Dr. Elisabet le Roux is a Senior Researcher within the URDR. Her research focus is on the intersection between faith and development, particularly as it relates to gender issues. She has masters degrees in Translation and in Theology (specialiding in Clinical Pastorate and HIV), and her PhD (in Sociology) was on sexual violence against women during armed conflict, and the role of African churches. She has for the past ten years been working and doing research in different countries in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In 2013 the impact of her research was recognized when she was awarded the runner-up position in the Women in Science Awards (WISA), presented by the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa, in the category Emerging researcher on the role of science and research against violence towards women.