Ali Lowry

"This is my tenth year at the University of Auckland. I grew up in Napier and moved to Auckland to pursue my passion for the NZ wine industry – and to give back to the Hawke’s Bay region, my tūrangawaewae. My PhD is in chemistry (Wine Science). My research is focused on climate change and sustainability."

Personal growth

"I think my soft skills have really developed during my postgraduate studies. I have transitioned from a quiet, shy, unsure person into someone that just has a lot more confidence. That’s very important because I want to be talking across the fence.

"Through opportunities in my PhD I now thrive in public speaking and science communication. I feel like I can back myself and my ideas. Ideally I’d like to position myself between science and the general public through science communication. I love data analysis and the ability to tell a story through scientific results. Meaningful data should be available to all!"

Scholarships

"I'm fortunate to have received an industry scholarship and so I’ve been able to build a lot of connections through all of the workshops and conferences. I think it’s very important to talk to people! Supervisors are really helpful, and all the opportunities are there. I didn’t start my bachelors thinking I would go on to a PhD. I was excited to move to the big city, but never dreamed I would be where I am today.

Living in town

"Since being in Auckland I have stayed in the CBD the whole time and it has been so convenient. Being only 5 minutes away from campus is awesome because I need to check the wine every day. If you are willing to stay in an apartment in the city, there are nice places and everything is all in one space. Its great being in the heart of the city where everything is happening!"