âHumble but determinedâ A tribute to award-winning SA virologist Dr Graeme Jacobs
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Award-winning virologist Dr Graeme Jacobs was born without a heartbeat, but went on to carve out a glittering academic career for himself. He died last Saturday from Covid-19.
The youngest of two children born to Lawton and Mildred Jacobs, he was born via an emergency Caesarean section on April 14, 1982 but would go on to matriculate with distinction from DF Malan Hoërskool in Bellville at the age of 17 in 1999.
Proceeding to Stellenbosch University, he graduated with a BSc in medical technology in 2002, followed by his Honours degree the next year and MSc in virology in 2005. His academic prowess was such that he was awarded a scholarship to pursue a PhD at the Institute for Virology and Immunobiology at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany, where he graduated magna cum laude, receiving full marks for his thesis on HIV/Aids.