Meet our doctoral candidates

Meet doctoral candidates from across the University and find out what it is like to undertake graduate research at our world-leading institution.

Siobhan presents at HealthX.

Tongan New Zealander Siobhan is undertaking groundbreaking research into non-communicable disease risk in the Cook Islands for her PhD in Health Sciences.

Read Siobhan's story

Kieran discusses his research into needle-free injection and the opportunities available to candidates during the PhD.

Read Kieran's story
Teuila in Samoan headdress

Teuila Hughes is researching Samoan dance practices as part of her PhD in Dance.

Read about Teuila's research
Ellie sits smiling on a couch with a book on her knees.

Ellie is a PhD candidate in Exercise Science researching the impact of exercise on cardiovascular disease in adults.

Read more about Ellie
Emma Brown in her lab wearing a white lab coat.

For Emma Brown, a career in industry prepared her well for a PhD in Chemicals and Materials Engineering.

Read Emma's story
Daniel Lovatt stands smiling against a grey wall.

Doctor of Education graduate Maia works as a lecturer in Te Puna Wānanga The School of Māori and Indigenous Education.

Meet Maia
Avinash wears a long white coat and smiles.

Doctor of Medicine graduate Avinash is the inaugural Global Cancer Disparities Fellow and works as a surgeon in oncology.

Meet Avinash
Sjoerd headshot.

Sjoerd van Ballegooy gained a PhD in Civil Engineering and is now Technical Director at Tonkin + Taylor.

Meet Sjoerd
Nona sitting no the steps of his marae.

Nona's PhD focuses on more efficient collaboration between Māori communities and non-Māori parties to utilise and develop geothermal resources.

Meet Nona
Mina headshot.

Mina is an international doctoral candidate researching how very young children demonstrate agency and competency in decision-making.

Meet Mina