Meet the Team

I am a Senior Lecturer and have been the Coordinator of the Faculty of Health Sciences Writing Lab since its establishment in 2015.

My background is in science, and I have a BSc (hons) in Biodiversity and Zoology, and an MSc and PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology. During my PhD I worked as a part-time student consultant at the upper campus Writing Centre, and what I learnt in that role profoundly impacted the trajectory of my career. I decided to leave the laboratory, and took up the position of Coordinator of the Faculty of Health Sciences Writing Lab.

Since making the transition into an educational space, my research has broadly focussed on the integrated literacies required for learning within scientific contexts, with a special interest in multimodal social semiotics and, more especially, visual literacy. My work with colleagues in this area has explored the literacy practices critical to undergraduate science student success, the challenges student experience in acquiring multimodal scientific literacy, and how acquisition of multimodal disciplinary knowledge and practices can be enabled within curriculum contexts.

More recently, I have also established a research interest in how students’ authorial identity development can be enabled within an African health sciences context. The goal for research in this area is to deepen our understanding of the role that identity development plays in student access and success within academia, and how identity development can be enabled through academic literacy practices.

  natashia.muna@uct.ac.za 

I am currently a Lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences Education having completed the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP). My primary focus is supporting academic literacies development in the Faculty and my main interest is supporting postgraduate students. My educational qualifications in the Biomedical Sciences (BSc (UKZN); BSc (Med) Hons: Human Genetics (UCT); MSc (Med) Haematology (UCT)) and Education (PGCE: Biology) (UCT)) have allowed me to have insider disciplinary knowledge for scientific academic literacies development. I have also worked in various UCT student support areas such as the Student Housing & Residence Life Division (as a subwarden, and then as the Co-ordinator of Academic Development Programmes for the Residence Academic Development Committee (RADC)) and as a monitoring and evaluating analyst and later a writing mentor and facilitator for the academic writing courses offered by CHED.

My teaching philosophy draws on a transformative literacies approach, empowering students to become responsible scholars through portraying authentic and confident identities and voice development within their discipline. My research interests include postgraduate academic literacies and pedagogy, corpus linguistics and authorial voice development and pedagogy in the sciences, which is the focus of my PhD. I now also teach on CHED's suite of postgraduate courses and was part of the Transforming Journeys project and the Writing for Postgraduate Completion Programme (WfPC) at FHS. I also offer weekly Writers' Circles and Shut Up & Write sessions (read more about that under Writing Spaces). I am a mother to an angel and love the finer, yet simple things in life. In 2018, I was voted one of Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans for my novel work in the Education and non-profit sector. 

 taahira.goolamhoosen@uct.ac.za 

I began formal training at the FHS Writing Lab in 2023 and recognise that while this is a space to support students in their writing practice, it is also a space to develop my writing. I look forward to building reciprocal relationships with clients as we troubleshoot and problem solve pieces of writing together in a respectful, easygoing, yet methodical manner. My consulting strengths include reflective writing, working towards cohesive writing and proposal development.

In 2020 I graduated with an MPhil in the Department of Health Sciences Education (DHSE) here at FHS, earning a distinction for my dissertation on teamwork in undergraduate students. Currently, a PhD candidate in the DHSE, my research interests lie at the intersection of human resources management, psychology and education. In my ‘real’ life, I am a mom of 4 young boys, a role that brings legitimacy to my life and shapes all the paths I walk upon.

I am a Senior Clinical Educator in the Division of Occupational Therapy (OT) at UCT. I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in OT at Wits. In 2020, I enrolled in the PGDip in Health Sciences Education, and since then I have had a love and passion for all things health professions education (HPE). I am currently completing my PhD through UCT, which is focused on developing a philosophy of assessment for OT educators, that is rooted in our profession and context. I am passionate about learning and contributing towards decolonizing curriculum within South Africa. When I look at the students in my classes, I feel excited about the future of our country.

I have always loved reading and writing, and spend my free time reading when I am not with my husband and two young boys. My approach to supporting students in their academic literacy, is to focus on the journey and continual growth that this demands and assist them in being able to share their thoughts and ideas in a way that is both scholarly and uniquely theirs.

My research interests are focused on all aspects of assessment, specifically around the development of valid and authentic assessment that does not require all students to fit one mould. I also have an interest in understanding how educators and students together can co-create learning spaces that are conducive to learning and acknowledge previously silenced stories.

“You don't have to see where you're going, you don't have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you.” – Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

I hold a Master of Pharmacy degree from the University of Western Cape, where I received a distinction grade for my interdisciplinary program in Computational Pharmacology and Bioinformatics. In the program, I explored the effects of mutations on selected enzyme variants with a particular drug. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Computational Omics and Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences.

My passion for writing started early, inspired by my father's life stories. Over time, I have authored five books, including two poetry anthologies. I believe writing is a powerful tool to impact the world and document events for future generations. As such, I encourage others to document their experiences and express their thoughts in written words. I firmly believe that the faintest pen is more powerful than the sharpest memory. In addition to writing, I am an avid reader and consistently pursue growth, impact, and all-around development, making every day count.

I am currently an MSc student in the Division of Haematology. My research interests lie in understanding the role of a microRNA on gene regulation within HIV-associated aggressive B-cell lymphomas. My research aims to better understand the molecular mechanisms driving these complex diseases, with the potential to pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Beyond the lab, I am an avid reader and writer, always exploring new ideas and perspectives. My enthusiasm for storytelling and clear communication motivates me to help others express their ideas with clarity and impact. I am dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where every writer feels empowered to convey their unique voice.

I believe that writing is not merely a form of communication but a gateway to deeper understanding and impact. As the saying goes, "Knowledge is power, but communication is the key to unlocking it." This belief motivates me to create an environment where ideas can thrive and be shared with purpose.