PhD Students
Class of 2024
Danelle BESTER
Email: 19198639@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Sciences-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: Investigating a potential role for ATM protein kinase in the ER stress response in cardiovascular pathology
Supervisor(s): Prof Barbara Huisamen and co-supervisors Dr Marguerite Blignaut and Dr Derick Van Vuuren.
>>Research Outputs
Elvis NGALA
Email: 24467189@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Human Physiology) (Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria) and MSc (Physiology) (Kampala International University, Uganda)
Research Group: Neuroscience Research Group
Research Project: The Effects of Intergenerational Epigenetics of traumatic stress in a sexual defeat rat model.
Supervisor(s): Dr Lihle Qulu and co-supervisor Prof. SMJ Hemmings
>>Research Outputs
Lisa Marie FERGUSON
Email: 18546854@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Human Life Science), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology) and MSc (Medical physiolog-Cum laude)
Research Group: Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG)
Research Project: An Investigation into the Molecular Pathways through which Dopamine and Ritalin produce their effects in human sperm - an in vitro study.
Supervisor(s): Dr Bongekile Skosana and co-supervisors Prof Stefan Du Plessis and Dr Lihle Qulu.
Megan CAIRNS
Email: 20212224@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Biology in Human Life Sciences), BSc Honours (Physiological Sciences) and MSc (Physiological Sciences-Cum laude)
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa
Research Project: Investigating the effects of chronic stress on cardiovascular function
Supervisor(s): Prof. Faadiel Essop and co-supervisors Dr Danzal Joseph and Dr M Vlok
Charnay CUNNINGHAM
Email: 17184207@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: Bsc (Medical Bioscience), BSc Honours (Medical Bioscience (Cum Laude) and MSc Nanoscience (Cum Laude).
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)
Research Project: The effect of particle therapy on tumour angiogenesis
Supervisor(s): Prof. Hans Strjidom, Dr Amanda Genis, Dr Charlot Vandevoorde (iThemba Labs) and Dr Julie Bolcaen (iThemba Labs).
>>Research Outputs
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. and co-supervisors Prof. Sian Hemmings and Dr Jani Nöthling
Ilze Verona WILLEMSE
Email: 15171701@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Human life sciences with Physiology Genetics and Microbiology), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology), PGCE and MSc (Medical Physiology)
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)
Research Project: Asphalathus linearis as a possible SGLT2-inhibitor: Investigating the anti-hypertensive effects of Green Rooibos extracts.
Supervisor(s): Prof Barbara Huisamen and co-supervisors Dr Erna Marais and Dr Shantal Windvogel
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
Thato KGATLA
Email: 20442807@@sun.ac.za
Qualifications: BSc (Molecular and Life Science), BSc Honours (Medical Physiology- Cum Laude)
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA)
Research Project: Investigating the novel roles of metallothioneins in rooibos-induced cardioprotection using a cardiomyoblast model of angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy and apoptosis
Supervisor(s): Dr Gerald Maarman and co-supervisor Prof. Erna Marais
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
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, Dr Moshawa Khaba, Dr Amsha Viraragavan and Prof. Faadiel Essop
Vuyolwethu MBOMBELA
Email: vuyolm@sun.ac.za
Qualifications:
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, Prof. Carmen Pheiffer, Prof. Titinchi Salam and Dr. Hanél Sadie-Van Gijsen