Three Medical Science Students Receive NRF Scholarships

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Three students in UKZN’s Discipline of Clinical Anatomy have been awarded National Research Foundation (NRF) scholarships to pursue postgraduate qualifications in the Medical Sciences.

Ms Sundika Ishwarkumar and Ms Arishka Kalicharan received NRF Scarce Skills Scholarships for their PhD studies while Ms Bianca Roelofse scooped the NRF Innovation Scholarship for her masters work.

Ishwarkumar said: ‘I am thrilled about receiving the scholarship. Anatomy research fulfills my inquisitive side as no two people are identical - there are many variations that exist within the human body, much of which has not yet been established.’

Her masters research examines the prevalence of impacted third molars among people in the greater Durban Metropolitan population.

Once she has completed her PhD, she plans to venture into academia and research. 

‘It feels great knowing that the NRF acknowledged my proposed study,’ said Kalicharan, who is excited by the prospect of starting her PhD and contributing to medical diagnostics and treatment in the field of orthopedics.

Kalicharan was awarded a College of Health Sciences research bursary for her masters degree which examines the anatomy of the plantar aponeurosis – a ligament under the foot. She is in the final stages of submitting her dissertation and will soon start her PhD work.

Roelofse received the College of Health Sciences research bursary for her masters in 2015. Her on-going Masters research involves anatomical investigation of the suprarenal vasculature. ‘The suprarenal gland is a very tricky and interesting gland in the human body. It has many major functions that some tend to forget and I wanted to investigate the anatomical aspect rather than the physiological importance of this gland,’ she explained.

‘It feels amazing to have been awarded the NRF Innovation Scholarship. I am truly blessed and grateful that my study was chosen. I never thought it would be a big deal but to be honest I feel quite proud of myself. I would like to complete my Masters degree and then apply to do my PhD at UKZN,’ she added.

‘We’re very proud of our junior colleagues and wish them all the best in their studies,’ said Clinical Anatomy Lecturer, Mrs Pamela Pillay.

Lunga Memela