thenuja@sun.ac.za

Thenuja Pillay

MSc Student

Research theme: Combatting Infections of National Priority

Thenuja completed her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2022 and went on to further her studies in Statistics after receiving a prestigious scholarship awarded to the top female student progressing from undergraduate to honours level at the university. During her academic journey, she participated in mentorship initiatives and outreach talks aimed at supporting students transitioning into STEM careers. She then worked as a Data Scientist within an experimentation team, where she analysed complex datasets, designed statistical frameworks and developed models to support decisions across the organisation.

Driven by a strong passion for using data to make a meaningful impact in healthcare, Thenuja is currently completing a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics with the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), at Stellenbosch University. Her research focuses on epidemiological modelling, with applications to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and vaccination, aiming to assess vaccine efficacy and the waning of immunity among South African populations to inform strategies that reduce the overall burden of the disease in South Africa.

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7582-2602

Project title

Exploring the Hepatitis B virus immunity profile among South Africans using a mathematical model

Supervisor(s)

Dr Cari van Schalkwyk, Ms Tammara Koh

Recent publications

Nothing Found