Fellowships

The Senior Clinical Research Fellowships are targeted to prepare a candidate for a clinical academic career with subspecialty training in the respective field. Objectives of the fellowship include gaining medical, surgical and research experience.  Teaching medical students and supervision of registrars is a key element of the fellowship.  These are fully-funded positions. Most fellowships are for a 12-month period, though occasionally we have fellowships for 15 to 18 months.

Normally the Department of Ophthalmology offers the following senior fellowship positions depending on the availability of research funds. Senior Clinical Research Fellowship sub-specialties include Cornea and External Eye Diseases, Glaucoma, Uveitis, Medical Retina, Vitreo Retina, Paediatric Ophthalmology and Oculoplastics. 

The Pre-Vocational Clinical Research Fellowships are targeted for junior doctors pursuing a career in Ophthalmology. These are fully-funded fellowships for a period of one year.  Depending on the availability of research funds fellowships are the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Fellowship in Cornea and Anterior Segment, Fellowship in Cornea and Crosslinking, Medical Retina and Neuro-ophthalmology.

The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand have openings for the following Senior Clinical Research Fellowships: (1.0 FTE / 40 hours per week).

1. Medical Retina (August 2026 - July 2027)
2. Uveitis (July 2026 - June 2027)
   Possibility of 1 or 2 positions subject to availability of research funds
3. Cornea and Anterior Segment (February 2027 - January 2028)
4. Paediatric Ophthalmology (August 2026 - July 2027)
5. Oculoplastics (September 2026 - August 2027)
   Supervisor Dr Richard Hart
6. Oculoplastics (January 2027 – January 2028)
   Supervisor Dr Brian Sloan

Applications to be emailed to Azree Uduman by Thursday, 31 July 2025. Incomplete applications or applications with several attachments will be automatically rejected.

The fellowships are fully funded. Interested candidates should email their complete application as one single PDF which must include:

• Cover letter specifying reasons for applying and plans post-fellowship
• Up-to-date CV in chronological order
• 1-2 page summary of surgical log
• Copy of IELTS or OET results, if applicable (check minimum score criteria on Medical Council website).

The Department of Ophthalmology, Aotearoa New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland offers the following vacancies: One Year Pre-vocational Clinical Research Fellowships in Ophthalmology (Approx. 50:50 Clinical/Research).

1. Maurice and Phyllis Paykel fellowship in cornea and anterior segment (0.8 FTE or thereabouts depending on funding **)
2. Crosslinking and anterior segment clinical research fellowship (0.8 FTE **)
3. Medical Retina clinical research fellowship (1.0FTE)
4. Neuro-ophthalmology clinical research fellowship – 1.0FTE

** Additional clinical duties are typically available 0.2FTE

We anticipate the start date for these clinical research posts will be 1st February 2026.

These positions are open to junior medical staff with a medical qualification registrable in New Zealand who have an interest in pursuing ophthalmology as a career. The positions have a 50:50 to 70:30 clinical:clinical research composition depending on candidate experience and research project involvement.

A draft copy of the position description is below. Also below are tentative timetables for the pre-vocational fellowships. These are indicative only and timetables are likely to change to accommodate research and clinical duties.

We anticipate that interviews will be held on Friday 25 July 2025 and will confirm final details closer to the time.

If you are interested in one or all of these posts please submit an up-to-date CV with a cover letter by email to Azree Uduman at sithi.azree.uduman@auckland.ac.nz

Please rank your preference, if you have any, for the 4 fellowships. The last date for receiving applications is Monday 7 July 2025.

Previous fellowship candidates have written reports of their time here in Auckland: