Not only was Ms Devina Chetty the best third-year student in Genetics for 2018, earning herself the coveted MERCK Award, she also graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude with majors in Genetics and Cell Biology.
It was a natural choice for Chetty to study at UKZN as she is essentially a “home bird”. ‘Family has always provided me with support and guidance in every aspect of my life therefore when transitioning from matric to university, UKZN was my first choice simply because it’s close to home,’ she said.
‘Genetics has always been a fascinating subject for me. I would love to do research one day that reveals new information about our DNA and its functions. Genetics is a field with a lot of potential for finding cures for diseases that affect billions of people and each graduate in the field is one more person who can use the knowledge to accomplish these goals.’
Looking to the future, Chetty hopes to obtain an internship with a local or international organisation to gain experience before registering for a Master’s in Genetics.
She thanked her parents for their support. ‘They have always been there to guide me in my decisions and I am thankful for all countless sacrifices they’ve made to get me to where I am today,’ she said.
In her spare time, Chetty enjoys working out, cooking, reading, playing table tennis and listening to music.
Words: Sally Frost
Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan