Division of Molecular Biology & Human Genetics

Animal TB Research Group

OUR TEAM

STAFF

Prof Michele Miller

Head of Animal TB

miller@sun.ac.za

Michele is trained as a veterinary immunologist and veterinarian as well as having a Masters in Public Health, and is a specialist in the European College of Zoological Medicine. She has worked as a clinical veterinarian at several large U.S. zoos and as a conservation medicine researcher. Prof Miller holds the NRF SARChI Chair in Animal Tuberculosis, and her current research focus is the immunology, epidemiology, management and control of tuberculosis in animals and those aspects that impact the human-animal interface, using a One Health approach.

Prof Wynand Goosen

Lead: One Health, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State

Extraordinary Professor, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University

wjgoosen@sun.ac.za

Wynand is dedicated to unravelling the complexities of various zoonotic pathogens. His work involves a multidisciplinary approach to understanding disease transmission dynamics between livestock, wildlife, and humans and improving surveillance efforts to identify and respond to outbreaks. By studying the interfaces at which these three groups intersect, he is working towards identifying effective interventions that can prevent or break transmission. Ultimately, he aims to reduce the burden of infectious diseases on human and animal populations and mitigate the economic and social impacts of the disease.

Dr Tanya Kerr

Research Study Coordinator

tjkerr@sun.ac.za

Tanya is a conservation ecologist by training (PhD Conservation Ecology, Stellenbosch University) with a specific research interest in wildlife infectious diseases including animal tuberculosis in various wildlife species, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in lions, leopards and cheetah, as well as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) in African elephants. Dr Kerr joined the Animal TB Research Group in 2017 as a Postdoctoral Researcher before becoming a Research Study Coordinator in 2023. In her spare time, Tanya is a competitive show jumper and a member of the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).

Sinomotfo Intimate Shongwe

Veterinary Research Assistant

ishongwe@sun.ac.za

Intimate grew up in Nelspruit and completed her National Diploma (2022), Advanced Diploma (2023), and Postgraduate Diploma (2024) in Nature Conservation at the University of Mpumalanga completing her practical components as a member of the SANParks' Veterinary Wildlife Services (VWS) Department. Intimate is currently enrolled for an MSc in Nature Conservation at the University of Mpumalanga as well as working as a Veterinary Research Assistant for Stellenbosch University's Animal TB Research Group, based at VWS in Kruger National Park.

Monique von Molendorff

Research Assistant

mvonmolendorff@sun.ac.za

Monique joined the Animal TB Research Group in 2025 as a Research Assistant. Monique recently completed an MSc in Molecular Biology, where her research focused on host-blood transcriptomic biomarkers for diagnosing TB and paediatric TB meningitis (TBM). Dedicated to molecular research, Monique is highly detail-oriented and driven to advance TB diagnostics through her work.

RESEARCH FELLOWS

Dr Giovanni Ghielmetti

Research Fellow

gghielmetti@sun.ac.za

Giovanni is a research microbiologist and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. He has been involved in the monitoring and investigation of mycobacterial diseases at the Swiss National Reference Laboratory for Bovine Tuberculosis and he acquired knowledge of disease control and prevention, clinical management, and diagnostic possibilities. In March 2023 he joined the Animal TB Research Group at Stellenbosch University as a Research Fellow. His veterinary background and expertise in bioinformatics, including next-generation sequencing, data analysis, and data visualization will hopefully contribute to a better understanding of multi-host tuberculosis transmission and spatio-temporal dynamics. Giovanni enjoys snowboarding, playing floorball, and spending time with his family.

Dr Carmel Witte

Research Fellow

cwitte@sun.ac.za

Carmel is a conservationist, wildlife epidemiologist, and public health professional who conducts epidemiology research at the intersection of human and animal health. She has a PhD in Public Health with a concentration in epidemiology from the University of California, San Diego. Carmel joined the Animal TB Research group in 2021; she has a concurrent appointment with the Center for Wildlife Studies (Maine, U.S.A.) and has several years of experience leading a zoo-based epidemiology program. She has expertise in the epidemiology of mycobacterial diseases of animals, statistical modelling, spatial analysis, and social network analysis.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS

Dr Megan Matthews

Postdoctoral Researcher

megandutoit@sun.ac.za

Megan is a molecular biologist with a keen interest in pathogen diagnostics. She completed a BSc and an honors degree in Microbiology at Stellenbosch University. She then went onto complete a MSc and PhD in Agriscience. Her PhD focused on investigating the genetic diversity and novel diagnostics of the fungal pathogen Foc TR4. She joined the Animal TB Research Group in 2023 as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on TB in wildlife and domestic livestock as well as the detection of environmental Mycobacteria. She loves nature, animals, and the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and two cat babies.

Dr Rachiel Gumbo

Postdoctoral Researcher

rachy@sun.ac.za

Rachiel graduated with a BSc Honours in Biological Sciences from Midlands State University in Zimbabwe where she majored in Genetics and Industrial Microbiology. She went on to work, first as a lab assistant at Hwange Colliery Hospital Laboratory (Zimbabwe) and then as a teacher, before joining the Animal TB Research Group in 2019 as an honours student and went on to complete her PhD in Molecular Biology in 2023. Rachiel's research focuses on identifying host and pathogen biomarkers that can be used to detect M. bovis infection in African lions, cheetahs, and leopards in bovine TB-endemic populations.

DOCTORAL STUDENTS

Stacey Engel

PhD candidate

engels@sun.ac.za

Stacey graduated with a BSc Honours and MSc in Molecular Biology, before joining the Animal TB Research Group in 2023 as a PhD Student. Stacey's project aims to better understand the immune response of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) using a transcriptomic approach which may then further be applied in disease-specific conditions to better understand the immune response to diseases such as TB or EEHV in African elephants and fill the gaps noted in literature.