Medical Physiology
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Medical Physiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​PhD Students​

Class of 2025

Chelsi FORTUIN 

Email: 18276407@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Medical Bioscience), BSc Honours (Medical physiology) and MSc (Medical Physiology)

Research Group: Neuroscience Research Group

Research Project: Exploratory Study Investigating Differentially Methylated Genes in Adults with Depression and Anxiety: Epigenetic Links Shared Between Childhood Trauma, Mental Health, and Cardiometabolic Risk

Supervisor: Dr Lihle Qulu-Appiah​. and co-supervisors Prof. Sian Hemmings and Dr Jani Nöthling


Yashthi  RAMSUNDER

Email: 21911886@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology) and MSc (Medical physiology-Cum laude)

Research Group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)

Research Project: Beyond psychiatric care: Investigating Olanzapine's effect on male fertility potential by expanding on the role of septin proteins.

Supervisor(s): Dr Hanél Sadie-Van Gijsen and co-supervisor Prof. Liana Maree


Barend GROENEWALD

Email: 20697163@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology-Cum Laude) and MSc (Medical physiology-Cum laude)

Research Group: Biomedical Research and Innovative Platform (BRIP)

Research Project: The potential of human derived corneal epithelial spheroids to study limbal stem cell deficiency

Supervisor(s): Dr Nireshni Chellan and co-supervisors Dr Marguerite Blignaut and Prof. Ben Loos


Hannah FOKKENS

Email: 21992649@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BMedSci (Physiology-Cum Laude), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology-Cum laude) and MSc (Medical Physiology-Cum laude)

Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Research Project: Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation signatures and the risk of developing hypertension in a South African population

Supervisor(s): Prof. Rabia Johnson and co-supervisors Dr Jyoti Sharma and Prof. Hans Strijdom


Joshua MATTHEE


Email: 19382650@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology) and MSc (Medical physiology)

Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Research Project: Characteising the effects and underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial-targeted, orientin enriched nanoparticles (NPs) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman and co-supervisor Prof. Admire Dube


Lindokuhle NGUBANE

Email: 28776305@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Biomolecular of Technology), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology) and MSc (Medical Physiology)

Research Group: Neuroscience Research Group​

Research Project: The experiences and biological factors influencing the behaviour of incarcerated rapists in a male prison in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Supervisor(s): Dr. L Qulu-Appiah



Ronaldo​ MUKHARI​

Email: 27674959@sun.ac.za​
Qualifications: BSc (Molecular and Life Sciences), BSc Honours (Biochemistry) and MSc (Biochemistry)

Research Group: Biomedical Research and Innovative Platform (BRIP)

Research Project: Modulating maternal health as a strategy to mitigate metabolic disease in offspring– a mechanistic study

Supervisor(s): Dr Sylvia Riedel and co-supervisors Prof. Carmen Pheiffer and Prof. Hans Strijdom


 Ayesha​ SHAIK

​Email: ayesha.shaik@mrc.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Sciences), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology), MSc (Medical Physiology)​

Research Group: Biomedical Research and Innovative Platform (BRIP)​

Research Project: The Epigenetic Signatures of Sarcomas: Exploring the Role of DNA Methylation in Tumour Pathogenesis and Treatment
Supervisor(s): Dr Tarryn Willmer and co-supervisors Dr Moshawa Khaba, Dr Amsha Viraragavan and Prof. Faadiel Essop



Vuyolwethu​ MBOMBELA

Email: vuyolm@sun.ac.za​

Qualifications: ​BSc (Medical Sciences), BSc Honours (Medical Sciences) and MSc (Physiological Sciences) 

Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)

Research Project: Characterizing and comparing the effects of Olanzapine on systemic metabolism as modelled in male and female Westar rat white adipose tissue inflammation and bioenergetics  

Supervisor: Dr Hanél Sadie van Gijsen






Rudzani RAMASHIA

​Email: 25505963@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Biochemistry and Microbiology), BSc Honours (Molecular Biochemistry) and MSc (Medical Physiology)​ 

Research Group: Biomedical Research and Innovative Platform (BRIP)
Research Project: Investigating the role of novel sulfonamide derivatives on beige-like adipocytes and macrophage crosstalk​
Supervisor(s): Dr Babalwa Jack and co-supervisorsProf. Carmen Pheiffer, Prof. Titinchi Salam and Dr. Hanél Sadie-Van Gijsen







Kheya MOKOENA

​Email: 23149108@sun.ac.za

Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science), BSc Honours (Biochemistry) ​ and MSc (Medical Physiology- Cum laude)​ 

Research Group: ​Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)
Research Project: Investigating the effcet of cardiometabolic disease on mitochondrial respiratory function and mRNA expression levels in people living with HIV: A longitudinal study
Supervisor(s): Prof. Hans Strijdom and ​co-supervisors Dr Ingrid Webster and Dr Marguerite Blignaut



William Ernerst MANYANI​

​​Email: 29646413@sun.ac.za​

Qualifications: BSc Honours (Nursing Science), MSc (Medical Science)

Research Group:  Neuroscience Research Group
Research Project: The role of epigenetics in the development of sexual aggressive behaviour in convicted male rapists at Westville Prison in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Supervisor(s): Dr Lihle Qulu-Appiah