Dr. Marcela Espinaze has been selected by the journal Parasitology of Cambridge University Press, for the Early Career Research Awards 2020.

The winning paper entitled, Parasite diversity associated with African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and the effect of host and environmental factors, formed part of her PhD project under supervision of Prof Sonja Matthee (Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology), Prof Cang Hui (Department of Mathematical Sciences) and Dr Lauren Waller (Cape Nature at that time). The same paper was also recognised as the Paper of the Month by the journal in March 2019.

The study behind this award was the first of its kind which has recorded the parasites both in and on African penguins from five colonies. The study showed that parasites were particularly infesting chicks in high-density mainland colonies during spring. It was considered a valuable contribution to penguin colony management and conservation.

Marcela obtained her PhD in Conservation Ecology at SU in 2019, her MSc in Conservation Biology at UCT. She also has a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Austral University of Chile, and worked as a conservation project coordinator in Patagonia before coming to South Africa.