Carvern Denver Jacobs

Carvern Denver Jacobs

PhD student – Research assistant

B.Sc, Hons, M.Sc

carvern.jacobs@thekids.org.au

+61 451 992 861

He is a respiratory scientist from South Africa with a strong interest in pursuing a PhD to further develop his expertise in paediatric respiratory research. Growing up in a disadvantaged mixed-race community on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa, presented numerous challenges. However, these experiences have also positioned him uniquely to contribute meaningfully to transformative scientific research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children and families from similar communities.

As a child growing up in the late 1990s during South Africa's transition from apartheid, he witnessed a period of optimism and hope for a better future. One of his earliest and most memorable experiences was watching the Springboks win the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with South Africa's first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela, proudly lifting the trophy. This symbol of unity and progress left a lasting impression on him.

From an early age, he was fascinated by biology and the natural world, which inspired his pursuit of a career in the medical sciences. Despite the financial challenges of being the eldest of three siblings in a low-income household, where his stepfather was the sole breadwinner, he became the first member of his family to attend university.

Education and Qualifications

He was the first member of his family to attend university, enrolling in the Medical Biosciences programme at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, in 2006. He completed a Bachelor of Science Honours degree with the South African Herbal Science and Medicine Institute (SASHMI) in 2010, followed by a Master of Science degree with the Diabetes Discovery Platform (DDP) Unit at the South African Medical Research Council (MRC). His master's research investigated The Effect of Cyclopia maculata on AMPK Expression in Wistar Rats.

Seeking to enhance his career prospects and gain valuable research experience, he participated in the 2013-2014 Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Research Foundation (NRF) Internship Programme. He completed his internship at the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town, where he served as a Research Administrator for the South African Bird Ringing Unit programme under the supervision of Dr Dieter Oschadleus.

Since 2014, he has worked on the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS) in Paarl, Cape Town, South Africa, initially as a Research Assistant and subsequently as a Lung Function Project Coordinator. The DCHS is a longitudinal African birth cohort study investigating the early-life determinants of child health and development in South Africa.

Active Collaborations

• ANZSRS member
• PATS member