and went to study at the University of Toronto. It is here that he pursued his second doctoral degree in theoretical particle physics. Having fulfilled his ambitions, he returned to optics and went to work for a company called JDS Uniphase Corporation in Ottawa, focusing on the design of optical fibre components.
“While at this company, there was a telecom bust and the timing was bad so I left again – this time for the University of Ottawa,” he says.
Roux eventually returned to South Africa in 2004 and went to work at UP before joining the CSIR NLC in 2009.
Roux, 47, says he became interested in optics while at UP. He then joined the CSIR Aerotech (now known as the CSIR Defence, Peace, Safety and Security’s Aeronautics Systems Competency) in the late 1980s. He later left for the then Potchefstroom University (now North-West University) to work there as a researcher/lecturer.
“While there I developed an interest in particle physics.” Roux could not resist the hankering to study particle physics. He left the university and went to study at the University of Toronto. It is here that he pursued his second doctoral degree in theoretical particle physics. Having fulfilled his ambitions, he returned to optics and went to work for a company called JDS Uniphase Corporation in Ottawa, focusing on the design of optical fibre components.
“While at this company, there was a telecom bust and the timing was bad so I left again – this time for the University of Ottawa,” he says.
Roux eventually returned to South Africa in 2004 and went to work at UP before joining the CSIR NLC in 2009.
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