SU master’s student selected for prestigious Swiss health technology research programme
“I love being at the forefront of technology, Being chosen for this opportunity reflects the global impact, research excellence and international competitiveness of SU’s postgraduate community".
When MSc Biostatistics student Tshiamo Medupe was selected for a highly competitive research technology and health programme in Switzerland, he was both shocked and elated.
The 23-year-old, from the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), is one of just 22 candidates from around the world chosen to participate in the prestigious 2026 Summer Research Programme at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
“I love being at the forefront of technology,” says Medupe. “Being chosen for this opportunity reflects the global impact, research excellence and international competitiveness of SU’s postgraduate community.”
EPFL is one of Europe’s leading research institutions and is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities. The programme aims to harness technology to develop innovative health solutions.
Medupe is currently in Lausanne for the two-month long programme, where he is conducting research within the Defitech Chair of Clinical Neuroengineering and the Neuro-X Institute. His work contributes to projects at the intersection of neuroscience, medicine, engineering, and data science. Researchers from a number of internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Oxford, and leading centres in neuroscience and neurotechnology research, are also part of the collaboration.
“More specifically, we will be working with technology that stimulates the brain in people with Parkinson’s disease as part of a large project involving neurologists, computational scientists, engineers, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.”
Applying technology to improve health
Medupe is passionate about translating technology into meaningful impact, particularly in the South African context, and says he looks forward to learning from leading researchers from some of the world’s top institutions.
“As a biostatistician, I will contribute statistical modelling, data analysis, neuroimaging analytics, computational methods, and quantitative research expertise to projects focused on motor learning, neurostimulation and clinical neuroscience. The experience will allow me to apply the skills developed at SU in a collaborative international setting while proudly representing the university abroad,” he says.
Medupe was born and raised in Mahikeng in North West Province and completed his BSc at the Durban University of Technology before coming to SU for an honours in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. He graduated cum laude and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biostatistics.
His research focuses on identifying predictors of gender-based violence among women in South Africa using advanced statistical and machine learning methods, with the aim of informing public health interventions.
Overcoming challenges and creating opportunities
Medupe describes himself as a “curious, whimsical person who loves making an impact and representing myself and my communities”.
Beyond his studies, he works as a writing consultant and runs a small business that teaches students coding skills. He is treasurer of Tygerberg Campus’s Queer Society and serves as an ambassador for a programme that donates sanitary pads to schools in disadvantaged communities. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, hiking, karaoke and yoga.
“Coming from a disadvantaged background, this opportunity carries a particularly personal significance,” says Medupe. “As a queer South African student, I’m deeply aware of how transformative access to education, mentorship and opportunity can be. Being able to represent SU on an international stage is something I do not take for granted. I hope my journey encourages other students from underrepresented communities to believe that such opportunities are within reach.”
He says his journey has not been without challenges, including financial difficulties before receiving a bursary, adapting from a village-like upbringing to metropolitan life, balancing multiple responsibilities while studying, facing numerous application rejections, and navigating the highly competitive technology space as a queer person.
Among the highlights of his academic journey have been accepted into the master’s programme and his selection as a fellow for the African Centre for Biostatistical Excellence. Medupe thanked his MSc supervisors, Professors Innocent Maposa and Tonya Esterhuizen from SU and Dr Nwabisa Shai from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), and his mentor, Daniel Mashishi, saying their guidance has helped him pursue opportunities such as this placement.
Shaping the future of healthcare
Medupe says his long-term goal is to help shape the future of healthcare through data, technology and research.
“We’re living in a time where artificial intelligence, machine learning and computational science are transforming almost every industry. I believe healthcare should be one of the greatest beneficiaries of that transformation.
“I want to work at the intersection of technology and health, developing tools and solutions that make healthcare more accessible, more personalised and more effective. Whether that’s through research, industry, entrepreneurship or policy, I want my work to have a tangible impact on people’s lives.
“As a young South African scientist, I hope to contribute to ensuring that the future of technology is diverse and inclusive. Innovation is strongest when different voices, perspectives and lived experiences are represented. I want to be part of building technologies that serve everyone, not just a select few.
“Ultimately, I don’t just want to analyse data. I want to help create the future that the data points us toward.”
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