Current research focus: Fish parasitology, aquatic ecosystem health, host–parasite interactions, and the diversity and transmission of aquatic blood parasites

Overview: Chandra is pursuing her Ph.D., which she commenced in 2025, at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus under the supervision of Prof. Nico Smit. Her doctoral research focuses on investigating the role of leeches in the transmission of blood parasites among marine fishes in South Africa. Chandra obtained her Master’s degree with distinction in 2024. Her M.Sc. research examined the biodiversity, systematics, and life cycle stages of trypanosomes (blood parasites) infecting marine and freshwater fish. She completed her Honours degree in Aquatic Ecosystem Health in 2022 after joining the Water Research Group (WRG) and earned her B.Sc. degree in Environmental Sciences in 2021, majoring in Zoology and Microbiology

Experience: Biodiversity and systematics of marine fish Trypanosomes of South Africa

Chandra le Roux

Email address: 31978045@mynwu.ac.za

Current research focus: Freshwater ecology, stable isotope analysis, aquatic macroinvertebrates, river landscape-level nutrient processing, killifish

Overview: Lomarie Janse van Rensburg is an emerging scientist in the field of aquatic invertebrate ecology. She is hard-working and driven in her academic career, and always finishes her projects in the given time frame. In her Honours year, she was exposed to aquatic ecology and the tools that may be used to unravel the inner workings thereof.

Experience: For her Master’s degree she completed her thesis on the nutrient cycling processes of the Upper-Zambezi Basin. Using a large tributary of this Basin, the Kabompo River, she concluded through stable isotope analyses and food web considerations that some river discontinuum models best explain the river nutrient dynamics of the Upper-Zambezi sub-catchment. It is her intent to develop her skills further through exposure to leading experts in the field of aquatic ecology, stable light isotopes, and genetics.

Current research focus: Uncovering Hidden Freshwater Fish Biodiversity Using a Dual-Method Approach to Inform Conservation in the Limpopo River Basin

Overview: Marcel Kruger is currently a Ph.D. student at the Water Research Group, NWU Potchefstroom. His PhD research, supervised by Prof. Wynand Malherbe, Prof. Victor Wepener, and Dr Gordon O'Brien, focuses on freshwater fish biodiversity in the Limpopo River Basin using an integrated dual-method approach combining conventional fish sampling and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. The study aims to improve understanding of fish diversity, distribution, and river connectivity across this transboundary river system, while also developing a regional genetic reference library to support future biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning.

Experience: He completed his undergraduate degree in B.Sc. Zoology and Geography at the NWU in 2022. In 2023 he completed an Honours degree in Aquatic Ecosystem Health under the supervision of Prof. Wynand Malherbe, where his project compared traditional sampling techniques to eDNA as a method for biodiversity sampling. He subsequently completed his M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences (2024–2025), with a thesis focused on the conservation of African freshwater molluscs under changing climatic conditions.

Marcel Kruger

Email address: 31583296@mynwu.ac.za

Nichole Donough

Email address: 36065625@mynwu.ac.za

Current research focus: Killifish, chemical and biological stressors, bioassays, ecotoxicological responses, environmental parasitology

Overview: Nichole's current research focuses on environmental parasitology of the African turquoise killifish. She is passionate about environmental remediation and enjoys learning new things. In her free time, she loves playing the piano and reading. Her passion for environmental science was ignited in the final year of her undergraduate degree and she has pursued it ever since. Her Ph.D. project focuses on ecotoxicological responses of Nothobranchius furzeri to chemical and biological stressors.

Experience: Nichole's M.Sc. under the supervision of Prof. Victor Wepener and Dr. Tarryn Lee Botha, focussed on the sublethal effects of nanodiamonds and copper oxide on the freshwater shrimp, Caridina africana.

Current research focus: Integrating fish parasitology and ecotoxicology with Indigenous Ecological Knowledge

Overview: Tshenolo Masilo is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on integrating fish parasitology and ecotoxicology with Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, aiming to bridge scientific understanding with local environmental perspectives. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys dancing and values the strong support system provided by her family and faith, which continue to guide and motivate her journey. 

Experience: Tshenolo holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Physiology, followed by an Honours degree in Aquatic Ecosystem Health and a Master's degree in Zoology.

Zandile Dhlamini

Email address: 30528216@mynwu.ac.za

Current research focus: Fish haemogregarine, blood parasites, taxonomy, molecular characterisation

Overview: Zandile Dhlamini is a Ph.D. candidate currently working on the taxonomy and molecular characterisation of blood-borne apicomplexans infecting fish in the Western Indian Ocean and Central Indo-Pacific regions. She was first introduced to blood parasites by her supervisor during her Honours year, and since then have been "hooked and fascinated” by the questions the research continues to raise. 

Experience: She holds a B.Sc. degree in Microbiology and Physiology (2022), an Honours degree in Environmental Sciences with Aquatic Ecosystem Health (2023), and an M.Sc. degree in Environmental Sciences (2025).

Current research focus: Freshwater ecology, biomonitoring, conservation biology, and applied aquatic ecosystem management.

Overview: David Kunutu is currently a Ph.D. (Zoology) student at the NWU, Potchefstroom (Water Research Group) under the supervision of Prof. Nico Smit; and he is also the Professional Scientist (Ecologist) for the Eastern Cape Provincial DEDEAT. He is particularly interested in research that strengthens the connection between scientific assessment and practical conservation outcomes, especially within South Africa’s freshwater environments. Through his involvement with the Water Research Group, he aims to further develop his expertise in aquatic ecology and contribute to research that supports the long-term protection and sustainable management of freshwater biodiversity.

Experience: David holds a B.Sc., B.Sc. Hons (Zoology), B.Sc. Hons (Environmental Management) and M.Sc. (Zoology).
 

 Katlego David Kunutu

Email address: 56515790@mynwu.ac.za

Current research focus: Taxonomy, One Health, freshwater ecosystem health, urban stream assessment, aquatic biodiversity, ecological indicators, diatoms, and solid waste pollution in freshwater systems.

Overview: Modjadji C. Lebepe is a dual Ph.D. candidate at North-West University (South Africa) (Science with Zoology) and Keele University (United Kingdom) (Environment and Sustainability) and a Senior Laboratory Assistant in the Department of Biodiversity at the University of Limpopo. Her research focuses on integrating ecological, environmental, and socio-economic indicators to assess freshwater ecosystem health within a One Health framework. Through the adaptation of the Urban Stream Assessment System (USAS tool) and the development of a Solid Waste Index (SWI), her work contributes to understanding and managing environmental pressures in peri-urban freshwater ecosystems. Outside academia, she enjoys gardening, nature walks, medicinal plants, bird watching, and reading and creative writing.

Experience: Modjadji obtained her B.Sc. Zoology and Human Physiology, B.Sc. Honours and M.Sc. degrees in Zoology from the University of Limpopo (2006–2013). Her Honours (2010) and M.Sc. (2013) research focused on the taxonomy and systematics of symbiotic parasitic copepods associated with mobulid rays along the South African coast, contributing to the understanding of marine parasite biodiversity.