The Graduate Research School has responsibility for leadership, oversight and policy advice in relation to doctoral degrees (including the PhD), research Masters’ degrees and University scholarships and prizes, as well as responsibility for providing appropriate support and guidance to graduate research candidates and their supervisors. The Doctoral and Scholarships Office, within the Graduate Research School, manages and administers the doctoral and scholarships programme. The School also offers a number of workshops, seminars and social events to our candidates and relevant staff, and information can be found about these by following this link to our dedicated events page.
The Graduate Research School is located within the University’s Research Division.
The Graduate Research School team can be found on the ground floor at the north end of the Clocktower building. Our office numbers are listed below.
The Graduate Research School Team
Dean
Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith
Tel 64 3 479 5655
Email rachel.spronken-smith@otago.ac.nz
Room G.02, Clocktower North
Rachel leads the Graduate Research School team and oversees all thesis-related matters at the University, including scholarships. She is available to assist with queries or concerns.
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Susan Craig
Tel 64 3 479 5737
Email susan.craig@otago.ac.nz
Room G.02, Clocktower North
Susan provides support to the Dean and is responsible for the administrative and financial tasks within the school. She also manages the social events and workshops provided by the Graduate Research School.
Manager
Claire Gallop
Tel 64 3 470 3447
Email claire.gallop@otago.ac.nz
Room G.06, Clocktower North
Claire provides a support service to thesis Masters’ candidates and supervisors, and manages various other projects pertaining to thesis candidates including the Postgraduate Publishing Bursary scheme. She is happy to assist with queries or concerns.
Graduate Research Administrator
Katherine van der Vliet
Tel 64 3 479 3077
Email katherine.van-der-vliet@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
In addition to providing personal assistance and support to the managers in the Graduate Research School, Katherine administers various graduate research activities and processes. She also maintains a plentiful store of chocolate fish for doctoral candidates submitting their theses.
Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser 
Anaru Eketone
Tel 64 3 479 8082
Email maori.postgrad@otago.ac.nz
Room G.04, Clocktower North
Anaru provides a support service to all Māori postgraduate students and co-ordinates the MAI programme (CoRE Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga).
For more information on the work Anaru does, please follow this link to the Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser web page.
Personal Performance & Development Coach
Brian Johnston
Tel 64 3 479 8461
Email brian.johnston@otago.ac.nz
Room GE5a, Centre for Innovation
Brian provides a support service to thesis Masters' and PhD candidates. To book an appointment or if you have an enquiry, please contact Brian via telephone or email. Please note, there is a $15.00 cash charge for Brian's service.
For more information about Brian's service please visit the Personal Performance and Development web page or download the PPDC Information Sheet (PDF format).
Information Systems Analyst
Gregory Scott
Tel 64 3 479 5698
Email gregoryscott@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Gregory is responsible for all the information systems needs of the Graduate Research School.
Manager, Doctoral and Scholarships Office
Chris Stoddart
Tel 64 3 479 9779
Email christan.stoddart@otago.ac.nz
Room G.07, Clocktower North
Chris manages the Doctoral and Scholarship Office team and is happy to meet with, or otherwise assist, staff and students with any queries or concerns.
Doctoral Administrator
Tina Shaw
Tel 64 3 4795434
Email tina.shaw@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Alongside Andy, Tina is responsible for administration of the PhD programme and other supervised doctorates.
Doctoral Administrator
Andy McCready
Tel 64 3 479 8464
Email andy.mccready@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
In concert with Tina, Andy is responsible for administration of the PhD programme and other supervised doctorates.
Scholarships Administrator
Amber Bondy
Tel 64 3 479 5292
Email amber.bondy@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower
Amber is happy to provide assistance with postgraduate scholarship enquiries, and is the main point of contact in the Office for NZAID scholarship recipients.
Scholarships Administrator
Rebecca Guest
Tel 64 3 479 5292
Email rebecca.guest@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Rebecca is happy to provide assistance with postgraduate scholarship enquiries, and is the main point of contact in the Office for NZAID scholarship recipients. Rebecca is currently on parental leave until July 2013.
Scholarships Administrator
Mel Adams
Tel 64 3 479 5291
Email mel.adams@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Mel can help with postgraduate scholarship enquiries and enquiries related to Universities New Zealand scholarships.
Scholarships Administrator
Leane Turnbull
Tel 64 3 479 4132
Email leane.turnbull@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Leane is primarily responsible for the administration of undergraduate prizes and scholarships at the University, and is happy to assist with any enquiries. Leane is currently on parental leave until late 2013.
Scholarships Administrator
Vivienne Baskerville
Tel 64 3 479 9018
Email vivienne.baskerville@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, Clocktower North
Viv primarily deals with the financial aspects of scholarship operations, including payment of recipients. Viv is also the main point of contact for summer studentships.
