University applauds Celebrating Research Excellence Award winners

The University of Auckland has announced the recipients of its 2026 Celebrating Research Excellence Awards, recognising researchers whose work is delivering significant impact across science, engineering, health, the humanities,and society.

The awards honour achievements ranging from global thought leadership and technological innovation to community-focused research improving wellbeing and sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. They include the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best Doctoral Thesis.

Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Bloomfield congratulated this year’s awardees: “Our 2026 award winners exemplify the transformative power of research. Their work not only advances knowledge at the highest level nationally and internationally but also delivers real-world benefits for communities, industry, and policy. We are proud to celebrate their leadership, creativity and commitment to making a positive difference.”

The winners will be presented with their awards at the University’s Celebrating Research Excellence event on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The theme, Hīkina kia Tutuki: Rise to Meet the Challenge, reflects the spirit of determination, innovation and collective effort that defines our research community.  

Professor Deidre Brown, Faculty of Engineering and Design & Professor Ngarino Ellis, Faculty of Arts and Education

Professors Brown and Ellis are internationally recognised leaders in Māori art history. Their collaborative research has redefined the field through Indigenous methodologies and major works including Toi Te Mana, a landmark publication on Māori art. Their scholarship has influenced global debates on decolonisation, museum practice and cultural heritage, bringing Indigenous perspectives to international audiences.

Professor Charl de Villiers, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor de Villiers is a leading authority in sustainability accounting. His research has shaped global reporting standards and influenced regulatory frameworks. With more than 120 publications and over 20,000 citations, his work has driven the adoption of more rigorous sustainability disclosure practices worldwide and earned recognition including appointment as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Professor Melanie Kah, Faculty of Science
Professor Kah’s research addresses environmental contamination from chemicals including plastics, pesticides and PFAS, per-and polyfluoroalkyls substances, or forever chemicals. Her work has shaped international understanding of their impact on the environment while empowering communities through initiatives like Soilsafe Aotearoa. By combining scientific and community-led approaches, her research supports healthier environments and aligns closely with Māori perspectives on environmental stewardship.

Professor Xun Xu, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Professor Xu is a global leader in smart manufacturing, advancing Industry 4.0 through AI-enabled systems and intelligent machine tools. His development of the STEP-NC control language has transformed how advanced manufacturing runs, enabling adaptive, autonomous production systems. His work has supported major industry players such as Boeing and helped New Zealand businesses improve productivity and resilience through digital manufacturing programmes.

Professor Katie Groom, Dr Lisa Dawes, Dr Briar Hunter, Ms Tina Allen Mokaraka, Liggins Institute, Dr Lynn Sadler, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Judith McAraCouper, AUT, and Associate Professor Liza Edmonds, Victoria University of Wellington.

The team behind the Carosika Collaborative have developed a national, transdisciplinary stakeholder-led initiative to improve preterm birth outcomes and equity for whānau and communities. Their approach has led to Taonga Tuku Iho, national best practice guidelines for preterm birth care, and a real-time reporting system, including the Carosika Core Outcomes set.

Dr Katherine Doolin, Faculty of Law
Dr Doolin’s research has transformed correctional practice and justice systems internationally. Her work has helped to significantly reduce prison staff assaults in Victoria, Australia, informed the expansion of alcohol and other drug treatment courts in New Zealand, and strengthened restorative justice practices in prisons. Her research delivers measurable benefits for communities, justice systems, and enables rehabilitation of criminals.

Dr Joerg Wicker, Faculty of Science
Dr Wicker developed enviPath, a platform used globally to predict the environmental behaviour of chemicals. The platform has been adopted by international regulatory agencies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Chemicals Agency. His research supports safer chemical management, reduces testing costs, and improves environmental protection. The tool is widely used across industry, regulation, and education.

Associate Professor Gwenda Willis, Faculty of Science
Associate Professor Willis has reshaped rehabilitation approaches for sexual offending through strengths-based frameworks such as the Good Lives Model. Her work has improved risk assessment tools and informed programmes in New Zealand and internationally, leading to more effective treatment and reduced reoffending rates.

Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
Professor Ni Mhurchu led research behind the national shift to mandatory healthy food policies across New Zealand hospitals. Her work has improved access to healthier food for healthcare workers and visitors nationwide, delivering significant health, equity and system-level benefits.

Dr Toan Pham, Auckland Bioengineering Institute
Dr Pham’s research focuses on developing peptide-based therapies to restore heart function in people with Type 2 diabetes. His work aims to improve mitochondrial function and create new treatments with strong potential to reduce cardiovascular complications and healthcare costs.

Dr Maedeh Amirpour, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Dr Amirpour develops AI-enabled biomedical systems and advanced materials for personalised healthcare solutions. Her research integrates modelling, additive manufacturing, and design to create next-generation medical devices with real-world clinical impact.

Dr Karly Burch, Faculty of Arts and Education
Dr Burch’s interdisciplinary research explores the societal impacts of emerging technologies, particularly in agritech, and has critical expertise in the societal impact of nuclear weapons and energy. Her work influences international research practices and contributes to policy discussions on responsible innovation and sustainability.

Dr Jenny Hillman, Faculty of Science

Dr Hillman is a leader in coastal restoration ecology, developing large-scale solutions to regenerate marine ecosystems. Her research combines ecological science with community partnerships to restore biodiversity and support coastal resilience across New Zealand and the Pacific.

Dr Cervantee Wild, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Dr Wild’s research focuses on equitable access to healthcare for children and families, with a strong emphasis on Māori and rural communities. Her work informs health policy and aims to reduce disparities in paediatric care.

Dr Amy Lovell, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Dr Lovell leads research to improve nutrition care for children with cancer. She is developing New Zealand’s first national guidelines for paediatric oncology nutrition, helping ensure consistent, equitable and culturally appropriate care nationwide.

The awards go to five outstanding doctoral theses:

Cam Hoffbeck, Faculty of Science
The Tuatara Microbiome: Environmental Influences and Conservation Implications

Connor Pearson, Faculty of Engineering and Design
Design of High-Speed Hull Structures and Analysis of Failure Mechanics under Dynamic Ocean Loads

Julia Musgrave, Auckland Bioengineering Institute
Mechanics and Energetics of Diabetic Human Cardiac Tissues

Mark de Hora, Liggins Institute 
Use of Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry to Improve Newborn Screening for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in New Zealand Improved newborn screening technologies

Matthew Galloway, Faculty of Arts and Education 
The World Is a Designed Landscape: Employing design sensibilities toward an interrogative art practice