Ms. Nkosazana Shange completed her Master of Medical Science (M.MedSc) degree (Cum Laude) at the University of the Free State’s Next Generation Sequencing (UFS-NGS) Unit, under the supervision of Prof. Martin Nyaga, Dr Celeste Donato, and Dr Nigel Makoah in 2025. Her research lies at the intersection of Molecular Virology and Genomics, with a strong focus on understanding the diversity and evolution of enteric viruses affecting children in South Africa.

She obtained her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 2020 from the University of Cape Town (UCT), majoring in Biochemistry and Human Anatomy & Physiology. Building on this foundation, she completed her BSc Honours in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in 2021 at UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, where she was trained in advanced Molecular Biology, Virology, and Immunological techniques. These studies solidified her passion for infectious disease research and her interest in applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) to study viral pathogens of public health importance.

Her Master’s research forms part of the Sequencing and Antigenic Cartography of Enteric Viruses (SACEV) project. Within this framework, Ms. Shange investigates four priority enteric viruses—rotavirus, sapovirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus, which are leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in children under the age of five. By employing whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics tools, she aims to genetically characterise circulating strains in South Africa, trace their molecular evolution, and provide insights into viral diversity and transMs.ion dynamics. Beyond her MSc, she aspires to contribute to translational research that informs vaccine development, genomic surveillance, and outbreak preparedness in low- and middle-income countries.