Linda Bester serves as the Deputy Chair of the Animal Research Ethics Committee at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is employed full-time at the Biomedical Resource Unit, which is a laboratory animal facility located on the Westville campus. In 2023, she received an NRF rating of C2 and collaborated as a member of the Africa CDC Pathogen Genomic Initiative (PGI) Foodborne Disease Resistance Genomic Surveillance Focus Group, endorsed by the African Union, tackling pressing diarrheal health issues across the continent. In 2024, she participated as a panel member in the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) international grant reviews. Her research interests include foodborne bacteria, zoonosis, and the dissemination of bacteria within specific ecological systems. Linda has supervised and co-supervised several PhD and MSc students. Her research foundation is rooted in antibiotic resistance surveillance in bacteria from food animals, and it has expanded to focus on the spread of bacteria within certain ecological environments. Additionally, her professional background has cultivated a strong interest in laboratory diagnostic tools and protocols.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5726-681X
Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/I-3625-2019
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=zFhWY7kAAAAJ