Congo (DRC) & University of Cape Town, 2022

Sagel Julia Kundieko is currently pursuing a DPhil in Neuroscience (1+3) at St John's College, Oxford University. She is a Rhodes and Clarendon scholar, as well as a Moshal and Mandela Rhodes scholarship alumnus. She holds a Bachelor of Medical Science Honors degree in Neuroscience and Physiology; as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Human anatomy and physiology and Genetics, both from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with distinctions. Additionally, she has completed her MSc in Neuroscience at UCT. She hopes to use all the skills that she will learn to find solutions for neurological diseases in the African context and train future generations of neuroscientists that will further bridge the gap of skills in the continent.

Fuelled by her passion for mentorship and education, Sagel is the program coordinator of the Get It Done Mentorship Program, a leadership training initiative focused on empowering youth with soft skills to increase productivity. Moreover, she serves as the administrator at Life Giving Faith Ministries International church. Her leadership has been recognised through service awards as academic chairperson of UCT's Science Student Council and as part of the Golden Key executive team. She is the founder of Elle Zeka which is a social media and website marketing company that helps middle-aged African entrepreneurs thrive online. Sagel is also passionate about student and youth development and gives back through tutoring, and debate coaching; as a former Top 10 SA schools debating speaker. She has facilitated in the CSIR bursary graduate program and is an international speaker at various events focused on leadership and innovation.

Beyond her professional and academic pursuits, Sagel writes poetry, enjoys gospel music, loves to dance, and is an avid guitar learner. The name Sagel is derived from the word Sagesse which means wisdom in French and Sagel aspires to live up to that name. She is driven by an attitude of perseverance and a spirit of excellence.