Over the last year and a half, I've been involved with a South-African magazine, The African Scholar. My association with this publication has given me a new look at academics and careers as I have come across very young and accomplished individuals and one really gets a different outlook of life in general. In this blog, I reproduce one story I was involved in, this is a story of 23 year old scientist Previn Naicker. The story can be found on the magazine's online copy in the link below.
Imagine being an eighth grader
at junior high school one day, and the next day working up having skipped three
grades into grade 11. It’s pretty much hard to wrap your mind around. For
Previn, this is reality as it has been.
By age 23, Previn had earned his PhD degree, despite the fact that he took a
gap year after attaining his under graduate honours degree.
With
a Bio Medical Science BSc degree from the University of Kwazulu Natal, a
Master’s degree in protein biochemistry and structural biology at the School of
Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of the Witwatersrand and Master’s
degree looking at the structural, functional and dynamics characteristics of
variants of the protease enzyme of HIV in 2011 which was later converted to a
PhD and completed in August 2014, Previn is no budding scientist but stands
heads and shoulders with the gurus in the world of science and bio-chemistry.
This
is the story of Previn Naicker a young scientist and researcher. Previn was born
on the 14th of March 1991 in Durban, South Africa. He is the
youngest of three siblings, in what he calls “a close-knit family which has
always been my support structure and vice versa.”
Both
his parents, Jay (Father) and Kamal (Mother) are teachers and he heavily
credits them for having instilled in him and his siblings, a good work ethic
and social responsibility. His eldest brother, Pergan, is currently a hedge
fund manager, while his sister, Prisha, is currently a bioprocess engineer.
Previn
narrates that he grew up in the ex-Indian community of Reservoir Hills in
Durban. One could say that this was a middle class suburb which was not very
well developed, but Previn recounts that the suburb had good basic facilities
and infrastructure. “There was a great focus on education and self-improvement in
my community, as parents wanted the best lives for their children. My parents
being teachers meant that we lead a modest lifestyle, however, could still
ensure that my siblings and I had the same opportunities as others through hard
work and saving”, recounts Previn.
The
road of academic genius that led Previn to an admirable feat of earning a
doctorate degree by age 23 did not start very early despite the obvious
encouragement and oomph that his parents gave him from a very young age. He
actually discloses that at the level of primary school he had little or no much
expectation of school, especially in the foundation grades. According to him,
School at the time was more about having fun and enjoying the fundamental
content that was being taught.
Toward
the latter stages of primary school, Previn recounts that he started to
discover the smaller side of nature and understanding that everything we see
consists of well-ordered micro environments. By this stage, he had started to
participate in many Mathematics and Science Olympiads such that in the 6th
grade he had won a full scholarship to Star College in Durban after performing
well in their Mathematics Olympiad. Star College is a privately funded high
school with a strong focus on Mathematics and Science.
 |
| Previn Naicker on the cover of The African Scholar January 2015 Edition |
It
was at Star College that Previn would develop the enviable habit of ‘skipping’
grades. First he was given the opportunity to ‘skip’ grade 7 and start grade 8
curriculum after completing grade 6. At Star College, Previn was among a group
of nine pupils who undertook an accelerated program in which they supplemented
the curriculum with after hours and holiday schooling. The extra school hours
catapulted them to a position where they reached a level with pupils in grades
above them. At the end of the year in his 8th grade and after
consultation with parents, Previn and his other 8 compatriots got a triple
promotion skipping grades 9 and 10.
Besides
the habit of skipping grades, Previn also acknowledges that it was at high school
where he gained a firm interest in Biology and where he expected to expand his
knowledge. Despite the fact that skipping grades is at times regarded as a
detriment on the learning progression of many pupils, Previn and most of his
fellow grade skippers passed the test and achieved overall distinctions pass in
the Matric year (Grade 12) in 2005. It is thus not surprising that Previn names
Mr Ismail Bayinder, his high school teacher, as his role model. He points out
the traits of being very humble helpful as the major reason of his choice. He
further names both his siblings who he says set a good precedent for him.
Upon
completion of high school, Previn was already captivated by human biology and
the complexity of life. Even though he wasn’t sure what he wanted to specialize
in, he always knew he wanted to discover more and through that solve health
problems in society. After a little help from his parents, they settled for him
to pursue a BSc Biomedical Science degree at UKZN which he says gave him a broad
insight into the diseases and other environmental issues that are detrimental
to the health of living organisms. Thereafter he pursued an honours degree in
Medical Biochemistry at UKZN where he vividly confirms he learnt an array of
practical molecular biology techniques.
In
2010, only 5years after he left high school, he decided to take a gap year,
probably to recharge his batteries.
“It
is quite easy to go through studies not knowing exactly where you are going to
end up but simple just doing what seems like the next sensible step. After my
honours degree I needed time to reflect.” Says Previn
“I
took gap year in 2010, taking some time off but also using this time to look at
opportunities in science. It was then that I decided that I did not want to
enter the working world immediately but wanted to pursue a career as a
researcher.” Previn recounted the days after the gap year.
Eventually,
Previn decided to pursue a Master’s degree in protein biochemistry and
structural biology at the School of Molecular and Cell Biology at the
University of the Witwatersrand.
“I
wanted to look at pathogens, disease causing organisms, in more detail. I
started a Master’s degree looking at the structural, functional and dynamics
characteristics of variants of the protease enzyme of HIV in 2011 which was
later converted to a PhD which I completed in August 2014.” He say, assuredly.
Previn
further admits, “My family and friends have always been supportive of me
throughout my academic career and hold great hope for my future. My major
influencing factor for my study and career choice has been my curiosity toward
complex health issues and my desire to help solve socio-economic problems.”
The
road to a doctorate degree was not an easy one though as Previn says that a
PhD, especially one that is dependent on ever-elusive laboratory results, can
be quite demanding mentally and emotionally. He mentions that there were times
during his studies when he found it hard to see the bigger picture and had
thoughts of an easier route in life. However, he advises that at such moments
the best one can do is to simply persevere and count all the smaller blessings
in life. He outlines that there was no point during his studies when he felt
like quitting. According to him, tough times were overcome through the support his
family and loving fiancé.
Besides
the support of his family and fiancé, Previn also mentions a number of
motivations that enabled him complete his studies whenever stakes got seemingly
out of reach. “There no single experience that motivates above others. The
experiences that motivate me to be the best scientist I can is when speaking to
other scientists and budding researchers.”, he confidently declares.
“There
a lot of folk who have a negative outlook of research in the country, mainly
due to a lack of funding and jobs and the politics which slows down research
and prevents vital collaboration. Too often is the enthusiasm shown by
undergraduate students depleted after experiencing a lack of enthusiasm by
employers. This has truly motivated to be the best researcher I can despite the
current state of affairs and help change this to support promising scientists
in the making.”, Previn seems to be complaining, but showing great
assertiveness that he draws motivation to forge ahead with science because of
this.
 |
| The cover story of The African Scholar Magazine 2015 January edition |
Previn
shows more attributes of great character when he looks back at his journey and
showers praise at Wit University. He is definitely not a man who forsakes his
roots. He describes the University of the Witwatersrand as a well-organized
institution that facilitates undergraduate and postgraduate training. He points out that his PhD was completed at
the School of Molecular and Cell Biology which is well equipped with a variety
of instruments required for solid disease related research. According to his
experience, the school provides excellent high-standard training for molecular
biologists despite not having the same resources as some of the top 100
universities.
Previn
further pays tribute to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR), by declaring that he has enjoyed his experience thus far. He further
expresses optimism that he will get the necessary training and opportunities at
CSIR which will enable him advance in his career as a researcher.
“My
research prior to my post at the CSIR has guided me to specialize in the high
demand yet scarce field of protein mass spectrometry. During my PhD I had
collaborated with excellent researchers at the CSIR and learnt more about some
of the sophisticated applications of protein mass spectrometry. I know that in
the future some projects that I work on will be multi-disciplinary in order to
have maximum impact , however, I will remain a specialist biochemist. The great
thing about the CSIR is that there is a host of expertise across many different
scientific and industrial fields which facilitate multi-disciplinary research,”
he says.
On
his career trajectory, Previn hopes to use some of the research skills he is
learning now as a stepping stone for formulating his own translational research
and assisting with other projects in the years ahead. He explains that he is currently
working as a post-doctoral researcher and will continue to work hard and attain
and disseminate skills as best as he can. He also points out that toward the
end of his PhD, he reflected on how research can truly impact positively on
people’s lives. According to him, fundamental research is truly important for
advancing science. However, he feels the need to do work which is closer to
impacting people’s lives even if it revolves around simple concepts is not yet
fully fulfilled.
For the many graduates
who are considering whether to embark on a postgraduate degree in science or
not, Previn says there is no reason for buckling down because of the fear of some
rigorous research. He advises young people to do their own research, speak to
other people who are informed and shadow people that can provide help. For
those who are currently studying, he says, “do your research and find something
you are passionate about and are feasible for the lifestyle you wish to have.”
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