Doctoral news
Stay up to date by reading the latest news and stories about doctoral candidates across the University.
Newsletter archive
SGS emails Doctoral News to doctoral candidates on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, featuring important news, notices, opportunities, scholarships, and resources for every stage of your doctoral journey. If you missed any recent editions, you can catch up here:
Prepare now for the new GenAI Guidelines
Are you getting ready to Discuss-Document-Declare?
The University's new Generative AI in Doctoral Research Guidelines come into effect on 1 September 2026, and you can prepare now by exploring the following resources:
- Guidelines: Generative AI in Doctoral Research Guidelines
- Resource: Introduction to GenAI in Doctoral Research
- Canvas module: AI Essentials
We also recommend the following workshops that will show you how to apply GenAI tools across various research activities:
- 29 July: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
- 26 August: Responsible AI in Research (Zoom)
Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis 2025
Warm congratulations to the recipients of the Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis 2025, who will be honoured at the University's Celebrating Research Excellence awards in October.
The winners are:
- Cam Hoffbeck (Faculty of Science)
- Connor Pearson (Faculty of Engineering and Design)
- Julia Musgrave (Auckland Bioengineering Institute)
- Mark de Hora (Liggins Institute)
- Matthew Galloway (Faculty of Arts and Education)
This prize is awarded annually to the five most exceptional theses from the previous year. Criteria for nomination include the demonstrable significance,
originality, contribution and excellence of the thesis.
Of the 498 doctoral degrees awarded by the University of Auckland in 2025, 18 theses were nominated for the Best Doctoral Thesis prize by their faculties / LSRIs and reviewed by the Graduate Research Committee judging panel.
In the spotlight: Kenya Kavanagh-Vincent
Kenya, whose name honours the country where her parents married, is part of the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme in the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on the experiences of Caribbean people in NZ – a small community whose stories are often absent from academic and social discourse. Learn more in Research explores Caribbean experience in Aotearoa.
In the spotlight: Xiaoliang Niu
As the Government signals 8,700 public sector job cuts, doctoral candidate Xiaoliang Niu (Faculty of Business and Economics) has offered insights into te ao Māori perspectives which offer a broader way of assessing economic decisions and align with what Māori scholars and practitioners describe as an “economy of mana". Read more in An economy of mana: what public sector cuts really cost.
In the spotlight: Luis Medrano Gomez
Luis, pictured here with his mum, Luisa, graduated last month with a PhD from the School of Architecture and Planning (Faculty of Engineering and Design). His research explored how retrofitted social housing can better support people’s needs and behaviours to improve warmth and energy efficiency. Read more in The long goodbye: PhD honours sister’s 14-year battle with cancer.