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:6
Dr Janneke Aylward
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder
Dr Seonju Marincowitz
Dr Michelle Schroder
Dr Magriet van der NestPostdoctoral Fellows Total:12
Dr Juanita Avontuur
Dr Felipe Balocchi
Dr Johannes Christoff Joubert
Dr Charlene Clarke
Dr Firehiwot Eshetu
Dr WenWen Li
Dr Privilege Makunde
Dr Jackson Muyobela
Dr Nam Pham
Dr Manchela Francinah Ratsoma
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Ariska van der NestDoctoral Students Total:32
Ms Simoné Bornman
Mr Callin Ceriani
Mr Lihan Esterhuizen
Mr Taygen Fuchs
Ms Ginna M. Granados
Mr Christiaan Grobler
Ms Pilar Hemmelmann
Ms Fanelesibonge Hlabisa
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 Luki-Marie Scheepers
Ms Lehlogonolo Quecious Shalang
Mr Preston Shaw
Ms Nomfundo Shinga
Ms Benedicta Swalarsk-Parry
Ms Cheyenne Theron
Ms Alida van Dijk 
Ms Melandre Van Lill
Ms Lente van Zyl
Mr Edwin WanjofuMasters Students Total:36
Ms Jade Ashmore
Mr Adam Bazerbachi
Ms Caylee Benson
Ms Zandri Coetzee
Ms Janie Coetzer
Ms Sydney Cohen
Mr Kyle Craninx
Mr Sam Eichhorn
Ms Kerryn Fourie
Mr Johan F. Griesel
Ms Nadia Gürtel
Mr Lehlohonolo Hlahane
Ms Zimazile Jazi
Mr Nigel Kombora
Ms Chulumanco Majavu
Ms Bianke Marx
Ms Ongeziwe Mbhele
Ms Damei McCue
Ms Nondumiso Mngomezulu
Ms Monique Muller
Ms Thobeka Mzimela
Ms Ayanda Phulula
Ms Lizzy Ramela
Ms Vera Röder
Ms Anya Roos
Mr Drake Slabbert
Mr Michal Slupski
Mr Tolu Soogun
Mr Grant Terblanche
Ms Kayla Thomas
Ms Cairin van 't Hof 
Mr Bertus van Rooy
Mr Jandré Verster
Mr Keegan Walton
Mr Sphelele Zondi 
Mr Nkhoye ZondoHonours Students Total:5
Ms Tayla Bolleurs
Ms Wilmarie Cronje
Ms Rachel Jacobs
Ms Kaelyn Medhurst
Ms Marie-Louise TheronNew Publications
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
Yan Z, Zhao Y, Meng X, Gao M, Si H, Zhao G, Bose T, Chang R. (2026) New manganese-oxidizing Acremonium-like fungi from halophytic rhizospheres in the Yellow River Delta, China. Mycologia :1-13.
10.1080/00275514.2026.2627133
Eshetu FB, Barnes I, Nahrung HF, Fitza KNE, Slippers B. (2026) A Century of invasion: How biosecurity influenced populations of Sirex noctilio and Its fungal symbiont in Australasia. Molecular Ecology 35(6):0962 - 1083.
10.1111/mec.70311
Viljoen A, Duong TA, Kanzi AM, Wingfield BD. (2026) Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes in the Ceratocystidaceae reveals highly conserved gene organization despite substantial genome size variation. BMC Genomics
10.1186/s12864-026-12755-2