I completed my BSc degree in Genetics in 2014 and my BSc Honours degree in Plant Science, with a major in Plant Biotechnology and Plant physiology in 2015. 

My MSc  degree was completed  under the supervision of Dr Juan Vorster and Prof. Jacquie van der Waals. In my MSc research project, I focused on finding an indirect method for screening Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resistance in South African soybean cultivars. 

I worked as a junior research assistant in the DNA Fingerprinting platform, Forestry Molecular Genetics group at the University of Pretoria between 2018 and February 2020. My role at the DNA Fingerprinting platform focused on key forest species improvement by providing High Throughput DNA Fingerprinting services to Eucalyptus and tropical pine breeders in South Africa.

I am currently a first year PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Bernard Slippers and Prof. Brett Hurley. In my PhD project, I will be studying various aspects of Busseola fusca  (Fuller), (a maize pest commonly known as the maize stalk borer) to understand its resistance to genetically modified Bt maize expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin. Using the knowledge gained here, we aim to reduce resistance of the African maize stalk borer to Bt toxin by targeting essential genes that are involved in resistance, through gene editing.

My career interest include finding sustainable methods of improving Agricultural Crops as well as preserving forests in Africa. I am specifically interested in the application of modern molecular breeding and application of modern biotechnology techniques that focus on both the crop and the pest/pathogen to improve crops against biotic and abiotic stress.