Masters Student in Austria thanks to Eurosa Scholarship

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UKZN masters student, Ms Ayanda Khumalo, has been awarded a Eurosa Scholarship to study Behavioral Physiology in Graz, Austria.

Khumalo (25) of Pietermaritzburg is enrolled for a Master of Medical Science degree at UKZN’s Optics and Imaging Centre (OIC) attached to the College of Health Sciences.

She previously worked as an intern at Tshwane University of Technology and believed that education would open doors for her.  ‘I’ve always been keen to go overseas.’

Khumalo said she loved studying and didn’t see herself doing anything other than teaching and progressing as an academic in scientific disciplines.

‘I chose this career path because I’ve always wanted to understand how human beings function; what makes them tick,’ said Khumalo.

Her masters research topic supervised by OIC Head, Professor Anita Naicker, is: “Immunoexpression of Uterine Natural Killer Cells in HIV-Associated Pre-Eclamptic and Normotensive Pregnancies”.

‘My mother prefers me to be nearby at all times so you can imagine how she took the news about me leaving the continent and the country! She calmed down later and now believes the venture will open many doors for me.’

Khumalo will be in Austria for five months.

Lunga Memela