NRF Youth Month 2025: Dr Anja Erasmus

The NRF supports the growth of the next generation of researchers and scholars to sustain South Africa’s knowledge enterprise. June is Youth Month, and this year the NRF is celebrating the youth who are shaping tomorrow through research today. We thank all participants for sharing their stories with us.

Dr Anja Erasmus is a postdoctoral research Fellow at the Water Research Group, North-West University. She received funding from the NRF for her PhD studies.

How did your journey start?

Growing up, I never imagined I’d become a scientist working with marine parasites, but I’ve always been curious about marine biology. My journey started with a degree in Tourism, Zoology, and Geography at North-West University. I loved the idea of blending science with real-world impact, especially in conservation. That curiosity soon turned into a passion for environmental science, and I stayed at NWU for my Honours, Master’s, and PhD — each step bringing me closer to understanding how parasites can tell us powerful stories about the health of our oceans.

During my studies, I had the chance to travel and train in Japan (2016), Germany (2018, 2019, 2022) and Hong Kong (2019), where I learned cutting-edge lab techniques and saw how global science communities work together. My PhD focused on using a small South African fish species and its parasites to monitor pollution and combining ecology, toxicology, and parasitology in ways I never thought possible. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding, and it helped me realise how much I enjoy research, discovery, and sharing knowledge.

Today, I am a postdoctoral research Fellow — training students, publishing papers, and creating scientific illustrations to make complex science easier to understand. I’m passionate about showing that parasites aren’t just “gross”, they’re key to understanding ecosystems and protecting biodiversity.

I may not have planned this path from the start, but by staying curious and saying yes to opportunities, I’ve built a career that’s meaningful, creative, and full of discovery.

How has your affiliation with the NRF impacted your studies/career?

The NRF has played a major role in shaping my academic career. Through postgraduate funding support from the NRF, I was able to focus fully on my research without the financial stress many students face.

More recently, I’ve also been involved in NRF-funded projects like REFRESH, which focuses on building biodiversity databases for aquatic parasites. I was also nominated to work on a project on Fish Parasite Genomic and Evolutionary Exploration. These opportunities not only strengthen my technical skills but also allow me to collaborate with experts across South Africa and abroad.

On a personal level, it gives me the freedom to grow in confidence and leadership, especially now as I start to mentor the next generation of researchers.

What is your research focus/area of expertise?

I’m currently a postdoctoral research Fellow at NWU, specialising in marine parasitology and taxonomy, particularly fish-parasitic crustaceans such as gnathiid isopods, copepods and acanthocephalans. My research explores how parasites respond to environmental stressors like pollution, making them powerful tools for monitoring ecosystem health. I also work on describing parasite species and creating scientific illustrations for taxonomic publications. This combines fieldwork, lab analysis, creating GIS maps and creative communication, which makes every day exciting and different.

How is your research helping to shape a better future?

Parasites are often overlooked, but they play a vital role in ecosystems and can act as early warning indicators of environmental change.

My research helps uncover how these organisms respond to pollution, climate shifts, and biodiversity loss. By using parasites as bioindicators, we can better detect threats to marine ecosystems and take proactive conservation steps.

Ultimately, I hope my work contributes to healthier oceans, more informed environmental policies, and a greater appreciation for the hidden biodiversity that supports our planet.

Being a young researcher often means juggling numerous responsibilities and expectations. How do you stay motivated and/or balanced?

Staying balanced as a young researcher is definitely a challenge, especially when you’re juggling teaching, research, writing, and mentorship. For me, motivation comes from the thrill of discovery — finding a new parasite species or seeing a student succeed makes the hard work worth it. I also make time for creative outlets like microscopy, illustration and creating GIS maps, which help me unwind and stay inspired.  

What has been your proudest achievement to date?

One of my proudest achievements was being awarded the Senior Wilhelm O. Neitz Medal in 2023 for the best PhD thesis in parasitology in South Africa, and getting my scientific illustrations published in a 2025 open-access Springer book on Aquatic Parasitology.

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