Dr Preshendren Govender

Preshendren Govender obtained his BSc in 2007, after which he completed his BSc(Hons) in 2008 at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

His post-graduate career continued thereafter by completing a MSc in 2010 (cum laude) and a PhD in chemistry in 2014, in bioorganometallic chemistry, both at UCT. He has a strong publication record and was awarded a UCT Research Associateship in Science in 2013. He has successfully co-supervised a masters student at UCT, who graduated cum laude in 2016, and in 2015 lectured undergraduate students in the Department of Chemistry at UCT.""

He completed a two-year post-doctoral position at UCT in the Department of Chemistry, investigating aspects of homogeneous catalysis, primarily focusing on hydroformylation of long-chained alkenes. His interest in drug discovery came about after a 3-year post-doctoral position at H3D, with research focusing in the development and evaluation of compounds against mycobacterium tuberculosis. More recently, in July 2018, Preshendren took up a position as a Senior Investigator at H3D and is current leading a project in one of the malaria programs. His research focusses on Medicinal Chemistry, Hit-to-Lead and Early Lead Optimisation of antimalarial and anti-tuberculosis agents.