Breyten van der Merwe is a South African doctoral researcher based at Stellenbosch University, working at the intersection of mycology and bioprospecting. His research focuses on the discovery, description, and characterization of novel indigenous fungi, with particular interest in their ecology and natural products.

His PhD research examines psychoactive mushrooms and plants, exploring their historical use and the therapeutic potential of their compounds in the treatment of PTSD and depressive disorders. More broadly, his work investigates the ecological, evolutionary, and cultural histories of psychoactive fungi, with a focus on African contexts that have historically been underrepresented in scientific literature.