Ivy holds a BSc degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Hons, and MSc degrees in Molecular and Cell Biology and a Doctorate in Immunology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She spent some time as a Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow and later as Research Fellow Title 42, at the National Institutes of Health, USA, where she was in involved in neuroimmunology research characterising lymphocytes subsets that suppress or promote autoimmune encephalomyelitis or uveitis. She then embarked on work that focuses on immunology of fungal infections with AFG (Aberdeen, Scotland) and is currently with the MRCCMM (Exeter). Her research interests include understanding of molecular mechanisms that govern immunological memory during host-fungal interactions.