Breakdancing through science

Mariselle StofbergFrom understanding the complexities of chemistry, to letting loose on the dancefloor as an experienced breakdancer, John Andjaba continues to strive towards excellence. The 26-year-old Andjaba is the proud holder of a PhD in inorganic chemistry from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. “Probably the most defining moment of my career was that I failed my first general chemistry exam in college, so I decided to get a tutor. My tutor, Megan Whelan, told me about the opportunity to do research with a professor as a means to strengthen my resume for medical school,” he says.He spoke to the professor teaching the class, Dr Chris Bradley, and was uncertain whether he would allow Andjaba to complete his research under his supervision. “Surprisingly he agreed and I spent all four years of my undergraduate education doing research with him. I initially chose to major in biology as I had wanted to be a surgeon ever since I was a child.“However, after getting an opportunity to do research I found I enjoyed chemistry more and reconsidered my career goals. Meeting and doing research with Dr Bradley was the biggest influential moment in me pursuing my PhD,” he says. “I attended Mount St Mary’s University for my bachelor’s degree, which was also where I published my first research article under the guidance of a professor in 2016. In 2016 I continued on to Purdue University to start my PhD in inorganic chemistry and completed my degree this year.”Namibian goes bigAndjaba was born in Windhoek in 1994 and spent only a few years in Namibia before his father was appointed as ambassador to the United Nations in 1996. “I completed up to grade six in New York and thereafter we moved back to Windhoek in 2005.”He attended St Paul’s College in Windhoek until grade 10, when his father was then appointed again as ambassador to the US in 2010 and they moved to Washington DC, where he completed his secondary education at St John’s College High School. Andjaba will soon be joining the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a postdoctoral researcher working with Professor Alexander Radosevich. “Despite the change in my studies and career, I enjoyed biology and wanted to keep my future options open by having a dual degree. This is why I double-majored in biochemistry and chemistry. I was honestly very blessed to have the opportunity to study abroad. It felt like I was given the opportunity of a lifetime and wanted to make as much use as possible of the privilege I had that many don’t,” he says. “I wanted to add another layer to the research that I had done and joined a research group that studies catalysis. In the research lab we used metal compounds, both inorganic and organometallic, to convert simple and less useful molecules into more complex or useful molecules.”His work focused on using catalysis to make molecular photo switches and organic semiconducting polymers that can be used in batteries, phones and flexible electronics. “I would say the hardest thing about a PhD is the amount of failure you encounter. Most of the experiments you perform will fail and it’s your job to identify how to make it work or identify a solution. It’s tough, but also rewarding,” he says. Power of mentorship“I think having incentivised mentorship initiatives between other Namibians globally with Namibians at home would be extremely useful for our youth. Having a system that would make Namibian students privy to funding opportunities, school application processes, immigration policies and other differences in our systems can help students who want to study abroad and develop their scientific careers,” he adds. Andjaba believes it is extremely important to develop a stronger culture in Namibia for the importance of education and knowledge. “In my time as a student in Namibia I experienced a higher appreciation for good grades compared to whether students actually learned and retained knowledge in a supportive environment. An increase in care for students, especially those who struggle, would help the culture of education.”He was also responsible for spearheading the development of the new polymer chemistry research focus in his advisor’s lab which recently received funding from the US Department of Energy. “We also have a provisional patent on one of my polymers which is exciting for potential industrial application. We spent many years working through this chemistry so it’s exciting to see some exciting outcomes from it.”His family and closest friends have always been his biggest inspirations. “They’ve led by example and set a path for me that made it possible for me to succeed. I think helping and supporting others really makes me happy — it’s very fulfilling to know the course of someone’s journey was helped for the better by a contribution you made,” he says. Bust a moveIn his spare time, Andjaba is a breakdancer and has been dancing for about 10 years. “I love music, especially hip-hop, and learning about the process of music and music production, so feel free to share some playlists with me! My favourite food is oxtail and I’m surprisingly an anxious person. I also enjoy watching anime, and ‘Attack on Titan’ is my favourite.”Andjaba encourage fellow youths to never be afraid to ask for help. “Also be fearless — you will hear a lot of discouraging things along your path but don’t let those stop you from trying,” he says. “In all honesty, there were many times where I failed miserably and believed I might not be cut out to succeed. It’s easy to not believe in yourself and compare yourself to the many brilliant people that surround you. It’s important to identify your strengths and weaknesses, then use your strengths to keep you moving forward while you hone and strengthen your weaknesses.”

Breakdancing through science

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Republikein 2026-05-01

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Breakdancing through science

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