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Meet Habib

 

NICE TO MEET YOU

 

Habib Noorbhai is a Professor in Health & Sports Science and a Visiting Pro­fessor at MIT (where he also completed his Fulbright Fellowship in 2024). Habib holds degrees in sport psychology, Biokinetics (Exercise Physiology); and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of Cape Town.

Habib has progressed through the ranks of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor; and has worked at several aca­demic institutions including the University of Cape Town, Cape Penin­sula University of Technology, University of Johannesburg and MIT.

Professionally trained as an exercise physiologist, Habib worked in private practice with athletes and patients before transitioning into academia. His interdisciplinary research spans cricket science, exercise physiology and health technologies, with a growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI), immersive technologies (XR) and movement optimisation. He has developed several innovations in sports performance and health education.

Habib has supervised candidates from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and presented at more than 40 national and 20 international events (including the United Nations, UNESCO and BRICS).

NICE TO MEET YOU

 

Habib Noorbhai is a Professor in Health & Sports Science at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa, and a Visiting Pro­fessor at MIT (where he also completed his Fulbright Fellowship). Habib holds degrees in sport psychology, Biokinetics (Exercise Physiology); and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science from the University of Cape Town.

Habib has progressed through the ranks of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor; and has worked at several aca­demic institutions including the University of Cape Town, Cape Penin­sula University of Technology, University of Johannesburg and MIT.

Habib also serves as an Associate Editor of the BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine Journal and continues to assist and consult with numerous sports teams, athletes and industry. Habib has also supervised candidates from the undergraduate to post-doc­toral stages, and has developed several innovations in sports science and health innovation.

With over 65 peer-reviewed publications and presentations at 30 national and 16 international conferences/symposiums, Habib remains committed to using data, science and innovation to drive impact and change in sport and health.

Selected accolades:

  • Winner of Mr South Africa (2017).
  • Golden Key International Honorary Member at UCT (2018).
  • Distinguished Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teacher Excellence at UJ (2021).
  • Scholarly contributions has led to nominations for various awards in 2022 and 2024, including the HSRC-USAf and the NSTF-South32 “Science Oscars” in Communication.
  • Winner of the Science & Innovation Award, for Forty Under-40 South Africa (2023).
  • Fulbright Research Scholarship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2024).
  • Senior Scientist Award, Biokinetics Association of South Africa (2025)