Main Focus
My research focuses on how intracellular tyrosine-supplementing symbionts mediate life history traits and ecological interactions in grain pest beetles. Using behavioural, molecular and chemical approaches, I try to unravel symbiont contribution to protection against desiccation, predators and pathogens. I further try to establish how generalised symbiont-mediated tyrosine supplementation is across diverse beetles that engage in different kinds of symbioses.
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2024: Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat). Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. Germany
Thesis: The ecological implications of tyrosine-supplementing symbioses in grain pest beetles.
2018: Master of Science (MSc). University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
CJ Van Der Horst Prize for outstanding postgraduate research in Zoology
Thesis: The behavioural ecology of bachelor groups in the African striped mouse, Rhabdomys pumilio.
2016: Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc Hons). University of the Free State, South Africa
Thesis: The effects of biochar on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to the annelid species: Enchytraeus albidus.
2015 Bachelor of Science (BSc). University of the Free State, South Africa
Prize for best undergraduate student in the faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 - Current Postdoctoral Researcher - Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
2024 - Current Associate Editor (Blogs) - Methods in Ecology and Evolution, British Ecological Society
2021 - 2024 Research Associate - Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
2021 - 2024 Honorary Research Associate - University of the Witwatersrand
2019 - 2021 Research Associate - Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz
2018 - 2019 Laboratory Technician - Durban University of Technology
2017 - 2018 Laboratory and teaching assistant - University of the Witwatersrand
2018 Chief examinations invigilator - University of the Witwatersrand
2015 - 2016 Tutor and Teaching Assistant - University of the Free State
Awards
2023: IMPRS presentation award for best talk at the 22nd IMPRS Symposium: "Inhibition of the shikimate pathway by glyphosate disrupts the stability of symbiosis and impairs host fitness across diverse grain pest beetles"
2023: Best Poster Presentation at the Gordon Research Seminar (Animal-Microbe Symbioses) in Lucca, Italy: Inhibition of the shikimate pathway by glyphosate disrupts the stability of symbiosis and impairs host fitness in diverse grain pest beetles
2022: Best Oral Presentation at the 10th International Symbiosis Society Congress "Symbiosis in the Anthropocene Era": Cuticle enhancing symbionts for a durable and waterproof armour: how nutritional symbionts enhance protection against natural enemies and desiccation in grain pest beetles