Nathan Le Cordeur

Nathan joined the research group in 2024. His research will focus on genomic characterization of Vitis champini cv. Ramsey and its susceptibility to Grapevine Leafroll Virus-3 (GLRaV-3). Prior to this, Nathan's journey into molecular biology began when he earned his Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in 2016, followed by his BSc Honors (2017) and MSc (2020) in Molecular Genetics at Stellenbosch University. During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, he was appointed as a Laboratory Technician at Patho Solutions, a plant pathology practice and research station. During his employment as the Molecular Lead, he was responsible for testing and optimizing molecular assays, such as nucleic acid extractions, RT-PCR, and qPCR, used for identifying bacteria-, phytoplasmas-, viroids-, virus-based pathogens like Grapevine Leafroll Viruses (GLRaV), among others. Nathan's passion for science stems from his love for exploring the great outdoors to satisfy his curious nature. This passion coexists with his dedication to personal growth, nurtured through his longstanding practice of Shorin-Ryu Seibukan karate-Do since the age of 12.