CPHB Team
UP Research Leaders Total:18
Prof Irene Barnes
Prof Martin Coetzee
Dr Nicky Creux
Prof Tuan Duong
Prof Gerda Fourie
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:9
Dr Wubetu Bihon
Prof Volker Brozel
Prof Treena Burgess 
Dr ShuaiFei Chen
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 Trudy Paap
Dr David Read
Dr Michelle SchroderPostdoctoral Fellows Total:5
Dr Felipe Balocchi
Dr Privilege Makunde
Dr Nam Pham
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Ariska van der NestDoctoral Students Total:35
Mr Callin Ceriani
Ms Claudette Dewing
Mr Philani Dlamini
Ms Caitlin Gevers
Ms Ginna M. Granados
Mr Mathew Harris
Mr Darryl Herron
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
Ms Manchela Francinah Ratsoma
Mr Preston Shaw
Mr Byron Sonnekus Sonnekus
Ms Benedicta Swalarsk-Parry
Ms Cheyenne Theron
Ms Chanel Thomas
Mr Garyn Townsend
Ms Alida van Dijk 
Ms Melandre Van Lill
Ms Lente van ZylMasters Students Total:18
Ms Simoné Bornman
Mr Freddie Botha
Mr Johan Cilliers
Mr Wisely Kola
Ms Bianke Marx
Ms Mpho Matsetela
Ms Ongeziwe Mbhele
Ms Thembeka Mkhize
Ms Otlotleng Moloto
Ms Sinethemba Nkosi
Ms Tshiamo Phakalatsane 
Ms Ipeleng Pooa
Ms Jostina Rakoma 
Ms Lizzy Ramela
Mr Michal Slupski
Mr Hannes Strydom
Ms Kayla Thomas
Ms Anien ViljoenHonours Students
Ms Monique SaaymanNew Publications
Bose T, Wingfield MJ, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Begerow D, Kemler M, Dovey S, Roux J, Slippers B, Vivas M, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Removal of organic biomass in Eucalyptus plantations has a greater impact on fungal than on bacterial networks. Forest Ecology and Management 586:122734.
10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122734
Woodward S, Amin H, Mártin-Gárcia J, Solla A, Diaz-Vazquez R, Romeralo C, Alves A, Pinto G, Herron D, Fraser S, Zas R, Doğmuş-Lehtijärvi HT, Bonello P, Wingfield MJ, Witzell J, Diez JJ. (2025) Host-pathogen interactions in the Pine-Fusarium circinatum pathosystem and the potential for resistance deployment in the field. Forest Pathology 55(2):e70020.
10.1111/efp.70020
Maduke N, Slippers B, Van der Linde E, Wingfield M, Fourie G. (2025) Botryosphaeriaceae associated with racemes, fruits and leaves of macadamia in South Africa. Plant Pathology 0:1–15:1–15.
10.1111/ppa.14107
Hulcr J, Barnes I, Barnes M, Gazis R, Hammerbacher A, Johnson AJ, Lynch S, Lynn K, Marais GC, Mayers CG, Nel W, Villari C, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) From forest to fungus: A roadmap to bark beetle mycobiome research. Phytoparasitica 53(45)
10.1007/s12600-025-01246-x
Knoppersen RS, Bose T, Coutinho TA, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Inside the Belly of the Beast: Exploring the Gut Bacterial Diversity of Gonipterus sp. n. 2. Microbial Ecology 88:27.
10.1007/s00248-025-02524-1