Medical Physiology
Welcome to Stellenbosch University

Division of Medical Physiology

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​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: Prof Barbara Huisamen, Dr Marguerite Blignaut and Dr Derick Van Vuuren.

>>Research Outp​uts​​




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.

Supervisors: Dr Lihle Qulu and 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: 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

Supervisors: 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
Supervisors: Prof. Hans Strjidom, Dr. Amanda Genis, Dr. Charlot Vandevoorde (iThemba Labs) and Dr. Julie Bolcaen (iThemba Labs).

>>Research Outputs
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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: 

Supervisor: Dr Lihle Qulu​.​





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: Prof Barbara Huisamen, 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 physiolog-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: Dr. Hanél Sadie-Van Gijsen, Prof. Liana Maree