Overview and Research Interests
I am a chemist with interdisciplinary research experience and a passionate interest in infectious disease. My research experience has ranged from organic synthesis and fluorescence microscopy to chemical proteomics and mammalian tissue culture.
Postgraduate education (2011-2016)
I completed my BSc(Hons), specialising in chemistry, at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 2016, I completed my doctoral thesis under the supervision of Professor Timothy Egan and Professor Roger Hunter in the Department of Chemistry at UCT. My thesis contributed new insights to the mechanism of action of two historically-important antimalarials, quinine and chloroquine, through live-cell imaging and chemical proteomics. During this time, I was a tutor and demonstrator for undergraduate chemistry courses and was strongly involved with the Department of Chemistry’s outreach programme.
Postdoctoral fellowship (2017-2018)
For the next two years, I was invited to join the laboratory of Professor Janet Hapgood in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town as a postdoctoral researcher. My work focused on HIV acquisition in the context of steroid receptors and hormonal contraceptives. I developed expertise in mammalian tissue culture in BSLII and BSLII+ facilities, metabolite profiling, in silico molecular docking and immunofluorescence. As a chemist, I brought a unique small-molecule approach to the group. Other responsibilities included chairing a weekly seminar series for postgraduate students and being the postdoctoral representative on the departmental health and safety and postgraduate committees.
Current research (2019-)
In January 2019, I commenced a second postdoctoral fellowship as a medicinal chemist at the UCT Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) with Professor Kelly Chibale. I design and synthesise potential drug leads for malaria as part of a project that is jointly funded by the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). Working at H3D allows me to make a tangible contribution to science and healthcare on the African continent.
I am a member of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) and a full member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and have served on the joint local committee of these associations since 2014.
Postgraduate education (2011-2016)
I completed my BSc(Hons), specialising in chemistry, at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In 2016, I completed my doctoral thesis under the supervision of Professor Timothy Egan and Professor Roger Hunter in the Department of Chemistry at UCT. My thesis contributed new insights to the mechanism of action of two historically-important antimalarials, quinine and chloroquine, through live-cell imaging and chemical proteomics. During this time, I was a tutor and demonstrator for undergraduate chemistry courses and was strongly involved with the Department of Chemistry’s outreach programme.
Postdoctoral fellowship (2017-2018)
For the next two years, I was invited to join the laboratory of Professor Janet Hapgood in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Cape Town as a postdoctoral researcher. My work focused on HIV acquisition in the context of steroid receptors and hormonal contraceptives. I developed expertise in mammalian tissue culture in BSLII and BSLII+ facilities, metabolite profiling, in silico molecular docking and immunofluorescence. As a chemist, I brought a unique small-molecule approach to the group. Other responsibilities included chairing a weekly seminar series for postgraduate students and being the postdoctoral representative on the departmental health and safety and postgraduate committees.
Current research (2019-)
In January 2019, I commenced a second postdoctoral fellowship as a medicinal chemist at the UCT Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) with Professor Kelly Chibale. I design and synthesise potential drug leads for malaria as part of a project that is jointly funded by the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). Working at H3D allows me to make a tangible contribution to science and healthcare on the African continent.
I am a member of the South African Chemical Institute (SACI) and a full member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), and have served on the joint local committee of these associations since 2014.