Cosmology asks some of the deepest questions in science, about the origin, composition, evolution and ultimate fate of the universe. The Chair in Physical Cosmology, Professor Amanda Weltman, has built a globally recognised theoretical cosmology and astrophysics programme with a particular focus on Fast Radio Bursts as novel probes of cosmology. Based in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, the Chair has strengthened research capacity at the interface of cosmology, theoretical physics and astrophysics, and has cemented South Africa's role in major international collaborations exploring the fundamental nature of the universe.

The Chair is a theoretical physicist whose research spans cosmology, astrophysics, and fundamental physics, with a focus on understanding the nature of dark energy, gravity, and the large-scale evolution of the Universe. She is internationally recognised for co-developing the chameleon gravity mechanism, a pioneering framework that proposes a screening mechanism for modified gravity theories and has inspired extensive theoretical and experimental investigations. Her research combines theoretical modelling with observational and experimental approaches, including cosmological surveys, laboratory searches for new fundamental particles, and multi-messenger astronomy. More recently, her work has explored the use of fast radio bursts, gravitational waves, and next-generation radio telescopes such as HIRAX and the Square Kilometre Array to probe cosmological parameters, test gravity on cosmic scales, and address outstanding questions in modern cosmology, including the nature of dark energy and current tensions in measurements of the expansion of the universe.