Name: Yashodani Pillay
Role/Occupation: PhD Researcher: Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences (UKZN)
Country: South Africa
Yashodani Pillay is completing a PhD in Toxicology and Molecular Biology at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN). Her current research focuses on toxin contamination in food, which disproportionately affects developing countries such as South Africa where food transportation and storage infrastructure is limited, as a possible etiological agent in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs have risen rapidly in recent years, particularly in developing nations to become the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Although the current strategy used to address NCDs focusses on healthy diets and lifestyle changes, her research indicates that food quality is also an important consideration when tackling NCDs.
Pillay has always been fascinated by the complex relationship between humans and disease. When she began her career as a scientist, she was unsure of how to combine her love for the innovation and problem-solving of the science field with her passion for social justice. Pillay completed her BSc in Biomedical Sciences at UKZN. She undertook additional research assistantships in parasitology and ecology during her undergraduate years as she was uncertain of what she wanted to specialise in after graduation. To get a feel for the different avenues available to her, she selected final year research projects in the fields of Biology and Medical Biochemistry. She found that she thoroughly enjoyed the variety of molecular techniques and projects in Medical Biochemistry and chose to complete her honours, from which she graduated summa cum laude and then master (which she has now upgraded to a PhD) in that field.
Whilst at university, she had the opportunity to work with different NGOs, government and international agencies in health, policy and education. This gave her a chance to use her acquired skills for real life applications. Pillay hopes to eventually go into public health and use this knowledge in evidence based policy and initiatives or to enter a graduate medical/public health integrated program to combine these interests.
Pillay says that one of her strangest experiences as a woman in the STEM space has been that, “people often mistake me for a man over written correspondence and are then surprised when we meet or chat over the phone.” She hopes that her presence as a female scientist goes some way towards breaking down that perception. Her advice to young women aspiring to enter the STEM field is to not be afraid to speak up, “sometimes people fail to realize that women make up half the world’s population and bring with them half the world’s problems and half the world’s solutions too. Your unique perspective brings innovation to the field.”
She feels that African scientists are under immense pressure to produce high level, competitive research with far fewer resources their foreign counterparts. But she also feels that “this forces us to be innovative and to collaborate and I think we are slowly eroding any stereotypes that still exist.” Pillay believes that the continent has great potential for growth and that the key would be to “engage more youth in STEM, dismantle preconceived ideas about the sector [that it is] too difficult, just for academics, western ideology, “out of reach” – all of which are simply not true as scientific concepts underlie all our day to day lives, make it more relatable to more groups in our country and provide better support structures for youth entering STEM…” She is really encouraged when she sees that research done here is on par with international research. For instance, her oral presentation was nominated for an award at the Eurotox2016 conference in Spain.
Over time, she has realised that a better work life balance leads to better work and wellbeing in the long run. This means prioritizing what she refers to as the productivity pillars in her life: sleep, exercise and fresh food. She says that this may “sound elementary but when working under deadlines and time dependent experiments these can easily run away from you.”
Combine the use of all your senses, your love for knowledge and your support for women in STEM as you delve further into this interview on how the enamoured Yashodani Pillay combines her love for science and her passion for social justice.
Yashodani Pillay was interviewed by Dhruti Dheda, the founder of the African Steminist on behalf of Geeky Girl Reality. The full interview can be found here.
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