Young Folweni lecturer earns PhD
Recalling the challenges she has faced in her life, Dr Senzekile Majola's biggest wish was for her mother, who died in September 2017, to witness her victory.
DR SENZEKILE Majola, a DUT lecturer from Nsimbini in Folweni, graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from the same institution recently.
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The 26-year-old, who teaches chemistry, could not hold back tears as she walked across the stage to accept her degree at the event held at the Olive Convention Centre on Friday. DUT spokesperson, Alan Khan, said her academic journey at the institution started in 2015 when she registered to study for a diploma in analytical chemistry.
“At that time, she had no funding and no real knowledge about what opportunities existed. However, through hard work and a strong academic performance, she was selected in 2016 for a bursary by her lecturer at that time, Dr Pinkie Ntola. This was a life-changing experience for her as she completed her diploma without the continual worry over the debt she owed,” said Khan.
Recalling the challenges she has faced in her life, Majola’s biggest wish was for her late mother to witness her victory, who died in September 2017.
“In 2018, I returned to DUT for my BTech degree while still deep in grief. I was attending counselling, taking antidepressants, and coping with the side effects, all while trying to keep up with my studies. It was not easy, but my determination to finish what I had started kept me going. Resilience, therapy, careful planning, and protecting my ‘me time’ became my survival tools. I knew if I didn’t take care of my mental health, I could lose my love for my studies. Even now, I remain committed to therapy as part of taking care of my mental health,” said Majola.
In 2019 she registered for her Master of Applied Sciences in chemistry, and graduated with a master’s degree in 2021, and immediately started her PhD journey. Speaking about her research, Majola said the title of her dissertation was: Development of electrochemical immunosensors for detection of insulin antibodies using indole-pyrazole nanoparticles. Her research is aimed at developing accessible and affordable drugs and diagnostic tools, blending her passion for chemistry with a desire to make a real impact in people’s lives.
In terms of her career, she noted that research and lecturing are a central part of her experience and will continue to be a permanent part of her journey. She envisions pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship either in South Africa or overseas.
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