Prof Che's M.Sc. Candidates
Nadine Lee Lepart
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Amphibian health
Office: Potchefstroom campus, Building E6, Office G35
Telephone:
Email: lepart.nl@gmail.com
Short Biography:
Nadine Lepart is currently busy with a Master's degree in Environmental sciences. The main focus is on the animal health standards of amphibians. This includes setting up various SOPs and making suggestions for the SANS document (South African National Standard).
Ruhan Verster
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Chytridiomycosis distribution in relation to river systems
Office: Potchefstroom campus
Telephone:
Email: ruhan.verster@gmail.com
Short Biography:
His current research focus is on the Orange River system and the distribution of chytridiomycosis within it. The presence of more than one lineage in South Africa creates an interesting realm in which to describe the interaction of lineages in systems where co-infection may occur. The distribution of these lineages along one of the largest river systems in South Africa, in connection with experiments and international collaboration allows for the expansion of knowledge on different pathogen genotype interactions within widely distributed host populations associated with corridors of suitable habitat.
Nicolaas Phillipus du Preez
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Molecular biology & Biogas production
Office: Potchefstroom campus, Building E6, Office G3
Telephone:
Email: npdp22@gmail.com
Short Biography:
He completed his undergraduate degree (Microbiology and Zoology) in 2015, and continued to his B.Sc Honours degree in Microbiology in 2016, specializing in Biogas production. He started his Master's degree in 2017 in Zoology, specializing in molecular biology. His current project is concerning the development of universal primers for Liquid-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This assay will be tested in the lab and on-site, as well as be compared to traditional PCR and qPCR used as means of detecting B. dendrobaidis.
Zoëgné du Preez
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Amphibian Biodiversity & Conservation
Office: Potchefstroom campus, Building E4
Telephone:
Email: dupreezzoegne@gmail.com
Short Biography:
She is a M.Sc student at the North-West University of Potchefstroom. Her research are focused on the conservation of frogs by making use of ecotourism. South Africa is blessed with a rich and unique frog diversity, yet very few species are commonly known to the general public. Sadly, frogs from around the world are rapidly going extinct due to a vast array of natural and man-made threats. It is imperative to the survival of frogs that more people become aware and engage with this fascinating part of South Africa’s natural heritage. Her research aims to gauge public interest and preferences regarding the ecotourism potential of frogs in South Africa. Her supervisors are Prof. Ché Weldon (Amphibian disease), Prof. Peet Van Der Merwe (Fuaculty of Tourism) and Dr. Jeanne Tarrant (EWT Amphibian Project Leader).
Allécia Boonzaaier
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Amphibian ecology
Office: Potchefstroom campus, Building E6
Telephone:
Email: boonbass@gmail.com
Short Biography:
Currently a Master's student specialising in amphibian ecology under the AACRG. Her Master's research focuses on the Southern Foam-nest frog's (Chiromantis xerampelina) two unique behaviours, namely basking and the construction of foam nests, and whether these behaviors can act as a non-immunological defnce mechanism aganst the amphibian chytrid fungus.
Ryno van Dyk
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Environmental Sciences
Office: Potchefstroom campus, Building E6
Telephone:
Email: rynovandyk2@gmail.com
Short Biography:
He is currently enrolled for a M.Sc in environmental sciences at the NWU Potchefstroom. As a member of the AACRG, his research area is amphibian ecology. His Master's thesis focusses how isolates of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), from the Drakensberg region, differ and how those differences can be used to direclty imply the infectivity of novel Bd isolates.
Mea Trenor
Position: MSc. student
Expertise: Conservation Biology
Office: Umhlanga
Telephone:
Email: mea.trenor@gmail.com
Short Biography:
Mea Trenor gave up her job as a magazine editor to become a conservationist and wildlife documentary producer. Mea is now one of EDGE's Fellows, working to protect and conserve some of the weirdest and most wonderful species on the planet. Mea is working with ZSL and EDGE to save the critically endangered mistbelt chirping frog.