For many recent graduates, finding their first job in the competitive field of bioscience can be a daunting task. But for Kauthar Behardien, a lab technician at Antrum Biotech; UVU Bio provided a much needed stepping stone that helped transform her past trauma into a sustainable career in the bioeconomy.
Her path to Antrum Biotech is a rather personal one. As a teenager, she endured a harrowing experience with misdiagnosed tuberculosis that left her with a phobia of hospitals. “I was misdiagnosed and treated for TB when I didn’t even have it,” she recalls. “The treatment caused drug-induced hepatitis, and I spent months in and out of hospitals. That experience stayed with me.”
Yet, it was this very experience that led her to Antrum Biotech. “When I learned about their focus on TB diagnostics, it felt like it was my chance to make a difference,” she explains. “If they had done a proper diagnostic test back then, my life could have been very different.”
After graduating with a degree in genetics and biochemistry from the University of Cape Town in 2020 and completing her Honours in Medical Biosciences at the University of the Western Cape in 2021, she faced a daunting reality: the job market was unforgiving. Despite her qualifications, she spent much of 2022 working odd jobs, feeling increasingly lost as her dreams of having a bioscience career slipped away.
“It was frustrating. I had the education but not the experience, and I felt like I was hitting a wall,” she reflects. “Then, in February 2023, I got a call from UVU Bio. It felt like a lifeline.” The UVU Bio Bioprocessing Accelerator programme gave her an opportunity to join a four-month incubation that provided her with advanced theoretical training, technical skills and practical experience in a world-class lab facility. The opportunity also connected her with companies eager to foster new talent in the industry.
UVU Bio is committed to developing the next generation of biotech professionals, providing a much-needed bridge between the traditional education system and formal employment. To her surprise, she found herself in a cohort filled with diverse individuals, however all driven by similar aspirations. “It was comforting to meet people who were also trying to kickstart their careers, regardless of age or background,” she says.
Now, as a lab technician, Kauthar performs essential lab duties and assists with experiments while gaining valuable skills along the way. “Every day, I learn new techniques that broaden my abilities,” she says. “It’s empowering to know that my work could help prevent what I went through for others.”
She is happy to be working at Antrum Biotech because they are working to decrease inaccurate diagnostics. “Misdiagnoses can lead to severe consequences, including antibiotic resistance and other complications. I know this all too well,” she reflects, noting the need for precise testing in the fight against TB.
Despite her earlier fears, she now finds herself in a hospital environment that she once dreaded. “I’ve mostly overcome my phobia. I’m no longer a patient in a ward; I’m in the lab, and it feels like a place of healing,” she shares, with a hint of pride in her voice.
Kauthar’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that with the right support and opportunities, it’s possible to turn personal challenges into pathways for success. UVU Bio not only equipped her with essential skills and knowledge but also instilled the confidence needed to thrive in a competitive field. As Kauthar embarks on her career at Antrum Biotech, she stands as a testament to the positive impact that targeted education and mentorship can have on individuals seeking to make their mark in the bioeconomy.
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