Shenal Juganandan’s passion for science and wanting to understand the integration of scientific concepts allowed her to go through her Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Biotechnology degree with ease.
The 21-year-old from Durban graduated Cum Laude at the at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony which took place at the Olive Convention Centre on Monday, 19 May 2025.
When asked of how she had felt upon receiving such esteemed news, Juganandan confessed that it was a rewarding experience because she was able to challenge herself, work under pressure and discover what career path she would like to take.
“Graduating Cum Laude is an honour. It is a testament to all the hard work, dedication, perseverance and consistent efforts I had to put in to achieve such a prestigious award. It confirms that passion and discipline helped me go the extra mile and will continue to help me achieve excellence in the future. I am extremely proud of myself for never giving up and always pursuing greatness,” happily said.
Despite having had difficulties with her health which compromised her focus and ability to complete tasks to the best of her ability. However, she did indicate that the professors and lecturers were always willing to assist her because she consistently went the extra mile to understand the work.
Juganandan stated that everyone has the ability to work hard to achieve good results, but what carried her through any difficulty was her passion for Biotechnology. “I treated each task, no matter how simple or high-level, with the same respect. The Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Biotechnology has a very detailed programme that challenges your ability to integrate your knowledge and apply it to research,” she elaborated.
Juganandan’s interest in different scientific fields led to her discovery of Biotechnology which integrates biology, chemistry, physics and technology. The application of Biotechnology in numerous aspects of life intrigued her and ignited her passion for research and helping people.
Currently, Juganandan is completing her internship at Cipla MedPro as a Quality Control and Quality Assurance analyst. “My job entails ensuring that the pharmaceutical products produced by Cipla meets the required standards for efficacy and safety. I also ensure that analysts, tests and documentation complies with standard operating procedures,” she added.
In terms of her future academic plans, Juganandan plans on completing her Honours in Biotechnology.
“I want to pursue roles as a microbiologist or research and development scientist in Biopharmaceutical companies. My aim is to make contributions in research focused on major illness treatments and one day start my own research facility,” she expressed.
Pictured: Shenal Juganandan
Waheeda Peters
