Resident Staff

Research

Rolf Becker

Executive Director

rb@orc.eco

Euphorbia, succulent plants, CAM photosynthesis, microbial ecology, dryland ecology

William Versfeld

Chief Technician

wv@orc.eco

Curation, entomology, landscape genetics, research methods

Frowin Becker

Scientist & Liaison Officer

fb@orc.eco

Acoustic monitoring, birds, ecological changes

Stéphanie Périquet

Wildlife Ecology Scientist

sp@orc.eco

Spatial and behavioural ecology, carnivores, landscapes of fear, species interactions, camera trapping

Support

Fillipus Manase

Maintenance Supervisor

Hileni Mupopiwa

Campus & Hospitality Co-ordinator

Elizabeth Shangano

Administrative Co-ordinator

Alfeus Tuhafeni Albertu

General Assistant

Simeon Naholo

Technician

Gabriel Uusiku

Field Technician

Resident staff

Research Fellows

Vera de Cauwer

Since 2023

Associate Scientist

Namibia University of Science and Technology

Plant ecology, forestry, spatial modelling, natural resources management

John Mendelshon

Since 2022

Former Executive Director

Personal capacity

Behavioural ecology, river systems and rural livelihoods

Dipanjan Naha

2021-2024

Associate Scientist

University of Georgia SREL, USA

Human-wildlife conflict, conservation, risk mapping, spatial ecology

Theo Wassenaar

Since 2023

Associate Scientist

Namibia University of Science and Technology

Ecology, restoration, land degradation, ecophysiology, rangeland ecology

Ken Stratford

Since 2003

Founder & Former Director

Personal capacity

Genetics, camera trapping, mathematical modelling, simulation

Jeff Muntifering

2021

Visiting Researcher

Save The Rhino Trust

Rhinos, conservation biology

Heather Troop

Since 2023

Associate Scientist

Arizona State University, USA

Ecosystem ecology, carbon and nutrient cycling, soil ecology, climate change, dryland ecosystem management

Rebecca Dannock

2022-2023

Visiting Researcher

University of Queensland

Animal behaviour, human-wildlife conflict, long-term datasets

Research Fellows

Associates

Cornelis van der Waal

Agri-Ecological Services

Rangeland management, vegetation ecology

Ongava Game Reserve

Conservation & tourism

The Walter Family

Conservation

Kenneth /Uiseb

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Conservation & wildlife management

Barbara van Asch

Stellenbosch University

Genetics, edible insects

James Beasley

University of Georgia, SREL Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Carnivores, human-wildlife conflicts, anthropogenic effects on wildlife

Etosha Ecological Institute

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

Conservation & wildlife management

Ralph Kühn

Technische Universität München

Ecology, molecular biology, genetics

Martin Hipondoka

University of Namibia

Geography, history, environmental studies, tourism management

Associates

Students & Interns

Paulina Ferdinat

PhD

2023

Namibia University of Science & Technology

Plant physiology

Rhys Medcalfe

Intern

2023

University of Georgia, SREL, USA & ORC

Outreach

Joseph Ndjimba

MSc Student

2022-2024

Namibia University of Science & Technology, UGA & ORC

Human-Carnivores interactions in the periphery of Etosha National Park

Madeline Melton

MSc student

2022-2024

University of Georgia, SREL, USA & ORC

Carnivores in human landscapes

Tomás Antunes de Azevedo

Intern

2022

Integrated Veterinary Practice , Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama

Developing workflow of the Landscape genetics project.

Saskia Borger

Intern

2022

Technische Universität München, Germany

Laboratory Assistance

Menzo Toxopeus

Intern

2022

ORC

Various projects

Students

Board of Directors

Chris Brown

Namibia Chamber of Environment

Martin Hipondoka

University of Namibia

Tony Christopher

Ongava Game Reserve

John McFadden

Philadelphia, USA

Michelle Gadd

The Walter Family, USA

Directors