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Dr Sundika Ishwarkumar-Govender


Name: Sundika Ishwarkumar-Govender
Human Anatomy and Physiology Staff  Staff Members

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About Dr Sundika Ishwarkumar-Govender

Highest Qualification:

PhD: Anatomy

Biography:

Sundika Ishwarkumar-Govender is a senior lecturer (nGAP) who is passionate about teaching Human Anatomy to allied Health Science students at the University of Johannesburg. She completed her PhD degree in Health Sciences (Anatomy) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. As an emerging researcher, Sundika has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles in accredited journals, presented at over 20 conference as main presenter (local, national, and international), and received three best presenter awards at local and national conferences. Her research has over 160 citations on Google Scholar with an h-index of 8, and over 5800 reads on ResearchGate within the afore-mentioned fields. She successfully supervised/co-supervised 15 postgraduates (honours and masters) to date. Sundika also serves as an external undergraduate and postgraduate examiner for other South African institutions. She has also reviewed research papers for a Springer Nature Journal. Sundika was recognised by UJ DFCs Research Development and Support Office as one of the Top Researchers in 2024.  She is a life-time member of Anatomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), for who she served as a Student Representative (2018-2019), and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. Sundika is also a two-time recipient of University of Johannesburg Teaching Innovation Fund (2021 and 2024). She is passionate about giving back to the community, which is evident in her involvement in community engagement projects within her department, viz. she organized a book-drive for the paediatric ward at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in 2022-2024, and two food-drives for individuals affected by the KZN floods and UJ underprivileged students in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

 

Expertise:

Marco- and micro-dissection; Osteometry; Anthropometry; Scientific writing; Critical thinking; Analytical and observational skills; Organisation and evaluation of data; Analysis of data using statistical software (SPSS and R-studio); Presenting of lectures and academic findings at conferences; digital integration of scientific finding and lectures; Technical skills (Excel, Micro-Dicom and CS Imaging); Dental radiographic interpretation; Composition and comprehension of academic text and lectures; and Communication (written and verbal).

Research Niche:

Human Anatomy (Clinical, Dental and Developmental Anatomy)

Forensic Anthropology and Odontology

Publications:

  1. de Bruin SG, S Ishwarkumar-Govender, P Pillay. 2025. Anatomical Facial Characteristics of Teeth and Tooth Analysis. MDPI Dentistry Journal. 13, 2.
  2. Moodley S, S Ishwarkumar, P. Pillay. 2024. The relationship between the Auriculotemporal nerve and middle meningeal artery in a select sample of the South African population. Folia Morphologica. 83(1): 66-71.
  3. Bailey DN, S Ishwarkumar, BZ De Gama, P Pillay. 2022. The ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel: a fetal study. Folia Morphologica. 81(1): 31-36.
  4. Ishwarkumar S, P Pillay, M Chetty, KS Satyapal. 2022. Applicability of the Nolla Classification Scheme within the KwaZulu-Natal population of South Africa. Translational Research in Anatomy. 28: 100213.
  5. Ishwarkumar S, P Pillay, M Chetty, KS Satyapal. 2022. Employing the London Atlas in the age of a select South African population. MDPI Dentistry Journal. 10: 171.
  6. Ishwarkumar S, P Pillay, M Chetty, KS Satyapal. 2022. A morphometric assessment of developing permanent dentition for age and sex estimation in a select South African sample. Forensic Science International: Reports. 6: 100294.
  7. Pillay P, S Ishwarkumar, KS Satyapal. 2021. Classification of the patterns of the emerging branches of the superficial cervical plexus. International journal of Morphology. 39(2): 607-611.
  8. Ishwarkumar S, P Pillay, BZ De Gama and KS Satyapal. Morphology and morphometry of the mandibular notch: An osteometric and radiological study. International Journal of Morphology. 37(2): 491-497.
  9. Ishwarkumar S, P Pillay, MR Haffajee, and KS Satyapal. 2019. Prevalence of impacted third molars in a KwaZulu-Natal population of South Africa. South African Dental Association. South African Dental Journal. 74(6): 302-309.
  10. Ishwarkumar S, P. Pillay, CR Rennie, MR Haffajee. 2016. Sex determination using morphometric and morphological dimensions of the clavicle within the KwaZulu-Natal population, International Journal of Morphology. 34(1):244-251.

 

Links:

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PvRBzCQAAAAJ&hl=en

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56593046800

Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sundika-Ishwarkumar-2