WELCOME TO
Insect and Fungi
AIM & MISSION
Exploring the biodiversity of insects in a changing world.
We aim to research, discover and document insect and fungal biodiversity for advancing conservation and management of edible wild species, and control of agricultural pests and invasive organisms, and development of biodegradable mycelium-based products.
Follow these links for our main publications
MEET OUR
Principal Investigator
Technical Officer
Mr. Sinjon Heitmann
Laboratory: Animal Production and Improvement, Insect and Fungi
Email: sinjon@sun.ac.za
Students
PhD
- Chante Powell (PhD 2025-present)
- Dikobe Molepo (PhD 2020-present)
- Zwannda Nethavhani (PhD 2020-2023)
- Inusa Ajene (PhD 2018-2020)
MSc
- Kristen Basson (MSc 2025-present)
- Sunthuri Rajaruthnam (MSc 2023-2024)
- Ethan McCrorie (MSc 2023-2024)
- Rieze Straeuli (MSc 2020-2022)
- Palesa Mabooei (MSc 2020-2021)
- Vaylen Hlaka(MSc 2020-2021)
- Chante Powell (MSc 2018-2019)
Honors
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- Toni November (Hons 2024)
- Katey Momberg (Hons 2024)
- Sunthuri Rajaruthnam (Hons 2023)
- Kristen Basson (Hons 2023)
- Emma Neethling (Hons 2022)
- Erin Kinghorn (Hons 2022)
- Jessica Espinoza (Hons 2022)
11 more students
- Tiffany Clinton (Hons 2022)
- Inès Marais (Hons 2021)
- Michaela O’Hare (Hons 2021)
- Kayla Tromp (Hons 2021)
- Kayleigh Hiscock (Hons 2020)
- Meg Hendrickse (Hons 2020)
- Jethro Langley (Hons 2019)
- Alex Dijkerman (Hons 2018)
- Ryan Kennedy (Hons 2017)
- Chante Powell (Hons 2017)
- Emma Cook (Hons 2017)
SEE OUR
Gallery, projects, staff and students
Edible insects, pests and biodiversity
Edible insects, pests and biodiversity
Mushworks research on mushrooms and mycelium
MEET OUR
Funders & research partners
