Wits’ Youngest PhD Graduate- Previn Naicker
He is now 23 and he has a PHD in Boichemistry. He attained this qualification last yea at Wits University. Previn Naicker skipping grades 7, 9 and 10 and matriculated in 2005 at age 14. Previn then began his journey at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) where he obtained his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science.
Previn at work….
After that Previn took a gap year in 2010, he says he wanted to decide whether Ihe wanted to pursue further studies or enter the job space.
Previn set his sights on Wits in 2011 where he did his Honours, Masters and PhD. “As Wits is home to some of Africa’s leading protein biochemists, I decided to take on a Masters with Prof Yasien Sayed from the School of Molecular and Cell Biology,” he said.
Naicker is the Wits younges graduate to obtain his PhD in Biochemistry at 23. Naicker said his age was always noticeable but positively received with age-related jokes which “lightened serious moments.”
Naicker is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria where he undertakes research projects in the veterinary field and the development of protein particles.
