• ORCID

I began my academic journey at the University of Pretoria, where I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from 2018 to 2020, with a strong emphasis on biochemistry, within the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology.

In 2021, I joined the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) for my Honours studies, followed by a Master’s degree (2022–2024), under the guidance of Professors B. Wingfield, M. Wingfield, and E. Steenkamp. My Honours research focused on the population genetics of Fusarium circinatum—the causal agent of pine pitch canker—in Colombia, utilizing microsatellite markers. Building on this foundation, my Master’s research expanded into population genomics, providing a broader and deeper understanding of F. circinatum populations. This included investigating the pathogen's genetic diversity in Chilean production areas and comparing it to Colombian populations.

Currently, I am undertaking my PhD at FABI, continuing under the mentorship of the same supervisory team. My research has shifted focus to the fungal pathogens within the Chrysoporthe genus, which are notable canker-causing pathogens of eucalyptus. My work aims to unravel the phylogenetics, population dynamics, and evolutionary dynamics of these significant forest pathogens.