Dr Govender is a psychologist and behavioural scientist specializing in HIV research on youth and masculinities research. His research skills include quantitative and qualitative methods, including psychometrics of scale development. He is Research Director at the Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa and Senior Faculty member in School of Applied Human Sciences, College of Humanities, UKZN. Dr Govender has undertaken work on a number of projects in the field of HIV/AIDS on psycho-social and behavioural issues for agencies such as UNICEF; Governments (South Africa); funders (Swedish SIDA; Merck) business (SAB; De Beers). He is currently PI on the following projects: a) SIDA funded MMC research among youth with partner CAPRISA, b) SADC funded three country study to study HIV prevention and treatment interventions with mobile populations (Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe) with partners Edwardo Molane University, Mozambique, FACT, Zimbabwe and North Star Alliance, c) Evaluation of HCT Services in South Africa for Department of Health, with partner Epi Centre. He is also Co investigator on HIV Provincial Prevalence Study (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa), CDC Funded Study with partners CAPRISA and EpiCentre. He was previously PI on a SABMiller study on focusing on the evaluation of an alcohol and risk reduction programme for men. Dr Govender is also currently providing technical assistance to Department of Basic Education on addressing wellbeing of HIV positive learners in schools.

youth and masculinities, quantitative and qualitative methods, including psychometrics of scale development.