Hester G O’Neill joined the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the UFS in 2012. Her research focuses on the development of a low-cost rotavirus vaccine for use in Africa following a subunit vaccine approach as well as the generation of recombinant rotaviruses through reverse genetics. Investigations also include rotavirus–host interactions, specifically the role of lipids during rotavirus infection and strain diversity in both humans and animals. She is a founding member and chair of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ARNTD), an African-based network aimed at empowering current and future African researchers to support evidence-based control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases.