Palesa joined the School of Public Health in 2025 as a Postdoctoral Fellow, where she contributes to teaching, learning, postgraduate support, and interdisciplinary research within the school.

Her responsibilities include marking postgraduate diploma assessments and Master’s-level theses, supporting postgraduate supervision processes, and co-facilitating the SOPH Journal Club to strengthen scholarly engagement and academic development among students and staff. She is also actively involved in research initiatives focusing on climate change and health, HIV, adolescent health, and mental health.

Palesa’s research is situated at the intersection of Public Health and Development Studies, with a strong focus on health equity and the social determinants of health. Her work explores the complex relationships between climate change and health, HIV, adolescent and youth health, and mental health in resource-constrained and vulnerable settings. She has particular interests in qualitative and interdisciplinary research methodologies, research ethics, and strengthening teaching, learning, and postgraduate support within higher education and public health contexts.