Dr Magriet van der Nest is a senior researcher in the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI, University of Pretoria). Her research focuses on increasing our understanding of the biology, ecology, and evolution of economically important pathogens that threaten the South African forestry industry. She employs genomic approaches to investigate the genetic basis of host adaptation, pathogenicity, and the capacity of pathogens to survive under changing environmental conditions. This research is critical for developing sustainable management strategies, particularly in the context of climate change and its impact on forest ecosystems.

Complementing her work in forestry, Dr. van der Nest also conducts research on agriculturally important animals. Her projects are aimed at improving sustainability and health in livestock production. This includes studying genetic diseases that adversely affect meat quality, identifying signatures of positive selection that shape productivity traits in pig populations, and investigating genomic variation within sheep breeds to inform breeding programmes. Dr. van der Nest's research is also contributing to the field of conservation genomics. Her recent work in this area focuses on applying genomic techniques to study native tilapia species, providing valuable insights for their management and preservation.