Postdoctoral Fellows

Sasha Dines - PhD (2026-2027, University of Cape Town): Acoustic Behaviour, Population Structure and Ecological Interactions of Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Southern Africa

Rachel Probert – PhD (2024–2025, University of Cape Town): Behavioural indicators of rabies in Cape fur seals. Implications for welfare, detection and management.

Rachel Probert – PhD (2024–2025, University of Stellenbosch): Acoustic and diving behaviour of foraging humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding in supergroups on the west coast of South Africa.

Bridget James – PhD (2024–2025, University of Cape Town): Update and centralisation of the national catalogue of humpback dolphins and assessment of online portals and automated tools.

Guilherme Frainer – PhD (2021–2023, University of Cape Town): Developing automated classifiers for dolphin vocalisations around southern Africa.

Keshni Gopal – PhD (2017–2018, University of Pretoria): Review of cetacean tissue samples available for research in Namibia and South Africa, followed by a fellowship based at the Iziko SA Museum as a SANBI FBIP postdoctoral fellow conducting a thorough review and assessment of marine mammal tissues at the museums.

Els Vermeulen – PhD (2016–2017, University of Pretoria): Developing a national assessment of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphins.

PhD (Ongoing)

Aaron Barnes – PhD (2024–2026, Stellenbosch University): Ecology and population structure of killer whales around South Africa and the SW Indian Ocean.

Jack Fearey – MSc upgraded to PhD (2019–2026, University of Cape Town): Investigating the use of individually unique signature whistles for mark-recapture of bottlenose dolphins in Namibia. Supervisors: T. Gridley, S. Elwen.

Erin Ross-Marsh – PhD (2022–present, University of Stellenbosch): Song development and exchange of humpback whales around southern Africa. Supervisors: T. Gridley, E. Garland, T. Robinson-Smyth.

PhD (Completed)

Sasha Dines – PhD (2019–2024, Stellenbosch University): Using novel acoustic methodology to inform conservation actions for South Africa's most endangered dolphin: the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Supervisors: T. Gridley, J. Measey, S. Elwen.

Rachel Probert – MSc upgraded to PhD (2019–2023, submitted, University of KwaZulu-Natal): Acoustic behaviour of wild and captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Tursiops aduncus, T. truncatus x T. aduncus hybrids). Supervisors: T. Gridley, A. Bastian (UKZN).

Bridget James – PhD (2019–2021, Stellenbosch University): Investigating the role of genetic relatedness on residency and community structure in a small population of bottlenose dolphins under pressure. Supervisors: S. Elwen, T. Gridley, Prof. C. Matthee.

Mathilde Martin – PhD (2020–2023, University of Paris-Saclay): Vocal behaviour in Cape fur seals. Supervisors: Dr Isabelle Charrier, Dr Tess Gridley.

Morgan Martin – PhD (2015–2019, University of Pretoria): Acoustic behaviour of Heaviside's dolphins. Supervisors: S. Elwen, Dr T. Gridley.

Katja Vinding-Petersen – PhD (2012–2014, University of Pretoria): Distribution and habitat use patterns of cetaceans in the Dyer Island area – investigating natural and human influences. Supervisors: Dr S. Elwen, Prof. M.N. Bester.

MSc (Ongoing)

Lindiwe Makapela – MSc (2024–2026, University of Stellenbosch): Understanding killer whale depredation on longline fisheries in South Africa.

MSc (Completed)

Charlotte Spanjaard (Nee Combrink) - MSc (2024-2025, Stellenbosch University): Genomic structure, connectivity and demographic history of the Brown Fur seal

Priskilla (Pewah) Nghaangulwa – MSc (2022–2023, University of Namibia): Investigating spatio-temporal patterns of dolphin presence in Walvis Bay using long-term acoustic monitoring.

Maguina Romala-Henriques – MSc short project (2021, University of Cape Town): Entanglement rates in Cape fur seals around South Africa.

Shireen Bhalla – MSc short project (2020, University of Oxford, UK): Soundscapes of False Bay, South Africa.

Lauren Peach – MSc short project (2019, University of York, UK): Trends in cetacean strandings in Namibia, 2008–2018.

Monique Laubscher – MSc (2016–2018, University of Pretoria): Environmental factors affecting cetacean habitat use in the Western Cape.

Tevya Lotriet – MSc (2016–2018, University of Pretoria): Mapping cetacean distribution using citizen science in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Magali Combes – MSc (2017, University of Montpellier): Ecological drivers of habitat use in Heaviside's dolphins using passive acoustic recorders.

Pauline Glotin (deRock) – MSc coursework (2016, University of Pierre & Marie Curie): Investigating the occurrence and distribution of cetaceans in coastal and offshore Namibia in relation to oceanographic variables.

Etienne Pouplard – MSc (2015, Université de Bretagne Occidentale): Social network analysis of a small, closed population of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Namibia.

Dave Levy – MSc (2015, University of Cape Town): The environmental factors determining temporal distributions of cetaceans in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

Adam St Claire-Hughes – MSc (2015, University of Cape Town): Investigation of population abundance, distribution and population linkage of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) on the North and South Zanzibar. Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley.

Gemma Rashley – MSc (2015, University of Cape Town): Investigating the potential for individually distinctive signature whistles to be used in mark-recapture of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley.

Sara Golaski – MSc (2013–2014, University of Pretoria): Population ecology of Heaviside's dolphins in Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof. M.N. Bester.

Monica Betts – MSc (2013–2014, University of Pretoria): Investigating the use of echolocation click detectors to monitor sympatric Indo-Pacific bottlenose and humpback dolphins. Co-supervised with Prof. M.N. Bester.

Xela Indurkhya – MSc (2012, University of Osnabrück): Impacts of tour boats on the behaviour of common bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof. G. Vallortigara (University of Trento, Italy) and Prof. F. Jäkel (University of Osnabrück, Germany).

Bridget James – MSc (2011–2012, University of Pretoria): Habitat use of coastal delphinids in the Mossel Bay area – natural and human impacts. Co-supervised with Prof. M.N. Bester.

Fourth Year / Honours Projects

Alana Theron – Honours project (2026, Stellenbosch University): Assessing the residency and numbers of Heaviside's dolphins using a citizen science photo-ID platform (HappyWhale).

Daniella Faile – Honours project (2026, Stellenbosch University): Visual health assessment of Heaviside's dolphins across their range using photographs. Supervised by Rachel Probert and Simon Elwen.

Elzeth Dippenaar – Honours project (2025, Stellenbosch University): Updating the abundance estimates of Heaviside's dolphins in Namibia and testing online AI matching tools (HappyWhale).

Bianca Pretorius – Honours project (2025, Stellenbosch University): Assessment of existing AI tools (BirdNET) to detect and classify dolphin whistles.

Archigail Galland – Fourth Year (University of Namibia): Spatial variation in the diet of Cape fur seal using photographs of surface feeding.

Stefan De Hoop – Fourth Year (HAS University of Applied Sciences): Various smaller projects on Geo-Media and Design.

Coen Soeteman – Fourth Year (HAS University of Applied Sciences): Various smaller projects on Geo-Media and Design.

Rebecca Hannen – Fourth Year (2019, University of Tromsø): Behavioural observations on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in feeding super-groups using underwater video recordings.

Agnes Torres Ramis – Fourth Year (2017–2018, University of Central Catalunya, Spain): Impacts of boats on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia (ongoing).

Anni Jylhä-Vuorio – Fourth Year (2016–2017, University of Stirling, Scotland): Spatial variation in the surface behaviour of bottlenose dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Rachel Probert – Honours (2016, University of KwaZulu-Natal): Abundance of Heaviside's dolphins in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Jeffrey Slater – BTech Honours (2015, Cape Peninsula University of Technology): Acoustic characteristics and detectability of Heaviside's dolphins. Co-supervised with Dr Tess Gridley.

Kate du Toit – Honours (2011, University of Pretoria): Prevalence of skin disease and ecto-parasites in bottlenose dolphins around southern Africa.

Lauren Snyman – Honours (2009, University of Pretoria): Individual variation in bottlenose dolphin ranges in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Implications for managing restricted areas.

J. Shihepo – Honours (2010, University of Namibia): Abundance of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

D. Dos Santos – Honours (2009, University of Pretoria): Developing a photo-ID catalogue of bottlenose dolphins in Durban Bay.