Johannie Maria Spaan
Johannie Maria Spaan | |
|---|---|
| Born | South Africa |
| Alma mater | Tshwane University of Technology; University of Pretoria; Oregon State University |
| Occupation | Wildlife biologist |
| Known for | Infection research involving the Cape Buffalo |
| Notable work | PhD thesis: Stress Physiology in Free-ranging Female African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer): Environmental Drivers, and Immunological and Infection Consequences |
| Awards | L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science fellowship |
Johannie Maria Spaan is a wildlife biologist from South Africa with a focus on infection research involving the Cape Buffalo.
Her academic background includes studies in zoology and ecology at Tshwane University of Technology, where she initially investigated the behavior of Cape ground squirrels. She pursued further education at the University of Pretoria before gaining admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University in the United States. There, she earned her PhD by researching treatments for parasitic worms in African buffalo and examining their effects on human health. Spaan was honored as one of fifteen recipients of an international fellowship granted by the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science to advance her scientific work.
Work
Spaan completed her B.Tech degree in Nature Conservation at Tshwane University of Technology in 2005. Following this, she served as a Research Technician studying Cape Ground Squirrels through a collaboration between Florida University and the University of Pretoria until early 2006. Subsequently, she took on roles as both researcher and game range manager at Entabeni Private Game Reserve located in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, holding this position until 2008. Between 2008 and 2012, she was involved as a research assistant with the TB Buffalo Project at Kruger National Park, working alongside Oregon State University and the University of Georgia.
In 2012, Spaan commenced her doctoral studies in Zoology at Oregon State University, culminating in 2018 with a thesis entitled Stress Physiology in Free-ranging Female African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer): Environmental Drivers, and Immunological and Infection Consequences.