During the second year of my undergraduate studies, I was introduced to the amazing world of fungi and the significant role members of this kingdom play!

I completed my BScHons Microbiology in 2024 and I'm currently pursuing my Masters degree (Microbiology) under the Applied Mycology group. My research aims to formally describe three new species in Pseudopithomyces, two isolated from Namibia and one from Kuwait, and to investigate secondary metabolite production in the genus with a specific focus on sporidesmin A (a hepatotoxic compound of veterinary importance) and other potential chemotaxonomic markers.

This work will be completed under the primary supervision of Dr Neriman Yilmaz and the co-supervision of Prof Cobus Visagie, in collaboration with Prof Marc Stadler & Dr Christopher Lambert from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (Germany) and the Chemistry department at UP.