My interest in the field of Genetics began when I did a BSc in Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology at the University of Pretoria. This encouraged me to pursue a BSc(Hons) degree in Genetics at the same institution. It was at this point that I began working on African horse sickness virus (AHSV). My project at the time focused on viral protein 7, a protein that I was able to investigate further at MSc level. I am currently a PhD student at the University of Pretoria, with a focus on AHSV  non-structural protein 4. I am currently investigating its role in virulence as well as its effect on the host immune response.