PhD Students
Class of 2023
Danelle BOTHA
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 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.
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 (CARMA)
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
Research output: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpheart.00244.2020
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
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
Tembeka NYAWO
Email: 18244777@sun.ac.za
Qualifications:
Research Group: Centre for Cardio-metabolic Research in Africa (CARMA) and Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP)
Research Project: Evaluation of mitochondrial and molecular derangements in cardiac adipose tissue during type 2 diabetes and relationship with cardiovascular risk
Supervisors: Dr Carmen Pheiffer (SAMRC), Prof Raabia Johnson (SAMRC), Prof. Hans Strijdom and Dr Hanel Sadie-van Gijsen.