From humble beginnings to scientific excellence is the academic journey of perseverance for Athika Rampadarath.

The bubbly and vivacious Athika Rampadarath will be  making her academic mark when she will be graduating for her Master of Applied Science in Biotechnology at  Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony. The ceremony is earmarked to take place at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban.

Her academic journey is a testament to remarkable determination and intellectual curiosity. Raised by her grandmother in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and coming from a non-academic environment, Rampadarath developed a strong interest in science during primary school-a spark that would eventually illuminate a distinguished research career.

With humble beginnings, she began her higher education journey at DUT, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biotechnology in 2020. This foundation paved the way for advanced studies and research, leading to significant contributions in pharmaceutical research and drug discovery.

In terms of her intensive research focus area of study, her research explored the antidiabetic potential of sunflower seeds, leveraging their enriched phytochemical profile.

“The comprehensive study included metabolite profiling, network pharmacology to identify key signaling pathways, and molecular dynamics simulations to study interactions between sunflower seed metabolites and drug target genes,” she explained.

Her research was further validated through in vitro studies using human hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines, while molecular docking and simulations helped explore potential mechanisms of antidiabetic action.

“The findings established a promising foundation for future research into natural diabetes treatments,” shared Rampadarath.

Besides her outstanding research, Rampadarath has published five research papers, including three as first author.

They are:

• Molecular Bioprospection of Helianthus annuus L. (Sunflower) Cypsela for Antidiabetic Therapeutics (South African Journal of Botany).
• Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Helianthus annuus Seed Essential Oil in Type-2 Diabetes Management” (Endocrines).
• Identification of Flavonoid C-Glycosides as Promising Antidiabetics Targeting Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B” (Journal of Diabetes Research).

Her academic excellence has been recognised through numerous awards:

• Master’s Student of the Year (2024), 6th Annual State of the Faculty Address Awards Ceremony.
• People’s Choice winner and third place at the Computational and Systems Biology Annual Conference 2024.
• Top Master’s Student (Gold category) at DUT’s Annual Research and Innovation Awards 2023.
• People’s Choice winner and third place at the 2023 Departmental Three Minutes Flash Fact competition.

Currently, Rampadarath serves as the Section Head of Microbiology and Environmental Monitoring at Afriplex Pty Ltd, a SAPHRA-licensed pharmaceutical company located in Paarl, Western Cape. This role leverages her research expertise and leadership skills in a practical industry setting.

The path to success was not without obstacles for Rampadarath. She had to navigate periods of self-doubt and experienced a significant setback with the loss of important research materials.

“Coming from a family without an academic background presented additional challenges in terms of guidance and support. I was able to get through these challenging setbacks simply by trying a little harder every single day, until eventually these challenges didn’t seem like a hurdle to me anymore,” she reflected.

The sense of accomplishment upon completing her master’s degree was particularly meaningful for Rampadarath.

“To be able to complete and see the end of this journey, through the various personal and academic challenges I faced, is a massive win for me. Most importantly, I know my late mother and grandmother would be proud of me,” she said nostalgically.

Rampadarath finds her current experience in the pharmaceutical industry rewarding and aligned with her long-term career aspirations. She aims to advance into leadership positions where she can contribute to strategic decisions regarding the development and accessibility of vital medications.

While considering an MBA to strengthen her business acumen in the future, her current priority is gaining practical industry experience and deepening her understanding of the pharmaceutical sector’s dynamics and challenges.

Rampadarath’s research has established ground work for further antidiabetic studies related to sunflower seeds and demonstrated the importance and potential of computer-aided drug discovery-a revolutionary tool in pharmaceutical development.

Her advice to future researchers is to practice discipline, resilience, and most importantly, self-belief which are fundamental to navigating the academic journey. “Your conviction in your own capabilities is more than sufficient to achieving success, even in the absence of external validation,” she reiterated.

Rampadarath highlighted that her master’s journey taught her to trust her judgment and persevere even when she was faced with uncertainty, a lesson that will guide her approach to future challenges in her career.

As DUT celebrates Rampadarath achievements, she exemplifies how determination, intellectual curiosity, and resilience can lead to excellence in scientific research and professional development-embodying the Faculty of Applied Sciences’ mission to nurture talented scholars who make meaningful contributions to society.

Pictured: Athika Rampadarath

Silindile Buthelezi