Danica Naidoo

I am a South African born female who considers herself an extremely hard-working individual. I am a qualified biologist specializing in the parasitological aspect of the water and sanitation sector having graduated with a PhD in the same field. I am an advocate for science and development, and have found a flare for parasitology, as I have been involved in the field for over 10 years. I consider myself confident, motivated and ambitious, with excellent, research, writing and communication skills. I am meticulous in all aspects of my work, including laboratory management, sample analyses, record keeping and scientific writing. I consider myself a problem solver & critical thinker, and I will go the extra mile to ensure that projects are completed timeously. I am always willing to learn, develop and grow, as well as teach, based on my experiences.

am a qualified biologist, with 12 years of experience in parasitology, laboratory work and research. I have specialized in parasite research, with focus on neglected tropical diseases such as helminthiasis. I am experienced in proposal writing, from funding for my postgraduate studies to equipment grants and project funding. I have been funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa, the Water Research Commission of South Africa and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I have published 4 scientific journal articles, 1 scientific technical report, and have 3 more journal articles that have been accepted by the Journal of Parasitology, pending editing. I have knowledge of ISO 17025, completed the Module 1 training course and passed the examination (97%), as well as drafting technical documents for accreditation purposes.

I possess a Doctor of Philosophy: Chemical Engineering degree and a Master of Science: Biological Sciences degree, making me an all-rounder in the science field. Although having completed my PhD in chemical engineering, I am a biologist by profession, having studied and worked in Life Sciences/ Biology for 9 years and then an additional 6 years in parasitology, specifically related to water and sanitation. Coming from a biological sciences background, I have studied and been involved in laboratory-based work in the molecular biology field, amongst numerous other fields in the life sciences sector. I also possess substantial knowledge and experience with statistical analyses of data.