NRF 25 years: Rishan Singh

This year, the NRF is celebrating a major milestone in our history as we commemorate 25 years of Research, Innovation, Impact and Partnerships. It always gives us great joy to share the accomplishments and impact of the many students and researchers we have supported during various stages of their careers. We thank all participants for submitting their stories and hope you enjoy reading about their journey with the NRF.

Mr Rishan Singh is a thought leader and long-standing member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. He is a former DSI-NRF intern and also received an NRF grantholder-linked scholarship.

How did your journey start?

My career/study journey has been very interesting and enjoyable. When I was in high school, namely Protea Secondary School, the subject I was the strongest in was General Science. During a career expo at my high school, there was a guy from the Central Applications Office who provided the Grade 12 learners with the entry requirements of different programmes at universities in South Africa. My friend and I were very inspired at this expo, and we decided to pursue something in the Life Sciences. Back then, not much emphasis was placed on private colleges by the CAO. From Grade 8, I was mostly interested in English, Biology and Afrikaans, and I wanted to do something in biology, teaching or video technology. My friend and I submitted our applications to study at various universities in South Africa during Grade 11.

Once the matriculation results were released, my friend decided to pursue a degree in microbiology at the University of Zululand, while I decided to do my first degree in biology. The latter was after transferring my application from genetics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg to Biological Sciences at UKZN, Howard College. After completing my undergraduate degree at UKZN, and accomplishing a degree of competence according to the UKZN admission policies, I registered preliminarily for a Master’s degree with a focus on medicinal plant biology and oncology at the Durban University of Technology.

Throughout my studies, writing has been a key feature in my career development. Being a thought leader entails being able to critically think and provide resounding ideas and solutions to many problems in the Golden Key community, and outside of it. Therefore, it is a culmination of many writing experiences that I use in my current role as a thought leader at Golden Key.

How has your affiliation with the NRF impacted your studies/career?   

In the final semester of my undergraduate studies, I received an NRF grantholder-linked bursary to complete a research project on micropropagation. Further to this, I completed a project on Callistemon citrinus with an internship opportunity from the NRF at UKZN.

The funds I received from the NRF were used to complete important work for UKZN. I’ve been a part of many research projects and groups, while I was at UKZN. However, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish my undergraduate degree hadn’t it been for the NRF grant-linked bursary, because my curiosity was in micropropagation at that time.

Also, without the internship offer, I would have been unskilled in microscopy techniques and unknowledgeable about in-depth information on plant-insect interactions and relations. It enabled me to develop my expertise in ecology, taxonomy and the plant sciences. It is through this internship that I was able to home in and focus on this project for a few years, after having presented my work at a local conference in Johannesburg in 2015.

What is your area of expertise?

My research is about medicinal plant products and infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis. I’m also passionate about anti-cancer drug development studies. As a result, my field of expertise is molecular biology, gene-mapping and mammalian cellular mediator biology.

As a thought leader under the Golden Key brand, I have been involved in other multifaceted forms of research. My latest work has been on the essence of writing properly for television, film and theatre. About three years ago, I had an article published on mentoring and the significance of performing benchmark tests for university entrance requirements. My field of expertise as a thought leader is the arts and sciences.

Why is your work/studies important?

My current scientific studies are important because it has the potential to enhance one’s knowledge of cellular-mediated biology. Through my research, I am hoping to show how the different cellular components interact with each other to elicit different (or similar) responses when they are exposed to plant-derived products. Like many other scientists, I believe that the acquired knowledge can help communities transform their lives by practising proper health measures to reduce the spread of cancers, HIV and tuberculosis while taking medicines that are safe, cost-effective and reliable.

The current impact of my work is vast because it proves that plant-based medicines are not only at the interface of complementary and alternative treatment but also at the heart of nations worldwide, particularly because plant-based medicines are used by traditional healers as a pivotal source of remedies.

As a thought leader, my work is available to people from all walks of life. It benefits South Africans and non-South Africans by encouraging them to strive for excellence in their professions. This, in turn, allows people to become better-skilled professionals which is a critical requirement in the light of the present economy. Therefore, by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, my work provides hope to people of different occupations, including volunteers and the unemployed. Also, in a world where so many people are graduating, it’s essential that inclusion is implemented. My work addresses social equality and inclusion, highlighting the need for the public to nurture talent and promote sustainable development.

What are some of your proudest academic achievements?

Some of my proudest achievements were obtaining my Honours degree from UKZN; being appointed to the Executive Committee of the Golden Key International Honour Society; and being the first student to have had three papers published with my supervisor during my Master’s degree. Furthermore, cementing my standing as a scientist by being published by the Romanian Academy in Europe.

I would also like to add that over the last three years I have published two poetry books and have appeared in many poetry books and journals. I’m an alumnus of the Brightest Young Minds organisation. I was a presenter at the 2021 Golden Key International Honour Society Virtual Summit where I presented in three track sessions and was also a panellist concurrently. I also served on the International Leadership Council of the Golden Key International Honour Society a few years back.

In November 2023, I gave an audition for Mbongeni Ngema’s (an accomplished playwright and composer, and the director of the acclaimed musical, Sarafina!) musical theatrical titled From Gibson Kent to Mbongeni Ngema at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban. As a recent addition, my poster titled Ink for Change: Journalism’s Vital Role in Preserving Our Planet was exhibited at the local Metropolitan Library during World Press Freedom Day in 2024.

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