When Carene Ndong Sima, a PhD candidate in the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, was selected for the Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2025, she joined an elite group of 20 “exceptionally talented women" in science from around the globe.
Sima's selection to this prestigious programme grants her access to a transformative year of networking with outstanding women across all scientific disciplines. A key aim of the programme is to promote female leadership across science, business and society to boost the careers of early-career female scientists and researchers through personalised mentorship designed to help participants achieve “significant career breakthroughs."
The intensive one-year programme, targeting final-year PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, is sponsored by the Falling Walls Foundation. This Berlin-based not-for-profit organisation was established based on the concept of the fall of the Berlin Wall, with the mission to unite people dedicated to “tearing down the next walls in science and society." The foundation strives to “shape the future of humanity through impact-oriented ideas and discoveries, driven by a shared dedication for creating breakthroughs across borders and disciplines."
Originally from Gabon in Central Africa, Sima expressed her excitement about being chosen for the programme. Currently in her sixth year at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票, she arrived in South Africa in 2020, just before the COVID pandemic, as a master's candidate. After graduating cum laude in 2022, she is now in the final year of her PhD.
“When I received the email informing me that I'd been selected, my initial reaction was disbelief. Then it turned to excitement," she said. “I thought to myself, 'wow, I am really doing this.' I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this programme and to meet other women from all over the globe, and to learn about different cultures as well as to connect professionally with other women who are so good at what they do."
Sima's PhD research focuses on the pharmacogenetics and pharmacokinetics of anti-tuberculosis drugs, building on her master's work in human genetics that examined genetic susceptibility to TB.
Her dedication to TB research stemmed from an unexpected source. “I wasn't initially interested in TB. I was not aware it was such an important issue," she explained. “I was doing an internship at a hospital back home as a pathologist and my head of department started talking to me about the genetic susceptibility to the disease. It got me interested, and that is what brought me to South Africa. The rest is history.
“My selection to this programme really makes me feel I am on the right track," she added. “TB is still wreaking havoc and kills 1.8 million people every year. With it being a communicable disease, it is crucial for everyone that this disease is eradicated. I am really looking forward to this programme as I know I will grow from it and become even more motivated and inspired to do the work I do."
The Intensive Track Programme provides participants with numerous opportunities for personal and professional development through online and in-person workshops, mentoring, and peer-exchange initiatives. The candidates will also receive sponsorship to attend two high-level meetings in Berlin—the International Spring Gathering in May and the International Fall Gathering in November—offering valuable networking and learning experiences.
Regarding her future aspirations, Sima plans to become a principal investigator in pharmacogenetics research. “I would love to start my own research group back home in Gabon at the National Research Laboratory. I feel that I have learned so much, and, in addition to what I will learn on this programme, I am confident that I can start my own group to strengthen research capacity back home.
“Over the long term, my aim is to one day be the head of a research and development department," she said. “I'd love to head up an institution that does research innovation, development and implementation."
