CPHB Team
UP Research Leaders Total:18
Prof Irene Barnes
Prof Martin Coetzee
Dr Nicky Creux
Prof Tuan Duong
Dr 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:6
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Lieschen De Vos
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder
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:37
Ms Omotayo Adegeye
Mr Sikelela Buthelezi
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 Kira Lynn
Ms Mabodiba Maake
Ms Angel Maduke
Ms Dineo Mailula
Mr Mkhululi Maphosa
Mr Sicelo Masuku
Mr Lazarus Mavima
Mr Khulekani Cyprian Mbatha
Ms Sphumelele Mkhize
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:15
Ms Simoné Bornman
Mr Wisely Kola
Ms Mpho Matsetela
Ms Ongeziwe Mbhele
Ms Thembeka Mkhize
Ms Otlotleng Moloto
Ms Sinethemba Nkosi
Ms Zinhle Annah-Gloria Nxumalo
Ms Tshiamo Phakalatsane 
Ms Jostina Rakoma 
Ms Lizzy Ramela
Mr Michal Slupski
Mr Hannes Strydom
Ms Taponeswa Tasiya
Ms Anien ViljoenHonours Students Total:2
Mr Freddie Botha
Ms Kayla ThomasNew Publications
Aylward J, Atkins S, Roets F, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Several Seiridium species (Sporocadaceae: Xylariales) cause cypress canker in South Africa. Fungal Biology 129(1):101528.
10.1016/j.funbio.2024.101528
Martin G, Canavan K, Chikowore G, Bugan R, De Lange W, du Toit B, Harding G, Heath R, Hill M, Hurley BP, Ivey P, Muir D, Musedeli J, Richardson DM, Slippers B, Stafford L, Turner A, Watson K, van Wilgen BW. (2025) Managing wilding pines in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa: Progress and prospects. South African Journal of Botany 177:377-391.
10.1016/j.sajb.2024.12.011 
Wingfield MJ, Slippers B, Barnes I, Duong AT, Wingfield BD. (2025) The Pine pathogen Diplodia sapinea: Expanding frontiers. Current Forestry Reports 11(2)
10.1007/s40725-024-00236-2
Knoppersen R, Hammerbacher A, Bose T. (2024) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1697–1780 (Description of Sporisorium enterogonipteri). Fungal Systematics and Evolution 14:325–577.
10.3114/fuse.2024.14.19
Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2024) Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks. PLOS Biology
10.1371/journal.pbio.3002901