Lungelo Mandyoli has had a stutter since childhood but that hasnt prevented him from achieving a smooth academic career trajectory which has earned him a prestigious international scholarship.

Mandyoli has been selected as a Fulbright Scholarship fellow - the flagship foreign exchange programme for the US - to complete his PhD in biochemistry at the Texas A&M University in America.

The 25-year-old who works as a research assistant at the University of the Western Cape was raised in Khayelitsha Cape Town by his single father whose role as a caregiver and breadwinner supported him after his mother died when he was three years old.

Witnessing his fathers discipline and dedication led Mandyoli to believe he could achieve whatever he wanted to.

I wouldnt say I was an overachiever Mandyoli said.

Maybe I was above average but I always worked hard.

Mandyoli first graduated with a BSc degree in biotechnology from UWC in 2013 before going on to earn a Masters degree in biochemistry for which he earned the Metrohm Prize as the universitys top Masters student two years later.

Before choosing biochemistry the avid reader of African novels wanted to become a doctor.

My love for medicine changed when I got to understand that its impact can be more effective in applications that benefit many people such as drug discovery.

During his scholarship Mandloyi hopes to pursue doctoral studies in biochemistry and biophysics with a specialty in structural biology while focusing his research on targeting protein pathogens in TB and HIV.

We track proteins in TB that help TB to affect us easily and cause disease. We try to study it structurally and functionally and then from there on we try to target its host.

When he is not in the lab Mandyoli enjoys listening to news and football games with his father on their radio at home.

Its like any father and son relationship. It has its ups and downs but hes always been there for me when I need him.

-TimesLIVE

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An academic career that would put many to shame - Khayelitsha biochemistry graduate off to the US - Times LIVE