Dr Amanda Horch

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 Email address: 56598270@mynwu.ac.za 

Field of expertise: Ecology, Systematics (Taxonomy), Zoology

Overview: Dr Amanda Horch is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the North-West University, focusing on the diversity of epicaridean isopods globally. The primary focus of her research is on the taxonomy, systematics and ecology of parasitic isopods from the suborder Epicaridea, which use other crustaceans as their hosts throughout their life cycle. She is also interested in the taxonomy and systematics of isopods in general, as well as other parasitic crustaceans. During her Ph.D., Amanda also spend time in United States, under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jason D. Williams, at Hofstra University, New York.

Previous research experience: Amanda completed an M.Sc. in Animal Biology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in south Brazil, under the supervision of Prof. Dr Mariana Terossi, as well as a B.Sc. in Biological Science from the same institution.

Field of expertise: Biodiversity, systematics and molecular phylogenetics, free-living and parasitic Copepoda

Overview: Dr Aneke Kruger is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at North-West University, specialising in the diversity of parasites infecting marine fishes. Her research focuses on identifying these parasites through morphological and genetic characterisation (taxonomy). Her current work investigates parasitic copepods infecting sparid fishes within southern African marine ecosystems. By strengthening the taxonomic framework for parasitic copepods in southern Africa, this research will contribute foundational knowledge essential for future ecological, evolutionary, and applied parasitological studies.

Previous research experience: Aneke completed all of her tertiary education at the University of the Free State, graduating with a B.Sc. degree in Zoology and Genetics, followed by a B.Sc. Honours in Zoology focusing on the taxonomy of aquatic invertebrates in the Free State Province, South Africa. She went on to earn her M.Sc. in Zoology (cum laude), where her research consisted of a review of Cladocera in the Free State Province, South Africa. For her Ph.D., she studied the diversity and taxonomy of freshwater, free-living Copepoda in lentic ecosystems across South African regions.

Affiliations / Funding: DSTI-NRF Professional Development Programme Postdoctoral Fellowship; South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB).

Dr Aneke Kruger

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 Email address: 56530706@nwu.ac.za 

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Field of expertise: Gnathiidae, Integrated Taxonomy, Scientific Illustration, Environmental parasitology

Overview: Dr Anja Erasmus is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the North-West University, exploring the gnathiid diversity of coral reefs around the world. Her work focuses on aquatic parasites, ecosystem health, taxonomy, and data organisation and management, supported by scientific publications and national and international research collaborations. She has a passion for taxonomy and enjoys illustrating these tiny cryptofauna. She enjoys combining her creative and organisational interests within the field of science. Being in nature and taking part in nature and ocean conservation motivates her research.

Previous research experience: Anja completed a B.Sc. with majors in Zoology, Geography and Tourism in 2014 and a B.Sc. Hons in Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology at North-West University in 2015. Anja subsequently proceeded to a M.Sc. degree and her research assessed the trophic transfer of metals and organochlorine pesticides in intertidal rocky shore organisms by using stable isotopes. Her Ph.D. project, in collaboration with Prof. Bernd Sures (Universität Duisburg-Essen in Germany), addresses the use of Clinus superciliosus as a model organism for environmental parasitology within marine ecosystems.

Field of expertise: Marine parasitology, Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Genetics, Morphology, Fish parasites

Overview: Dr Anja Vermaak is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at North-West University, specialising in the diversity of parasites infecting marine fishes. Her research focuses on identifying these parasites through morphological and genetic characterisation (taxonomy). Driven by curiosity and a passion for conservation, Anja aims to advance our understanding of marine biodiversity and its ecological significance.

Previous research experience: Anja earned her B.Sc. degree in Zoology and Microbiology, followed by a B.Sc. Honours in Environmental Sciences with a focus on Aquatic Ecosystem Health at North-West University. She then pursued an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, where her research investigated the diversity of trematodes (flatworms) infecting the super klipfish (Clinus superciliosus) in South Africa. For her Ph.D., she studied the diversity of metazoan parasites infecting the Cape white seabream (Diplodus capensis) and explored how these parasite communities vary between marine protected and non-protected areas.

Dr Clarisse Louvard

Email address: 55214770@mynwu.ac.za

Field of expertise: Transcriptomics, Gene evolution, Trematoda, Digenea, Isopoda, Taxonomy, Systematics, Life-cycles

Overview: Dr Louvard is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in parasite transcriptomics and mitogenomics at NWU, hosted by Prof. Nico J. Smit (UESM-WRG), as well as the co-manager of the WRG Molecular Lab under Prof. Courtney Cook. Her current work focuses on marine isopod parasite mitogenomics and trematode parasite transcriptomics. More broadly, she is interested in the genomics and transcriptomics aspects of host-parasite interactions. 

Past research experience: She studied marine sciences at the INTECHMER Institute in France, then went on to work at the French National Museum of Natural History (MNHN). She started a Bachelor of Marine Biology at SKEMA Business School (Nice, France) and graduated from the University of Queensland (UQ) (Brisbane, Australia). She obtained both her B.Sc. (Honours) in Marine Science and her Ph.D. in trematode transcriptomics, taxonomy and life cycles at UQ under the primary supervision of Associate Prof. Thomas H. Cribb. Dr Louvard also worked as a research assistant in microalgae identification at the MNHN, where she served as a water-quality consultant for local city councils. During that time, she also participated in public outreach events during various MNHN-related events and for marine environmental organisations. After her Ph.D., she worked as a consultant on microalgae for the aquatic environments consulting firm SLR (then FRC Environmental) in Cleveland, Queensland (Australia). She is also a scuba-diving instructor (FFESSM).

Field of expertise: Health assessment of marine environments: Parasites of the evileye blaasop, Amblyrhynchote honckenii, as bioindicators

Overview: Meet Dr Linda de Klerk, a passionate Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Sciences at North-West University! She's dedicated to exploring the wonders of marine life, with a focus on using parasites as bioindicators to assess marine health. Her research journey began with studying tapeworms in sharks and rays off South Africa's coast, and now she's diving into a new project using parasites of the evileye blaasop to monitor marine environments, combining molecular techniques with traditional taxonomy an ecotoxicology. Follow her adventures as she works towards protecting marine parasite diversity and the well-being of our ocean's incredible creatures!

Previous research experience: As part of her postgraduate studies, she has discovered and described four new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849 (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea) from the spotted skate, Raja straeleni Poll, off the Western Cape, South Africa, as well as morphological and molecular characterisation of Onchoproteocephalidean cestodes of South African elasmobranchs.

Dr Linda de Klerk

Email address: 27014452@mynwu.ac.za

Dr Marelize Marsay

Email address: 24279862@nwu.ac.za

Field of expertise: Aquatic ecotoxicology, behavioural toxicology, metabolomics, environmental stress responses, and the development of mechanistic approaches for environmental risk assessment

Overview: Dr Marelize is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the North-West University. Her research focuses on aquatic ecotoxicology, investigating the occurrence and effects of environmental contaminants such as pesticides, nanomaterials, and metals in freshwater ecosystems. Her work combines traditional ecotoxicological approaches with behavioural assessments, metabolomics, and the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework to improve understanding of contaminant impacts across different levels of biological organisation. She is actively involved in student training, laboratory-based research, and science communication initiatives.

Past research experience: Marelize completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Management at North-West University, where she investigated the sublethal effects of pesticides on aquatic invertebrates.

Field of expertise: Biodiversity inventory of undiscovered freshwater fish parasites, Monogenea, Taxonomy, Alien and invasive species, Molecular characterisation

Overview: Dr Marliese is a researcher in the REFRESH project, funded by the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP). Her work combines traditional parasite taxonomy with the emerging field of historical ecology of parasitism to investigate changes in parasite communities of South African freshwater fishes over time. This research helps address critical knowledge gaps in freshwater biodiversity, supporting conservation efforts and improving our understanding of ecosystem health. By highlighting the ecological importance of parasites in biodiversity and food-web dynamics, her work contributes to more comprehensive assessments and predictions of future changes in aquatic ecosystems.

Previous research experience: She completed her B.Sc. Zoology and Microbiology, B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Environmental Science (cum laude) and her Ph.D. at the North-West University in collaboration with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity from 2014–2022.

Dr Marliese Truter

Email address: 23378123@nwu.ac.za