Dr. Jitcy Saji Joseph
Dr. Jitcy Saji Joseph is a Senior Medical Scientist, currently serving as an Acting Head of the Toxicology and Biochemistry Section at the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH),
a division of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in South Africa. Recognised as a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated researcher, she leads cutting-edge research supported by
NRF funding while mentoring MSc and PhD students. Dr. Joseph is a certified Professional Natural Scientist, accredited by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
She earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Johannesburg in 2016, with her research spanning drug discovery, toxicology, molecular biology, cell biology, metabolism, and analytical biochemistry.
Before her current leadership role, Dr. Joseph completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of South Africa (UNISA), where she explored anti-cancer drug discovery and guided postgraduate students, and
at North-West University (Potchefstroom), where she investigated biomarkers for HIV and cardiovascular disease. Her industry experience includes roles as a QC documentation auditor and lab analyst at Pharma Q Ltd.
Dr. Joseph authored numerous articles in international peer-reviewed journals and presented her findings at various national conferences. She contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer for international
journals and as a panel member for NRF and South African Medical Research Council (MRC) funding applications. Her professional credentials include certifications as a SETA assessor and moderator, as well as expertise in
SANAS ISO 15189:2012, ISO 17025:2017, and GLP-OECD standards.