Alumni Talk Series – Zakithi Mkhize
Join us for a monthly zoom talk given by UKZN’s high-flying graduates of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science.
- Learn from your peers.
- Listen and ask questions.
- Find out how to navigate successfully in the modern world.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Durban girl and UKZN alumnus Zakithi Mkhize holds a BSc Honours degree in Microbiology, a Master of Medical Science in Virology (cum laude) and is currently a PhD candidate at the HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) and a PhD fellow at the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE). As a young black woman coming from a country which is so greatly affected by HIV she is passionate about medical research and has presented her findings at two international conferences. She holds numerous awards including an NRF doctoral Innovation scholarship and being regional KZN winner for FameLab 2021. For Zakithi, one of the most exciting things about Science is being able to communicate it with everyone. She uses her YouTube channel, BlackGirlScientist to share her knowledge, experiences and expertise with people who are in, or considering being in STEM fields, and to motivate, encourage and inspire young people, especially young black women, to pursue a career in Science. ‘If you are confident enough, you should put yourself out there!,’ says Zakithi. ‘What’s the worst that could happen? Once you envision yourself as a brand that encapsulates everything you stand for, show up as her. Every day!