Dr Athi Mfikili

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Faculty of Science; South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)

Email Address: an.mfikili@saeon.nrf.ac.za

Research Interest(s): Coastal sedimentology; Paleotsunami deposits; Coastal vegetation; Blue carbon sequestration; Marine paleontology (foraminifera)

Description of Research: Dr Mfikili's research interest include amongst others coastal sedimentation, extreme marine wave event (tsunami and storms surge) deposits, marine micropalaeontology (foraminifera) and blue carbon stock assessments. Currently, Dr Mfikili's post-doctoral research investigates blue carbon sequestration and storage of coastal vegetated wetland ecosystems mainly on temperate salt marshes of South African coast.


Dr Carla Dodd

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Geosciences; DSI/NRF Research Chair: Shallow Water Ecosystems

Email Address: s214067718@mandela.ac.za

Research Interest(s): Dr Dodd's research focuses on ecohydrology, specifically related to groundwater quality and the impact of natural and anthropogenic drivers on groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Her work primarily investigates whether coastal springs associated with microbialites can be used as sentinel groundwater monitoring points.


Dr Diane Le Gouvello

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Zoology

Email Address: diane.legouvello@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Conservation Biology; Beach Ecosystems

Description of Research: Dr Le Gouvello's research focuses on sea turtle fitness, sandy beach ecology, and long-term environmental monitoring.


Dr kaylee Smit

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Department of Oceanography

Email Address: kayles.smit@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Marine ecology; reef ecosystems; ocean observations and monitoring; condition assessment

Description of Research: Dr Smit's research focuses on using remote imagery techniques to assess the status and trends of coral and rocky reef ecosystems. She uses baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) to track changes in demersal fish assemblages to inform management and sustainable development. This includes identifying structural and functional indicators for ecosystem assessments, with recent attention to improve knowledge mobilisation, by increasing the impact and use of stereo-BRUVs data for range of stakeholders.


Dr Manuela Amone-Mabuto

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Botany

Email Address: manuelaamone@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Seagrass ecology; mapping; restoration

Description of Research: Dr Amone-Mabuto works on the dynamics of seagrass ecosystems, investigating factors such as species diversity, habitat suitability, benthic macroinvertebrates and ecological interactions. She uses drone imagery for high-resolution mapping of seagrass ecosystems; and experimental trials to evaluate the effectiveness of different restoration methods in improving seagrass recovery and ecosystem function.


Dr Mia Strand

Affiliation: Ocean Nexus Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Development Studies

Email Address: mia.strand@mandela.ac.za

Research Interest(s): Ocean equity, participatory; arts-based research; marine cultural heritage; ocean literacies

Description of Research: Dr Strand's reserearch focuses on how to ensure ocean governance processes, such as marine spatial planning and marine protected areas, can become more equitable and participatory. Working together with communities and youth as co-researchers, she explores how to better highlight socio-cultural dimensions of ocean connections for more caring relationships with the ocean.


Dr Minke Tolsma

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Oceanography

Email Address: minke.witteveen@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Conservation; Human-wildlife Interactions; Anthropogenic Impacts; Marine and Freshwater Ecology

Description of Research: Dr Witteveen's research focuses on the ecological functioning of Groenvlei, a paleo-coastal limnetic wetland. Her research will determine the present ecological state of Groenvlei, and how effective current control of the invasive common carp is, and how carp control affects water quality and phytoplankton community composition.


Dr Monique Nunes

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Shallow Water Ecosystems Research Chair

Email Address: mnunes3712@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Estuaries; Water Quality; Ecological Monitoring

Description of Research: Dr Nunes' work focuses on estuarine ecology, water quality, and diatom autecology and taxonomy.


Dr Tegan Carpenter-Kling

Affiliation: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow – Department of Oceanography & Marine Spatial Planning Research Chair

Email Address: tegan.carpenterkling@gmail.com

Research Interest(s): Behavioural Ecology; Foraging; Animal Tracking; Habitat Selection; Stable Isotopes; Trophic Ecology

Description of Research: Dr Carpenter-Kling's research investigates general seabird ecology, with expertise on how marine top predators utilise the ocean.