PhD student
As a final-year PhD candidate in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, I am actively seeking postdoctoral opportunities and collaborations to further my research on rhizobial evolution and applications in sustainable agriculture. My academic journey began with a BSc in Applied Microbiology (2017), followed by an Honors in Medical Virology (2018) and an MSc in Microbiology (2022), all from the University of Pretoria. Under the supervision of Prof. Stephanus Venter, Prof. Emma Steenkamp, and Dr. Magriet van der Nest, with international collaboration from Dr. Chrizelle Beukes (James Hutton Institute, UK) and Dr. Tomasz Stępkowski (Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland).
My MSc focused on the diversity of BradyrhizobiumandMesorhizobium strains in South African indigenous legumes within the Genisteae tribe. The Genisteae tribe (sub-family Papilionoideae) is one of the largest legume tribes and are known to be predominantly nodulated by Bradyrhizobium.This study showed that southern African lineage Genisteae may associate predominantly with Mesorhizobium,while contributing towards unraveling the untapped rhizobia diversity in the country, novel bradyrhizobia and mesorhizobia species where identified and characterised. My PhD project, titled “Evolution and Biogeography of South African rhizobia” employs an integrated approach to evaluating rhizobial diversity and their co-evolution with their hosts, particularly in the Grassland Biome. This integrated approach employs genomic, pan genomic, phylogenetic, phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis. My studies contributes towards the discovery and development of highly effective rhizobia inoculants for sustainable and cheaper food production, while also diving deeper into understanding functional and ecological adaptation of strains in their respective regions and the evolution of the genus Bradyrhizobium as a whole.
Outside my studies, I have demonstrated great leadership and a collaboration mindset, having served as a lab manager for our lab for three years, mentored and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students, and worked parttime as a teacher assistant/practical demonstrator for undergraduate students in Microbiology. I also work part time as a research assistant at the university of Pretoria and involved in a few collaboration projects.
Mentorship of FABI internship students: 2021: Lungani Nkosi
Honours mentorship and supervision:
2021: Melandré van Lill
2024: Freddie Botha
Mentorship students, University of Pretoria:
2022: Alienke, Nicole Chapfunga
2023: Cebo Le Nkosi, Njabulo Makhoba
2024: Cebo Le Nkosi
Maake MM, Beukes CW, van der Nest MA, Avontuur JR, Muema EK, Stepkowski T, Venter SN, Steenkamp ET. (2025) Argyrolobium legumes from an African centre of endemism associate with novel Bradyrhizobium species harbouring unique sets of symbiosis genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108471