Open Day - Postgraduates

Postgraduate Open Day

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS)

text:

Yusasha Pillay

photo: Supplied

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Science (FHMS) hosted its Postgraduate Open Day 2025 on 11 and 12 July at Stellenbosch University’s Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI), Tygerberg Campus.

Over the two-day event, prospective students explored the diverse range of postgraduate programmes, cutting-edge research opportunities, and worldclass facilities offered at FMHS. Faculty departments showcased their work at dedicated exhibition stands, while visitors gathered valuable information about scholarships, funding, and career development in science, medicine, and health sciences.

Among the standout participants was the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), which drew strong interest with an interactive stall showcasing flow cells, sequencing cartridges, and a variety of other materials central to our groundbreaking work in pathogen genomic surveillance.

CERI’s vision - to respond effectively to epidemics, enhance biomedical discovery, and improve disease prevention and treatment in Africa - was brought to life through engaging conversations with staff, postdocs, and students. As part of both the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking and the FMHS, CERI is a leading hub for innovation and epidemic response in Africa.

Visitors to the CERI stall learned about the centre’s advanced sequencing technologies, including the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus, NovaSeq 6000, NextSeq 2000, MiSeq, and Oxford Nanopore’s GridION, as well as our local capacity for producing human, animal, plant, and microbial genomic data. CERI’s dedication to building Africa’s genomic self-reliance through training, funding, and mentorship was a compelling highlight for many aspiring scientists.

Attendees also took part in BMRI and campus tours exposing them to CERI’s state of the art facilities, received guidance from the Postgraduate Office, and enjoyed a fun incentive - a lucky draw for Matie shop vouchers for those who visited 10 or more stands. The event successfully inspired the next generation of researchers and health professionals, showcasing FMHS’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, scientific innovation, and the future of healthcare in Africa.

A heartfelt thank you to all attendees, exhibitors, and organisers for making this event such a success.