September 2012 - Narjis Thawer from the Virology Division received one of six South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) Women in Science Awards.
The annual South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) Women in Science Awards aims to recognize outstanding ability and potential in research, to create incentives for women scientists and researchers, and to create role models for young women and girls. This year 3 of our Masters students were of six in total who received the Masters Fellowship Award from DST, on 24 August 2012 in Pretoria, with the awards valued at R20 000 each. Congratulations to Narjis Thawer, Akhona Vava, and Sumaiyya Thawer.
Narjis obtained a BSc (Med) Honours degree in Immunology and Infectious disease at UCT Medical School. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree under the supervision of Dr Wendy Burgers in the Division of Medical Virology. Narjis's research focuses on investigating the immune defects in macrophage and monocyte responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-TB co-infection. The goal of her research is to determine why HIV-infected people are more susceptible to TB, which she hopes may ultimately help in the development of better vaccines and drugs to treat TB. |
