CPHB Team
UP Research Leaders Total:16
Prof Irene Barnes
Prof Martin Coetzee
Prof Tuan Duong
Prof Almuth Hammerbacher 
Prof Brett Hurley
Dr Thabiso Motaung Motaung
Prof Bernard Slippers
Prof Emma Steenkamp
Prof Noelani van den Berg
Prof Albe van der Merwe
Prof Fanus Venter
Prof Cobus Visagie
Dr Markus Wilken
Prof Brenda Wingfield
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
DST / NRF SARChI Chair in Fungal Genomics
Prof Mike Wingfield
Dr Neriman YilmazExternal Research Associates Total:10
Dr Wubetu Bihon
Prof Volker Brozel
Prof Treena Burgess 
Dr ShuaiFei Chen
Dr Nicky Creux
Prof Pedro Crous
Dr Jeff Garnas
Dr Mesfin Gossa
Dr Chrizelle Krynauw (née Beukes)
Prof Jolanda RouxResearch Fellows Total:6
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder
Dr Seonju Marincowitz
Dr David Read
Dr Michelle Schroder
Dr Magriet van der NestPostdoctoral Fellows Total:7
Dr Juanita Avontuur
Dr Claudette Dewing
Dr Privilege Makunde
Dr Nam Pham
Dr Manchela Francinah Ratsoma
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Ariska van der NestDoctoral Students Total:31
Ms Simoné Bornman
Mr Callin Ceriani
Ms Ginna M. Granados
Ms Fanelesibonge Hlabisa
Ms Vaylen Hlaka
Ms Bianca Hough
Ms Carlynn Jacobs
Ms Rosa Knoppersen
Ms Sithembile Kunene
Ms Frances Lane
Ms Mabodiba Maake
Ms Angel Maduke
Ms Dineo Mailula
Mr Sicelo Masuku
Ms Ofentse Mathibela
Mr Lazarus Mavima
Mr Khulekani Cyprian Mbatha
Ms Sphumelele Mkhize
Mr Sizwe Mthembu
Ms Vhangani Mulaudzi
Ms Jenna-Lee Price
Mr Innocent Rakubu 
Ms Jane Baile Ramaswe
Mr Preston Shaw
Mr Byron Sonnekus Sonnekus
Ms Benedicta Swalarsk-Parry
Ms Cheyenne Theron
Ms Chanel Thomas
Ms Alida van Dijk 
Ms Melandre Van Lill
Ms Lente van ZylMasters Students Total:16
Mr Freddie Botha
Mr Johan Cilliers
Mr Wisely Kola
Ms Bianke Marx
Ms Mpho Matsetela
Ms Ongeziwe Mbhele
Ms Otlotleng Moloto
Ms Tshiamo Phakalatsane 
Ms Ipeleng Pooa
Ms Jostina Rakoma 
Ms Lizzy Ramela
Ms Monique Saayman
Mr Siphamandla Shongwe
Mr Michal Slupski
Ms Kayla Thomas
Mr Jandré VersterHonours Students
Ms Rachel JacobsNew Publications
Paap T, White D, Bose T, Burgess TI. (2026) Diversity and phylogeny of Phytophthora Clade 9, including descriptions of three novel species. Mycological Progress 25:29.
10.1007/s11557-026-02140-4
Li GQ, Slippers B, Wingfield MJ, Chen SF. (2026) Diversity, distribution and host range of Botryosphaeriaceae in China. Forest Pathology
10.1111/efp.70077
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2026) Leaf bleaching is associated with extensive transcriptional reprogramming in avocado trees with sunblotch disease. Virology 620:110903.
10.1016/j.virol.2026.110903 
Nzuza P, Schroder ML, Slippers B, Maes WH. (2026) Spectral responses to larval and artificial defoliation in Eucalyptus dunnii: Implications for UAV-based detection of Gonipterus damage. Drones 10(4)
10.3390/drones10040250
Six DL, Marincowitz S, Duong TA. (2026) Ophiostoma ipsi-confusi sp. nov. Six, Marinc. & Duong, a consistent symbiotic fungus of the pinyon ips bark beetle, Ips confusus LeConte. Symbiosis
10.1007/s13199-026-01135-9