CJ Umunnakwe obtained his PhD in Genetics from Iowa State University in 2014. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2020, within the HIV Dynamics and Replication Program of the National Cancer Institute, in Maryland.

As an African biologist with a solid foundation in Virology and Genetics who has worked with leading experts at the NIH and the US, CJ has a unique background and perspective that allows him to effectively connect, inspire, and mentor individuals from diverse backgrounds in Southern Africa and beyond.

He is passionate about applying novel interventional strategies towards combating HIV and emerging infectious diseases in vulnerable and high-risk populations in Southern Africa. At Ndlovu Research Group, CJ aims to combine collaborative clinical research with community outreach, engagement and empowerment to improve the quality of life in the Limpopo region.