TPCP Team
Group Leaders
Prof Bernard SlippersUP Research Leaders Total:17
Prof Irene Barnes
Prof Martin Coetzee
Prof Tuan Duong
Prof Almuth Hammerbacher 
Prof Brett Hurley
Prof Tjaart Krüger
Dr Thabiso Motaung Motaung
Prof Sanushka Naidoo
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:11
Prof Jeremy Allison
Dr Wubetu Bihon
Prof Treena Burgess 
Dr ShuaiFei Chen
Prof Pedro Crous
Dr Jeff Garnas
Dr Ilaria Germishuizen
Dr Mesfin Gossa
Dr Chrizelle Krynauw (née Beukes)
Dr Carlos Rodas
Prof Jolanda RouxResearch Fellows Total:8
Dr Janneke Aylward
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Lieschen De Vos
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder
Dr Seonju Marincowitz
Dr Trudy Paap
Dr Michelle Schroder
Dr Magriet van der NestPostdoctoral Fellows Total:10
Dr Felipe Balocchi
Dr Charlene Clarke
Dr Firehiwot Eshetu
Dr WenWen Li
Dr Privilege Makunde
Dr Marzieh Mehrabioon-Mohammadi
Dr Jackson Muyobela
Dr Nam Pham
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Ariska van der NestDoctoral Students Total:36
Mr Callin Ceriani
Mr Johannes Christoff Joubert
Ms Claudette Dewing
Mr Lihan Esterhuizen
Mr Taygen Fuchs
Ms Caitlin Gevers
Ms Ginna M. Granados
Mr Mathew Harris
Ms Pilar Hemmelmann
Mr Darryl Herron
Ms Vaylen Hlaka
Ms Sithembile Kunene
Ms Frances Lane
Ms Mabodiba Maake
Mr Sicelo Masuku
Mr Lazarus Mavima
Mr Khulekani Cyprian Mbatha
Ms Pfano Mbedzi
Mr Tshepo Joseph Mmushi
Ms Ruth Nante
Mr Siphephelo Phungula
Ms Jenna-Lee Price
Ms Jane Baile Ramaswe
Ms Manchela Francinah Ratsoma
Ms Luki-Marie Scheepers
Ms Lehlogonolo Quecious Shalang
Mr Preston Shaw
Ms Nomfundo Shinga
Ms Benedicta Swalarsk-Parry
Ms Cheyenne Theron
Mr Garyn Townsend
Ms Alida van Dijk 
Ms Melandre Van Lill
Ms Lente van Zyl
Mr Edwin WanjofuMasters Students Total:32
Ms Jade Ashmore
Mr Adam Bazerbachi
Ms Simoné Bornman
Ms Janie Coetzer
Mr Kyle Craninx
Mr Sam Eichhorn
Ms Kerryn Fourie
Ms Jennifer Gomes de Freitas 
Mr Johan F. Griesel
Mr Christiaan Grobler
Mr Lehlohonolo Hlahane
Ms Brittney-Aidan Jamieson
Ms Zimazile Jazi
Mr Nigel Kombora
Mr Kyle Leeuwendaal
Ms Chulumanco Majavu
Ms Bianke Marx
Ms Ongeziwe Mbhele
Ms Monique Muller
Ms Kiara Munsamy
Ms Anja Piso
Ms Lizzy Ramela
Ms Vera Röder
Mr Drake Slabbert
Mr Michal Slupski
Mr Tolu Soogun
Mr Hannes Strydom
Mr Grant Terblanche
Ms Kayla Thomas
Mr Bertus van Rooy
Ms Anien Viljoen
Mr Nkhoye ZondoHonours Students Total:12
Ms Janhvi Dayah
Ms Nadia Gürtel
Ms Oratile Lekalakala
Ms Mamello Machusi
Ms Mamello Machusi
Ms Damei McCue
Ms Nondumiso Mngomezulu
Ms Rabia Omar
Ms Ayanda Phulula
Ms Kiara Lee Schutte
Mr Jandré Verster
Mr Keegan WaltonNew Publications
Esterhuizen HJ, Slippers B, Bosman AS, Roux J, Jones W, Bose T, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Early detection of Phytophthora root rot in Eucalyptus using hyperspectral reflectance and machine learning. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 237:110761.
10.1016/j.compag.2025.110761
Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Marincowitz S, Brawner JT, Hulcr J, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Cryphonectria canker on Eucalyptus in Florida reconsidered. Forest Pathology 55:e70031.
10.1111/efp.70031
Nzuza P, Schröder ML, Heim RJ, Daniels L, Slippers B, Hurley BP, Germishuizen I, Sivparsad B, Roux J, Maes WH. (2025) Assessing Gonipterus defoliation levels using multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data in Eucalyptus plantations. Ecological Informatics 90:103301.
10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103301
Kunene S, Mmushi TJ, Steenkamp E, Motaung T. (2025) Pinus-derived membrane vesicles disrupt pathogenic metabolism in fungi. plant biology
10.1111/plb.70069 
Theron CA, Wingfield MJ, Ahumada R, Carnegie AJ, Fraser S, Rodas C, Barnes I. (2025) Diversity and distribution of Lophodermium species on non-native Pinus species in the southern hemisphere. Mycological Progress 24(44)
10.1007/s11557-025-02056-5