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:7
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Lieschen De Vos
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:29
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 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
Ms Simoné Bornman
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 ThomasNew Publications
Liu QL, Wingfield MJ, Duong TA, Wingfield BD, Crous PW. (2026) Taxonomy, distribution and dispersal of Calonectria species: Important pathogens of forestry, agricultural and horticultural crops. Current Forestry Reports 12(4)
10.1007/s40725-025-00262-8
Nethononda PD, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Makhura MN. (2026) Smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perception and management of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Zea mays at irrigation schemes in Limpopo province, South Africa. Crop Protection :107457.
10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107457
Thomas C, Wilken PM, Coetzee MPA, Visagie CM. (2025) Advancing the taxonomy of Sclerotinia (Helotiales, Sclerotiniaceae): a review and recommendations for an important plant-pathogenic genus. IMA Fungus 17:e175737.
10.3897/imafungus.17.175737
Roux J, del M Angel L, Barnes I. (2025) First report of the eucalypt stem canker pathogen Teratosphaeria gauchensis in South Africa. New Disease Reports 52(2):e70091.
10.1002/ndr2.70091
Nel WJ, Barnes I, Jali S, Impson F, Oberprieler RG, Hurley BP. (2025) First report of Melanterius inconspicuus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cleogonini) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with observations of its development in black wattle. Southern Forests
10.2989/20702620.2025.2537823 