Department of Genetics

Marine Conservation (Shark & Ray)

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Marine Conservation (Shark & Ray)
AIM & MISSION

The Shark and Ray Research Group is currently collaborating with various governmental and wildlife conservation-based organizations on the application of genetic and genomic tools for enhanced fisheries management, monitoring and conservation. The group also contributes to marine conservation and fisheries management in Africa through education, research, community interaction, business development and services. Postgraduate students and early-career researchers are given an equal opportunity to be trained in the basic and more advanced fields of genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and integrated ecosystem modelling with application to biodiversity conservation and management.

Follow these links for our main publications
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MEET OUR
Principal Investigator
Prof. Aletta Bester-van der Merwe
Laboratory: marine conservation (SHARK and RAY)
Email: aeb@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Post-doctoral
Dr Juliana Klein
Laboratory: Shark and Ray Genetics
Host: Aletta Bester-van der Merwe
Email: jdklein@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Dr Michaela van Staden
Laboratory: Shark and Ray Genetics
Host: Aletta Bester-van der Merwe
Email: 17665299@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Technical Officer
Mr. Sihle Mthethwa
Laboratory:
Email: sihlemthethwa@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Current Students

PhD

  • Mia Groeneveld (PhD)
  • Jessica Winn (PhD)
  • Maëva Grondin (PhD, Reunion)
  • George Brett (PhD, UP)

MSc

  • Nicholas Clemo (M.Sc)
  • Joané van Dyk (M.Sc)
  • Meagan Classen (M.Sc)
Past Students

PhD

  • Sihle Mthethwa (2025)
  • Michaela van Staden (2023)
  • Kelvin Hull (2023)
  • Zama Mbulawa (2021)Juliana Klein (2019)
  • Simo Maduna (2017)
  • Daphne Bitalo (2016)
  • Belinda Swart (2015)
  • Lise Sandenbergh (2015)
  • Clint Rhode (2013)

 MSc

  • Karla Redelinghuys (2025)
  • Emma Hubble (2023)
  • Lilani Hoffmann (2021)
  • Mmanaha Letuka (2021)
  • Tamaryn Asbury (2019)
  • Kelvin Hull (2018)
  • Michaela van Staden (2018)
  • Gibbs Kuguru (2017)
  • Rozane Badenhorst (2017)
  • Charnè Rossouw (2015)
  • Simo Maduna (2014)
  • Jana du Plessis (2012)
  • Sonja Nel (2012)

Honors

  • Joané van Dyk (2025)
  • Meagan Classen (2025)
  • Reece Roberts (2024)
  • Kasmika Perumal (2024)
  • Nicholas Clemo (2023)
  • Nika Bester (2022)
  • Liza Hugo (2022)
  • Karla Redelinghuys (2022)
  • Dylan Grobler (2021)
  • Mia Groeneveld (2021)
  • Jessica Winn (2021)
  • Jordan Rumbelow (2020)
  • Aidan Price (2020)
  • Emma Hubble (2019)
  • Simone Hotarek (2018)
  • Cristina Heywood (2018)
  • Tamaryn Asbury (2017)
  • Katherine Hughes (2017)
  • Michaela van Staden, (2016)
  • Kelvin Hull (2016)
  • Jody Bell (2015)
  • Danielle Robbertze (2014)
  • Juanita Schoeman (2014)
  • Charnè Rossouw (2013)
  • Malira Masoabi (2013)
  • Shaun Lesch (2013)
  • Marione Niemandt (2013)
  • Simo Maduna (2012)
SEE OUR
Gallery, projects, staff and students
MEET OUR
Funders & research partners
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