Chikondi has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Sustainable Development Goals Funds. She will implement a project that aims at understanding the roles of antibodies and B cells in regulating the immune responses to TB infection. The project will be conducted collaboratively at MUST (where she is an Immunology lecturer) and MLW, fostering a strong partnership between the two institutions.

While working in the Infection and immunology research group, her internship transformed into a jointly registered Ph.D. program with the University of Liverpool and the University of Malawi College of Medicine. In her final PhD year, Chikondi is currently under the Virology Research Group, working on understanding the immunological factors that contribute to the suboptimal effectiveness of the rotavirus vaccine in Malawi. “I am grateful to have been supervised by Dr. Khuzwayo Jere, Associate Prof. Kondwani Jambo, and Prof. Mirren Iturriza-Gomara, as they have been instrumental in my growth.”

Working at MLW has provided me with an exceptional environment that has motivated me to strive for excellence. Through my experience at this institution, I have gained the essential skills and attributes necessary for a successful research career. I am delighted to have had excellent mentorship, which I believe will enable me to accomplish my dreams.

Chikondi feels this is a significant step in her career as she shares this; “Securing this as my first grant is a tremendous achievement. The application process was challenging, and I invested significant time and effort. I am proud of myself for tackling the application independently, which signifies that I am well-prepared to be an independent researcher. This grant came at the right time, and I am confident it will help me achieve my aspiration”.