Dr John Bosco Habarulema completed his MSc (2008) and PhD (2011) in Space Physics (from Rhodes University, South Africa) focussing on analytical and empirical modelling of total electron content (on a regional scale) with the use of satellite and ground based data. This still remains one of his research interests in addition to investigations leading to understanding physical mechanisms driving ionospheric dynamics especially during disturbed conditions, low latitude electrodynamics and their potential to launch atmospheric gravity waves (TIDs) which propagate to mid-latitude regions from the equatorial regions. He is the currently the scientific Principal Investigator of the South African Ionosonde Network which comprises of four ionosonde stations.
John joined SANSA as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2011. Since 2013, he has been a researcher within the Science Research and Applications unit at SANSA, Hermanus.
In 2014, John was the first African recipient of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) International Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early-Career Award in Sun-Earth systems science for his contributions to ionospheric physics and space weather. In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious AGU Africa Award for Research Excellence in Space Science.
He works with postgraduate students at all levels and has published over 30 papers in international peer reviewed journals