Maureen Taylor

Prof Taylor read for the degrees of BSc (Zoology & Microbiology)(1972), BSc (Hons) (Microbiology)(1973) and MSc (Microbiology)(1976) at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. She then worked as a Research Officer, specialising in the bacteriology of meat and meat products, and later yeast taxonomy, at the Food Research Institute of the CSIR. In November 1980 she joined the Virology Section of the Department of Medical Microbiology, later the Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria as a Professional Officer. Here she obtained her DSc (Microbiology)(1985), specialising in the propagation and detection of hepatitis A virus. In 1987 she was appointed as a senior lecturer in the Department, with promotion to Associate Professor (Ad hominem) in 2000, and Professor (Ad hominem) in 2013. She currently holds the position of Rand Water Chair in Public Health. Her research focuses on the prevalence, detection, characterisation and molecular epidemiology of enteric viruses, especially those that are potentially food- and waterborne. Prof Taylor is the author or co-author of over 60 publications and. she has been invited to examine the MSc dissertations and PhD theses from a number of national and international tertiary institutions.