The University of Otago's Division of Health Sciences celebrates excellence at every level. The Division takes great pleasure in announcing the following PhD candidates have presented a thesis of exceptional quality.
A thesis is of exceptional quality when all three examiners of a candidate's thesis agree that the thesis is among the top 10 per cent of theses examined, and is of an exceptional standard in the following areas:
- Research content
- Originality
- Quality of expression
- Accuracy of presentation
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2024
Deanna Marie Beckett (Sir John Walsh Research Institute)
Dental consequences of Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and early infancy
Primary Supervisor: Professor Ben Wheeler
For more information on Deanna’s work, please contact the Sir John Walsh Research Institute by email at sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Bradley John Brosnan (Department of Medicine)
Streaming or dreaming: Are digital devices really affecting adolescents' sleep?
Primary Supervisor: Professor Rachael Taylor
For more information on Bradley’s work, please contact the Department of Medicine by email at medicine@otago.ac.nz
Claudia Isobel Davies (Department of Anatomy)
DNA demethylation in pluripotency and cancer
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Tim Hore
For more information on Claudia’s work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Amy Evelyn Henry (Department of Nursing)
Te vaerua kopu tangata ora. Constructing a theory of Cook Islands palliative care in New Zealand
Primary Supervisor: Dr Virginia Jones
For more information on Amy’s work, please contact the Department of Nursing by email at postgrad.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Lee-Anne Morris (Department of Medicine, UOC )
Cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying apathy in Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease
Primary Supervisor: Dr Campbell Le Heron
For more information on Lee-Anne’s work, please contact the Department of Medicine, UOC by email at: deptmed@chmeds.ac.nz
Tim Moser (Department of Anatomy)
Manipulating sex using epigenetics and the ribosome
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Tim Hore
For more information on Tim’s work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Thomas Christopher Mules (Department of Medicine, UOW )
Helminths' modulation of intestinal barrier function
Primary Supervisor: Dr Stephen Inns
For more information on Thomas’s work, please contact the Department of Medicine by email at medicine.uow@otago.ac.nz
Amreen Naqash (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
Structure-activity relationship analysis of Parapoxvirus Interleukin-10 proteins
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Lyn Wise F
For more information on Amreen’s work, please contact the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department by email at pharmacology@otago.ac.nz
Matthew Bruce Richardson (Department of Psychological Medicine)
Nocebo hypothesis cognitive behavioural therapy (NH-CBT) for the treatment of functional neurological symptom disorder
Primary Supervisor: Professor Paul Glue
For more information on Matthew’s work, please contact the Department of Psychological Medicine by email at psychological-medicine@otago.ac.nz
Tushar Saha (School of Pharmacy)
Inhaled dry powder to treat respiratory infections
Primary Supervisor: Professor Shyamal Das
For more information on Tushar’s work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by email at pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Stephanie Jayne Waller (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Exploring New Zealand's virosphere
Primary Supervisor: Professor Jemma Geoghegan
For more information on Stephanie’s work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2023
Dina Abdelmoneim Elsherif Farouk Abdelmoneim (Sir John Walsh Research Institute)
Silverbone-antibacterial bone regenerative scaffolds
Primary Supervisor: Professor Warwick Duncan
For more information on Dina's work, please contact the Sir John Walsh Research Institute by email at sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Samuel Egyakwa Ankomah (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine)
The role of patient-public engagement in health system improvement in Ghana: a case study approach
Primary Supervisor: Professor Sarah Derrett
For more information on Samuel's work, please contact the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine by email at preventive-medicine@otago.ac.nz
Shelly Arora (Sir John Walsh Research Institute)
Effects of IL-23 blockade as a pulp immune-modulating agent in vitro and in vivo
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Haizal Mohd Hussaini
For more information on Shelly's work, please contact the Sir John Walsh Research Institute by email at sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Nicholas James Bowden (Department of Women's and Children's Health)
Autism/Takiwātanga in Aotearoa New Zealand: medication prescribing, educational outcomes, and criminal justice system interactions. Investigations using linked whole-of-population administrative data
Primary Supervisor: Professor Barry Taylor
For more information on Nicholas's work, please contact the Department of Women's and Children's Health by email at paeds.sec@otago.ac.nz
Mercedes Jordan Burnside (Department of Paediatrics, UOC )
Open-source automated insulin delivery in type 1 diabetes: Equitable utilisation of advanced diabetes technologies to address pervasive inequities in diabetes health outcomes
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Martin de Bock
For more information on Mercedes's work, please contact the Department of Paediatrics by email at paediatrics.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Dhananjie Nareshana Kumari Chandrasekera (Department of Physiology)
The role of pericardial fluid exosomes in diabetic heart disease
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Rajesh Katare
For more information on Dhananjie's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by email at physiology@otago.ac.nz
Alicia Johnelle Emerson (School of Physiotherapy)
The clinical conversation in chronic musculoskeletal pain: Exploring the influence of sociopolitical factors
Primary Supervisor: Professor David Baxter
For more information on Alicia’s work, please contact the School of Physiotherapy by email at physiotherapy@otago.ac.nz
Louise Joan Fangupo (Department of Medicine)
Supporting the development of a novel, culturally relevant sleep intervention for whānau (families) with pēpi (infants) in Aotearoa New Zealand
Primary Supervisor: Professor Rachael Taylor.
For more information on Louise's work, please contact the Medicine Department by email at rachael.taylor@otago.ac.nz
Eleni Catharina Ruarus Hackwell (Department of Anatomy)
The role of prolactin in lactational infertility
Primary Supervisor: Professor David Grattan
For more information on Eleni's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Lisa Jean Kremer (School of Pharmacy)
The Little Eye Drop Study: Microdrop administration of phenylephrine and cyclopentolate for retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations in preterm infants
Primary Supervisor: Professor Natalie Hughes
For more information on Lisa's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by email at: pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Anastasia Labudina (Department of Pathology)
Primary Supervisor: Professor Julia Horsfield
For more information on Anastasia’s work, please contact the Department of Pathology by email at: pathology@otago.ac.nz
Amanda Lorraine Landers (Department of Medicine, UOC)
The patient, support person and health professional experiences of end-of-life care in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Primary Supervisor: Professor Lutz Beckert
For more information on Amanda’s work, please contact the Medicine, UOC Department by email at deptmed@chmeds.ac.nz
Georgia Kate McCarty (Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit)
Te Kupenga o Hauora Rangatahi Maaori: understanding Maaori youth health
Primary Supervisor: Professor Emma Wyeth
For more information on Georgia’s work, please contact the Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit by email at emma.wyeth@otago.ac.nz
Gretel Sylvia Major (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine)
Engineering adipose tissue analogues for advanced breast cancer modelling and soft tissue reconstruction
Primary Supervisor: Professor Tim Woodfield
For more information on Gretel’s work, please contact the Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine Department by email at orthopaedics.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Nicola Margaret McKenzie (Department of Nursing)
Planning for a good life, right to the end: Advance care planning and learning disability
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Brigit Mirfin-Veitch
For more information on Nicola's work, please contact the Department of Nursing by email at nursingstudies.uoc@otago.ac.nz
David Mayo Muñoz (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
The CRISPR conflict: strategies for defence and anti-defence
Primary Supervisor: Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on David’s work, please contact the Microbiology and Immunology Department by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Timothy Robert Millar (Department of Biochemistry)
Signals of selection within a mixed-ploidy Actinidia chinensis pedigree
Primary Supervisor: Dr Mik Black
For more information on Tim’s work, please contact the Biochemistry Department by email at biochemistry@otago.ac.nz
Allison Kathryn Miller (Department of Anatomy)
Genomics of pouched lampreys (Geotriidae) for improved management
Primary Supervisor: Professor Neil Gemmell
For more information on Allison's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Begoña del Pilar Ruiz Conrads, Sir John Walsh Research Insitute
Childhood caries: An early indicator of poor oral and general health by midlife - Findings from two Aotearoa New Zealand birth cohorts
Primary Supervisor: Professor Jonathan Broadbent
For more information on Begoña’s work, please contact the Sir John Walsh Research Institute by email at sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Eloise Elizabeth Pollard (Public Health, UOW
He toki aronui haratua kia papa. Interrupting white business as usual: Applying the Health Equity Assessment Tool in health service and programme planning in Aotearoa
Primary Supervisor: Professor Louise Signal
For more information on Eloise’s work, please contact the Public Health Department by email at publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Maria Saito Benz, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
Anaemia of prematurity: Cerebral regional oximetry in optimising neonatal transfusion practice
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Max Berry
For more information on Maria’s work, please contact the Paediatrics and Child Health Department by email at paediatrics.uow@otago.ac.nz
Jessica Renate Schalburg-Clayton (Department of Anatomy)
Isotopes, agriculture, and climate change: Exploring biosocial adaptation at Iron Age Non Ban Jak, Northeast Thailand
Primary Supervisor: Professor Hallie Buckley
For more information on Jessica's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Jane Harriet Taafaki (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine)
The lived experiences of rural Tuvaluans navigating the Aotearoa New Zealand healthcare system
Primary Supervisor: Dr Jude Sligo
For more information on Jane's work, please contact the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine by email at preventive-medicine@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2022
Bishal Raj Adhikari (School of Pharmacy)
Co-amorphous spray-dried microparticles for pulmonary drug delivery to treat lung infections
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Shyamal Das
For more information on Bishal's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by email at pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Jodie Sarah Chandler (Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, UOW )
The role of Th2 effector cell subsets in Type 2 immunity
Primary Supervisor: Professor Brett Delahunt
For more information on Jodie's work, please contact the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (UOW) by email at pathology.ouw@otago.ac.nz
Tracy Nicola Haitana (Office of the Dean, UOC )
Kōrero o te Tāniko: Māori experiences of healthcare for bipolar disorder in Aotearoa. A kaupapa Māori clinical, structural, and organisational critique
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Cameron Lacey
For more information on Tracy's work, please contact the Office of the Dean (UOC) by email at deptdean.uoc@otago.ac.nz
William Jeffrey Jowsey (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Characterisation of the novel DUF2285 containing transcriptional activator FseA
Primary Supervisor: Professor Clive Ronson
For more information on Williams's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Robyn Theresa Kramer (Department of Anatomy)
Human mobility in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Solomon Islands: application of strontium isotope and geospatial analyses in the South Pacific
Primary Supervisor: Dr Charlotte King
For more information on Robyn's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Jingyun Li (School of Pharmacy)
Pharmacometric methods in clinical toxicology: an application to paracetamol overdose
Primary Supervisor: Professor Stephen Duffull
For more information on Jingyun's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by email at pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Amber Raschel Logan (Department of Public Health UOW )
Housing and health for whānau Māori
Primary Supervisor: Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman
For more information on Amber Raschel Logan's work, please contact the Department of Public Health (UOW) by email at publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Susannah Clare Lumsden (Department of Anatomy)
Neuromodulation of the pineal gland and sleep via non-invasive electrostimulation with frequency and dermatome-specific effects
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Yusuf Cakmak
For more information on Susannah's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Tessa Maree McBride (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Prokaryotic defence: the type I-D CRISPR-Cas system
Primary Supervisor: Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Tessa's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Thomas John Nicholson (Department of Biochemistry)
Sequence classification problems in prokaryotes
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Paul Gardner
For more information on Thomas's work, please contact the Department of Biochemistry by email at biochemistry@otago.ac.nz
Ayesha Nisar Qureshi (School of Physiotherapy)
Strengths-based resilience intervention for informal carers of stroke survivors
Primary Supervisor: Professor Leigh Hale
For more information on Ayesha's work, please contact the School of Physiotherapy by email at physiotherapy@otago.ac.nz
Nicholas James Shields (Department of Pathology)
Tumour lysate-based immunotherapy for colorectal cancer
Primary Supervisor: Professor Sarah Young
For more information on Nicholas' work, please contact the Department of Pathology by email at pathology@otago.ac.nz
Bram George Soliman (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, UOC)
Micro and macroscale spatiotemporal patterning of physical cues in cell-laden hydrogels for tissue engineering applications
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Khoon Lim
For more information on Bram's work, please contact the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine (UOC) by email at orthopaedics.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2021
Nils Birkholz (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Diverse regulation strategies govern phage defence and counter-defence in Pectobacterium carotovorum
Primary Supervisor: Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Nils' work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz.
Paula King (Department of Public Health, UOW )
Oranga Mokopuna: Ethical co-designing for the pluriverse
Primary Supervisor: Dr Donna Cormack
For more information on Paula's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, UOW by email at publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz.
Christina McKerchar (Department of Public Health, UOW )
Food availability for tamariki a rights-based approach
Primary Supervisor: Professor Louise Signal
For more information on Christina's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, UOW by email at publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz.
Amélie Poilliot (Department of Anatomy)
The obscure joint: A translational approach applied to clinical practice on sacroiliac joint morphology and biomechanics
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Niels Hammer
For more information on Amélie's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz.
Isobel Ross (Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, UOW )
"We need to discuss surgery": A multimodal conversation analytic study of intersubjectivity during surgeons' information provision to patients
Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Maria Stubbe
For more information on Isobel's work, please contact the Department of Primary Health Care & General Practice by email at primarycare.uow@otago.ac.nz.
Andrea Teng (Department of Public Health, UOW )
What is the impact of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes? A focus on the Pacific
Primary Supervisor: Professor Nick Wilson
For more information on Andrea's work, please contact the Department of Public Health ( UOW ) by email at publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz.
Sailakshmi Velamoor (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
A combination of microscopic techniques to assess the self-assembly of keratins in a developing wool fibre
Primary Supervisor: Dr Mihnea Bostina
For more information on Sailakshmi's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz.
Samuel Taylor Wardell (Department of Biochemistry)
Evolution of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Primary Supervisor: Professor Iain Lamont
For more information on Samuel's work, please contact the Department of Biochemistry by email at biochemistry@otago.ac.nz.
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2020
Rachael Dixon (Department of Population Health, UOC )
Exploring senior secondary health education in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cabinet of curiosities
Primary supervisor: Professor Gillian Abel
For more information on Rachael's work, please contact the Department of Population Health, UOC by email at publichealth.uoc@otago.ac.nz.
Ali Hosseini Rad (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Enhancing the persistence and memory of CAR T cells
Primary Supervisor: Professor Alexander McLellan
For more information on Ali's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz.
Nadishka Jayawardena (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Structural insights into oncolytic Seneca Valley Virus capsid and receptor interactions
Primary supervisor: Dr Mihnea Bostina
For more information on Nadishka's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz.
Joshua Lange (Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, UOW )
Mucosal-associated invariant T ( MAIT ) cells as cellular adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy
Primary supervisor: Professor Brett Delahunt
For more information on Joshua's work, please contact the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine by email at pathology.uow@otago.ac.nz.
Bronwen McNoe (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine)
Sun protection for adolescents at school in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Kate Morgaine
For more information on Bronwen's work, please contact the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine by email at preventive-medicine@otago.ac.nz.
Lucía Malone (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Phage interactions with CRISPR-Cas systems in Serratia sp. ATCC 39006
Primary supervisor: Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Lucía's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz.
Javier Jimenez Martin (Department of Physiology)
Cholinergic modulation of cortical sensory-evoked responses
Primary supervisor: Professor Ruth Empson
For more information on Javier's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by email at physiology@otago.ac.nz.
Katharine (Kate) Roberts (Primary Health Care and General Practice, UOW )
Communication and collaboration between general practitioners and acupuncturists in New Zealand: A case study of integrated mental health care
Primary supervisor: Professor Tony Dowell
For more information on Kate's work, please contact the Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice ( UOW ) by email at primarycare.wsmhs@otago.ac.nz.
Saurab Sharma (Department of Surgical Sciences)
Improving pain assessment, management, and research in low-income countries: An example of Nepal
Primary supervisor: Professor Haxby Abbott
For more information on Saurab's work, please contact the Department of Surgical Sciences by email at surgicalsciences.admin@otago.ac.nz.
Leah Smith (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
A genome-wide approach identifying regulators of CRISPR-Cas immunity in Serratia
Primary supervisor: Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Leah's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by email at microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Megan Stark (Department of Medicine, UOC )
Cognitive impairment and conversion to dementia in Parkinson's disease: an imaging study of amyloid PET and diffusion MRI
Primary supervisor: Dr Tracy Melzer
For more information on Megan's work, please contact the Medicine Department, UOC by email at deptmed@chmeds.ac.nz
Melandri Vlok (Department of Anatomy)
Implications of human interaction for health of past populations in Asia
Primary supervisor: Professor Hallie Buckley
For more information on Melandri's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2019
Chidimma Aham-Chiabuotu (Department of Population Health, UOC )
Suffering, solidarity and spirituality: The lived experiences of internally displaced women in Northern Nigeria
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Gillian Abel
For more information on Chidimma's work, please contact the Department of Population Health ( UOC ) by email at publichealth.uoc@otago.ac.nz.
Judith Ball (Department of Public Health, UOW )
Sex, drugs, smokes and booze: What's driving teen trends? Describing and explaining trends in adolescent sexual behaviour, cannabis use, smoking and alcohol use in the early 21st century
Primary supervisor: Professor Richard Edwards
For more information on Judith's work, please contact the Public Health Department UOW by email at publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Susanna Every-Palmer (Department of Psychological Medicine, UOW )
Clozapine and the gastrointestinal tract
Primary supervisor: Emeritus Professor Peter Ellis
For more information on Susanna's work, please contact the Department of Psychological Medicine by email at kristy.wilson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Michael Maze (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine)
The impact of leptospirosis in northern Tanzania
Supervisor: Professor John Crump
For more information on Michael's work, please contact the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine by emailing preventive-medicine@otago.ac.nz
Oscar Ortega Recalde (Department of Anatomy)
DNA methylation memory: Understanding epigenetic reprogramming in vertebrates
Primary supervisor: Dr Tim Hore
For more information on Oscar's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by email at anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2018
Dr Mustafa Almuqbel (Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)
Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Primary supervisor: Dr Tracy Melzer
For more information on Mustafa's work, please contact the Department of Medicine, UOC by emailing deptmed.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Dr Michelle Barr (Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington)
Quantifying children's exposure to outdoor food advertising
Primary supervisor: Professor Louise Signal
For more information on Michelle's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, UOW , by emailing publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Anna Cooper (School of Pharmacy)
Development of fluorescent ligands for CB2 receptor
Primary supervisor: Dr Andrea Vernall
For more information on Anna's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by emailing pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Hannah Hampton (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Genome defence mechanisms in Serratia species ATCC 39006
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Hannah's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by emailing microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Amanda Kvalsvig (Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington)
Pre-hospital antibiotics in meningococcal disease
Primary supervisor: Professor Michael Baker
For more information on Amanda's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, UOW , by emailing publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kar Sheng Lew (Department of Physiology)
The effect of exercise on diabetic heart disease
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Daryl Schwenke
For more information on Kar Sheng's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Melissa McLeod (Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington)
Making health equity count: incorporating health equity for Maori into cost-utility analyses
Primary supervisor: Professor Tony Blakely
For more information on Melissa's work, please contact the Department of Public Health by emailing publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Dr Mohammad Momin (School of Pharmacy)
Spray-dried powder particles for treating pulmonary tuberculosis
Primary supervisor: Dr Shyamal Das
For more information on Mohammad's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by emailing pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sasi Bhushan Yarragudi (School of Pharmacy)
Formulation strategies to enhance nose-to-brain delivery of drugs
Primary supervisor: Dr Shakila Rizwan
For more information on Sasi Bhushan's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by emailing pharmacy@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2017
Dr Daniel Barth (Department of Physiology)
Characterising the effect of shear force on the activity of the epithelial sodium and acid sensing ion channels
Primary supervisor: Dr Martin Fronius
For more information on Daniel's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Lorna Daniels (Department of Physiology)
The role of calcium calmodulin dependent protein kinase II in type 2 diabetic heart dysfunction
Primary supervisor: Dr Jeff Erickson
For more information on Lorna's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kiel Hards (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Fundamental and applied investigations into mycobacterial bioenergetics
Primary supervisor: Professor Gregory Cook
For more information on Kiel's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by emailing microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Trang Khieu (Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington)
Estimating the health burden of influenza in New Zealand.
Primary supervisor: Professor Michael Baker
For more information on Trang's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, UOW , by emailing publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Silke Kuehl (Dean's Department, University of Otago, Wellington)
Coping has limits: 'Mixed presenters' emergency department presentations for self-harm and other reasons
Primary supervisor: Professor Sunny Collings
For more information on Silke's work, please contact the Dean's Department, UOW , by emailing deanseauow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Siddharth Matikonda (School of Pharmacy)
Development and application of strategies in prodrug chemistry
Primary supervisor: Dr Allan Gamble
For more information on Siddharth's work, please contact the School of Pharmacy by emailing pharmacy@otago.ac.nz.
Dr Morad Remy Muhsin (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Tumour extracellular vesicles in cancer metastasis & thrombosis
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Alexander McLellan
For more information on Morad's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by emailing microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Adrian Patterson (Department of Microbiology and Immunology)
Multiple pathways regulate CRISPR-Cas immunity
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Peter Fineran
For more information on Adrian's work, please contact the Department of Microbiology and Immunology by emailing microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Hazem Zohny (Bioethics Centre)
How to think about enhancement: A welfarist approach
Primary supervisor: Dr Mike King
For more information on Hazem's work, please contact the Bioethics Centre by emailing bioethics@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2016
Dr Laura Boddington (Department of Anatomy)
Effects of electrical theta burst stimulation on interhemispheric inhibition and functional recovery after stroke
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor John Reynolds
For more information on Laura's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by emailing anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Ruth Cunningham (Department of Public Health, Wellington)
Cancer in the context of severe mental illness in New Zealand
Primary supervisor: Professor Diana Sarfati
For more information on Ruth's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, Wellington, by emailing publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Naomi Daniels (Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington)
Cytotoxic T cell-mediated immunotherapy of allergic airway inflammation
Primary supervisor: Professor Brett Delahunt
For more information on Naomi's work, please contact the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington, by emailing pathology.wsmhs@otago.ac.nz
Dr Tanya Flynn (Department of Biochemistry)
Experiencing gout in New Zealand: The genetic and dietary influences of a complex disease.
Primary supervisor: Professor Tony Merriman
For more information on Tanya's work, please contact the Department of Biochemistry by emailing biochemistry@otago.ac.nz
Dr Anna Gosling (Department of Biochemistry)
Pacific people, metabolic disease and evolutionary processes
Primary supervisor: Professor Tony Merriman
For more information on Anna's work, please contact the Department of Biochemistry by emailing biochemistry@otago.ac.nz
Dr Papillon Gustafson (Department of Anatomy)
The role of prolactin in suppressing the maternal stress axis
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Stephen Bunn
For more information on Papillon's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by emailing anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Joon Kim (Department of Anatomy)
Functional analyses of the neuropeptide FF receptor system using GJ14, a potent and selective antagonist
Primary supervisor: Associate professor Greg Anderson
For more information on Joon's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by emailing anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sarah Maessen (Department of Women's and Children's Health)
Assessing learning, breathing and treatment of respiratory obstruction during sleep in school children: The ALBATROSS Study.
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Barbara Galland
For more information on Sarah's work, please contact the Department of Women's and Children's Health by emailing wch.admin@otago.ac.nz
Dr Adam O'Neill (Department of Women's and Children's Health)
Rare variants in periventricular neuronal heterotopia.
Primary supervisor: Professor Stephen Robertson
For more information on Adam's work, please contact the Department of Women's and Children's Health by emailing wch.admin@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kishore Rajendran (Department of Radiology, Christchurch)
MARS spectral CT technology for orthopaedic applications
Primary supervisor: Professor Anthony Butler
For more information on Kishore's work, please contact the Department of Radiology, Christchurch, by emailing radiology.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Dr Caroline Shaw (Department of Public Health, Wellington)
Known unknowns: Evidence of health co-benefits from decarbonising the transport sector
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Simon Hales
For more information on Caroline's work, please contact the Department of Public Health, Wellington by emailing publichealth.uow@otago.ac.nz
Dr Monica Tromp (Department of Anatomy)
Lapita plants, people and pigs
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor Hallie Buckley
For more information on Monica's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy by emailing anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Joshua Wright (Department of Biochemistry)
Ubiquitin transfer by the Arkadia and Ark2C RING domains
Primary supervisor: Professor Catherine Day
For more information on Joshua's work, please contact the Department of Biochemistry by emailing biochemistry@otago.ac.nz
Exceptional PhD theses awarded in 2015
Dr Pauline Campos (Department of Physiology)
Optogenetic activation of GnRH neurons in mice
Primary supervisor: Professor Allan Herbison
For more information on Pauline's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Simon Fisher (Department of Anatomy)
Action discovery in the basal ganglia through reinforcement of spike timing-dependent plasticity
Primary supervisor: Associate Professor John Reynolds
For more information on Simon's work, please contact the Department of Anatomy emailing anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Aleisha Moore (Department of Physiology)
Perturbation of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal network in a model of polycystic ovarian syndrome
Primary supervisor: Dr Rebecca Campbell
For more information on Aleisha's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz
Dr Richard Smaill (Department of Population Health, Christchurch)
Ageing with spinal cord injury in New Zealand
Primary supervisor: Professor Philip Schluter
For more information on Richard's work, please contact the Department of Population Health by emailing publichealth.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Dr Zhe (Joe) Zhang (Department of Physiology)
Regulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor by proteins
Primary supervisor: Dr Peter Jones
For more information on Zhe's work, please contact the Department of Physiology by emailing physiology@otago.ac.nz