Nikita Sitharam Awarded Prestigious Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Scholarship

In honour of International Women’s Month, we celebrate the outstanding achievements of Nikita Sitharam ! At just 25 years old, Nikita is making remarkable strides in the field of viral genomics. As a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), her research focuses on understanding the evolutionary dynamics of endemic and re-emerging viral pathogens in Africa.

Before embarking on her PhD, Nikita completed her Master's degree in bioinformatics as a CERIer, where she worked on developing an Africa-focused arboviral genomic dashboard to support public health decision-making.

Nikita’s dedication and academic excellence have earned her a prestigious recognition; she was recently awarded the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Postgraduate Scholarship, securing funding for the full three-year duration of her PhD. This highly competitive scholarship had 998 applicants from across South Africa, with only 43 ultimately selected. Nikita’s outstanding academic record, having achieved cum laude in her undergraduate, honours, and master’s degrees, played a significant role in her selection.

Reflecting on her journey, Nikita shares valuable advice for young researchers seeking funding:?

“Start preparing well in advance. There are many small pieces of writing—research proposal, motivation, and scientific relevance—that make up these applications, and they require a fair amount of reflection and development of a research narrative. My biggest piece of advice would be to engage with senior researchers who have been through the process of grant writing and been successful.”

She credits much of her success to the support and mentorship she received throughout the application process: “I am very grateful to Dr. Houriiyah Tegally , my supervisor, and Dr. Cheryl Baxter , the head of Scientific Support at CERI, who gave constructive feedback on my application and ensured it was submission-ready.” The two are fellow women who are the pillars of CERI’s success and beacons of hope for the scientific field.

With this scholarship, Nikita is well-positioned to advance her research and contribute to a deeper understanding of viral pathogens, further strengthening Africa’s scientific landscape. Congratulations, Nikita!

And Happy International Women's Day to all #womeninscience #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

More about Nikita: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9989