SAIAB’s research team focuses on the full spectrum of aquatic environments, from marine offshore to continental freshwater catchments. Research covers ecology and conservation biology that links biodiversity at molecular and organism levels with the environment and with genetic and species diversity. See SAIAB’s research team profiles below.
Prof. Albert Chakona
Chief Scientist
Ecology, phylogeography, historical biogeography, systematics and conservation.
Prof. Francesca Porri
Senior Scientist
Coastal systems; marine biology; organismal and population ecology; ecological engineering.
Dr Gwynneth Matcher
Aquatics Genomics Research Platform (AGRP) Instrument Scientist
Molecular ecology, genomics, and environmental DNA (eDNA).
Prof. Julie Coetzee
Principal Scientist: DSI/NRF SARChI Tier 1 Chair
Biological Control and Freshwater Alien Invasive Species Management.
Dr Anthony Bernard
Marine Remote Imagery Platform (MARIP) Instrument Scientist
National assessment of South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Roger Bills
Senior Curator
Conservation genetics and management of threatened freshwater fishes.
Prof. Nikki James
Senior Scientist
Estuarine and coastal fish research; global change and impacts on estuarine and coastal systems.
Dr Taryn Murray
Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP) Instrument Scientist
Movement ecology and distribution patterns of aquatic animals.
Dr Mandla Magoro
Instrument Scientist Freshwater Field Ecologist
Freshwater ecology, estuarine ecology and small-scale fisheries.
Dr Lubabalo Mofu
Instrument Scientist Freshwater Field and Lab Ecologist
Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology and stable isotopes, and experimental biology.
Dr Carla Edworthy
Postdoctoral Researcher
Monitoring coastal climate change scenarios, the eco-physiological & behavioural responses of coastal species.
Dr Pedro Braganca
Postdoctoral Researcher
Integrative taxonomy and Biogeography of African freshwater fishes.
Dr Chantel Elston
Postdoctoral Researcher
The distribution patterns and spatial ecology of selected batoids along the South African coastline.
Dr Lizaan De Necker
Postdoctoral Researcher
Freshwater ecology and biodiversity in southern Africa in the face of climate change.
Dr Ross-Lynne Gibb
Postdoctoral Researcher
Monitoring the features, drivers and consequences of harmful algal blooms.
Dr Fortunate Phaka
Postdoctoral Researcher
Frogs, reptiles and their related cultural practices in South Africa.
Dr Phakama Nodo
Postdoctoral Researcher
Quantifying nursery role of shallow-water subtidal habitats using remote underwater video.
Dr Kerry-Ann var der Walt
Postdoctoral Researcher
Evaluating the thermal physiology on early life stages of fish and invertebrates.
Dr Nokubonga Mbandzi
Postdoctoral Researcher
Understanding how aquatic organisms interact with their environments.
Dr Yonela Sithole
Postdoctoral Researcher
Integrative taxonomy (morphology, osteology, and genetics) of marine and freshwater fishes
Dr Rebecca Welch
Postdoctoral Researcher
Non-lethal effects of predators and how these effects vary across habitat and ”landscape” types.
Dr Phumza Ndaleni
Postdoctoral Researcher
Quantifying fish trophic interactions and community structures
Dr Marliese Truter
Postdoctoral Researcher
Biodiversity inventory of the undiscovered freshwater fish parasites biodiversity in southern Africa.
Ofer Gon
Curator Emeritus and Honorary Research Associate
Marine fish systematics, Biology and ecology of marine fishes, and History of ichthyology in South Africa
Wouter Holleman
Honorary Research Associate
Systematics of Tripterygiidae and Clinidae Coral reef conservation and Science Education
Prof Paul Skelton
Honorary Research Associate & Emeritus Managing Director
Systematics and biogeography of African freshwater fishes
Prof Alan Whitfield
Emeritus Chief Scientist & Honorary Research Associate
Estuarine ecology