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, Aotearoa New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand 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 **
2. Crosslinking and anterior segment clinical research fellowship **
3. Medical Retina clinical research fellowship - 1.0FTE
4. Neuro-ophthalmology clinical research fellowship – 1.0FTE
5. Uveitis/medical retina research fellow 1.0 FTE ***

**  0.8 to 1.0 FTE, depending on funding. However, additional clinical duties are typically available 0.2 FTE

*** Incorporates 0.5 clinical FTE working in medical retina and uveitis, and 0.5 FTE on a longitudinal research project examining the connection between zoster and dementia under the supervision of Assoc Prof Rachael Niederer.

We anticipate the start date for these clinical research posts to be 1 February 2027.

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 can be downloaded below. 

We anticipate interviews will be held on Friday, 24 July 2026, with final details to be confirmed 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 Sara (Yan) Wang at yan.wang@auckland.ac.nz . Please rank your preference, if you have any, for the 5 fellowships.

The closing date for receiving applications is Monday, 6th July 2026

The University of Auckland and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand have openings for the following Senior Clinical Research Fellowships:

1. Vitreo Retina #1 (Start date February 2027)
2. Vitreo Retina # 2 (Start date August 2027)
   
3. Medical Retina (Start date August 2027)
4. Uveitis #1 (Start date February 2027)
   
5. Uveitis #2 (Start date September 2027)
   
6. Paediatric Ophthalmology (Auckland District Health Board) (Start date August 2027)
7.  Paediatric Ophthalmology (Counties District Health Board) (Start date July 2027)
8. Oculoplastics (Start date September 2027)
9. Glaucoma (Start date March 2027)
10. Ocular Genetics (Start date February 2027)
11. Uveitis (start date September 2026). Applications close 24 April 2026

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 www.mcnz.org.nz

Incomplete applications or applications with several attachments will be automatically rejected.

Applications are to be emailed to Sara Wang by 15 June 2026. 

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