Zoology PhD Students

ADAMS, Amy

Email: adaam558@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Spatial ecology, resource use and population structure of common brushtail possums across an urban-rural gradient.

Supervisors: Kath Dickinson (Botany), Bruce Robertson, Yolanda van Heezik

ALQAISI, Khalid

Email: alqkh943@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Identification and isolation of steroidogenic enzymes and steroid receptors in New Zealand starfish species.

Supervisor: Mark Lokman

BAYER, Tina

Email: bayti364@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Effects of climate change on large, oligotrophic lakes in New Zealand.

Supervisors: Carolyn Burns, Marc Schallenberg

BIERSCHENK, Antje

Email: biean819@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Impacts of human land use practices on river, estuarine and marine ecosystems.

Supervisors: Christoph Matthaei, Candida Savage (Marine Science), Colin Townsend

BIERSCHENK, Beate

Email: biebe009@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Niche partitioning in estuarine/brackish invertebrates.

Supervisors: Carolyn Burns, Gerry Closs, Marc Schallenberg

BRAKES, Philippa

Email:  braph923@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisor:   Liz Slooten

BRYNER, Vivienne

Email:  bryvi279@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisor: Jean Fleming

BUXTON, Rachel

Email: buxra691@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Geography)

Topic:  Spatio-temporal patterns of seabird recovery after predator removal: implications for long-term monitoring and management.

Supervisors: Henrik Moller (CSafe), Alison Cree

CADE, Octavia

Email:  cadoc276@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Science Communication)

Topic:

Supervisor: Lloyd Davis

CLARKE, Stephen

Email: clast749@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Biochemistry)

Topic:  Ice active proteins from the Antarctic nematode, Panagrolaimus davidi.

Supervisors:  Craig Marshall (Biochemistry), David Wharton

COLLINS, Catherine

Email: colca018@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Genetics)

Topic:  Ancient DNA analysis of New Zealand sealions.

Supervisors:  Jon Waters, Bruce Robertson

CUMMING, Rebecca

Email: cumre103@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  The effect of reproductive mode on patterns of dispersal and connectivity in marine invertebrates associated with macroalgae in New Zealand sub-Antarctic.

Supervisors:  Jon Waters, Hamish Spencer

DANN, Tanya

Email: danta246@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Investigating the life history and distribution of two New Zealand damsefly species.

Supervisors: Gerry Closs/Christoph Matthaei

DIVERS, Sean

Email: divse220@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  New Zealand eel aquaculture, establishing broodstock conditioning and maturation protocols.

Supervisor: Mark Lokman

DORSEY, Lance

Email: doral136@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   The life history and impact of the non-native Brook Char (Salvelinus fontinalis) in headwater streams of Otago, New Zealand (or failed species introduction leaves potential for species invasion).

Supervisor: Gerry Closs

DUSSEX, Nick

Email: dusni050@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Conservation genetics of Kea (Nestor notabilis).

Supervisor: Bruce Robertson/Ian Jamieson

EGETER, Bastian

Email: egeba296@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  DNA-based detection of frog predation by small mammals.

Supervisor: Phil Bishop, Bruce Robertson

ELLEN, Charles

Email: ellch770@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Mechanisms of dopamine receptors in Kenyon cells and their contribution to the formation and recall of olfactory memories in the honeybee Apis mellifera.

Supervisor: Alison Mercer/Caroline Beck

FALAHATIMARVAST, Ali

Email: falal493@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Localization, identification of receptors and signalling pathways for growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) ligands based on genomic analyses and immunohistochemical study in the ovary of the shortfinned eel Anguilla australis.

Supervisor: Mark Lokman

FORBES, Erin

Email: forer069@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Identification, cloning and characterization of genes regulated by 11-ketotestosterone in the gonad of the short-finned eel, Anguilla australis.

Supervisor: Mark Lokman

FUMAGALLI, Maddalena

Email:   fumma785@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic: 

Supervisors:   Liz Slooten

GABRIELSSON, Rasmus

Email: gabra817@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Salmonid migration and recruitment patterns:  wildlife monitoring using trace-element and isotope markers.

Supervisors: Gerry Closs, Phil Seddon

GREER, Michael

Email:  gremi998@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisor:  Gerry Closs

GRIMALDI, Wray

Email: griwr403@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic: Environmental drivers of disease in Adelie penguins

Supervisor: Phil Seddon

GROSSER, Stefanie

Email: grost309@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisors: Jon Waters

HAMMOND, Vanessa

Email: hamva372@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Ecology of the invasive diatom, Didymo.

Supervisor: Gerry Closs

HARRIS, Kim

Email: harki906@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology/Ecology)

Topic:   Habitat modification in tussock grasslands

Supervisors: Kath Dickinson(Botany), Phil Seddon, Peter Wigham (Information Science)

HOLTMANN, Benedikt

Email: holbe957@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Animal personality and social networks in a species with variable mating systems, the Dunnock (Prunella modularis).

Supervisors: Shinichi Nakagawa

HOWARD, Sunkita

Email:   howsu195@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisor:  Mike Paulin

HSU, Yu-Hsun

Email: hsuyu145@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   The causes and consequences of extra-pair paternity.

Supervisor: Shinichi Nakagawa

HUMPHRIES, Grant

Email: humgr963@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  

Supervisors:  Henrik Moller (CSafe), Phil Seddon

JONES, Douglas

Email: jondo802@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   What determines whether individual juvenile trout become residents or migrants?

Supervisor: Gerry Closs/Shinichi Nakagawa

JONES, Peter

Email: jonpe670@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Differential tolerance to trout pressures in non-migratory galaxiid fish:  An interspecific analysis of life history strategies.

Supervisors: Gerry Closs/Graham Wallis

KING, Keith

Email:  kinke718@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Genetics)

Topic:  Evolution of melanism in the alpine weta, Hemideina maori.

Supervisor:  Graham Wallis/Jon Waters

KNAFLER, Gabrielle

Email: knaga467@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic: The application of major histocompatability complex (MHC), toll-like receptor (TLR), and microsatellite markers to examine bottleneck effects in three diverse New Zealand birds.

Supervisors:   Ian Jamieson/Bruce Robertson

KOHN, Yair

Email: kohya760@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Reproductive biology of groper (Polyprion oxygenoides) in an aquaculture environment.

Supervisor: Mark Lokman

KUECHOLL, Leonie

Email: kuean836@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  What determines whether individual juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta) become residents or migrants?

Supervisor:  Gerry Closs

LANGE, Katharina

Email: lanka115@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Modeling land use and climate change effects on stream ecosystem structure and function.

Supervisors: Christoph Matthaei, Colin Townsend

LEUNG, Elaine

Email: leuel699@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic: Development of foraging behaviour in juvenile New Zealand sea lions.

Supervisor: Bruce Robertson

LEWIS, Debbie

Email: armde691@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)Topic: Habitat use of pateke/brown teal in Northland and Great Barrier Island.

Supervisor: Philip Seddon/Yolanda van Heezik

LLOYD, Melanie

Email: llome300@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  In vitro studies of intra-clonal interactions in parasitic trematodes.

Supervisor: Robert Poulin

MCNALLY, Nathan

Email: mcnna098@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Survival, recruitment and breeding behaviour of male New Zealand sea lions Phocarctos hookeri at Enderby Island, Auckland Islands.

Supervisor: Bruce Robertson, Stephen Dawson (Marine Science)

MCQUILLAN, Jamie

Email: mcqhe451@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Factors modulating dopamine receptor expression in the honey bee brain and antennae: implications for memory and learning.

Supervisor: Alison Mercer

MACLEOD, Colin

Email: macco602@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   The effects of ocean acidification on the interaction of marine trematode parasites and their hosts.

Supervisor: Robert Poulin

MEYER, Stefan

Email:  meyst482@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Population dynamics and conservation of New Zealand sea lions.

Supervisor:  Bruce Robertson

MILLER (Hutchison), Eleanor

Email: hutel337@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic: What drives dolphin distribution? Investigating Hector’s dolphin diet and the role of prey availability in Hector’s dolphin fine-scale habitat selection.

Supervisors: Steve Dawson (Marine Science), Liz Slooten, Steve Wing (Marine Science)


MONDET, Fanny

Email: monfa729@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Interactions between the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and its main parasite, Varroa destructor: chemical ecology, host tolerance and virus spread. 

Supervisor: Alison Mercer

MONK, Travis

Email: montr316@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Computational modelling of the evolution of synapticlearning levels.

Supervisor: Mike Paulin

NIEBUHR, Chris

Email:  niech699@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:   PhD in Zoology

Topic:  Investigating avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) transmission dynamics along an altitudinal gradient.

Supervisor:  Robert Poulin

O'DWYER, Katie

Email: odwka942@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic: Periwinkle parasites:  Trematode parasites of New Zealand periwinkles, Austrolittorina antipodum and Austrolittorina cincta, and their ecological consequences.

Supervisor: Robert Poulin

PAUL, Sourav

Email: pauso726@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Role of eco-physiology in the distribution of mysid Shrimps (Tenagomysis spp) in temperate estuaries of New Zealand.

Supervisor: Gerry Closs, Keith Probert (Marine Science)

PAYNE, Keith

Email: payke167@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  GSM tags in wildlife management.

Supervisor: Philip Seddon

PERK, Chris

Email: perca643@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Cellular mechanisms of behavioural hyperativity in the brain.

Supervisor: Alison Mercer

PICKERELL, Georgina

Email: picge075@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Interaction between water flow, island characteristics and predation risk by introduced mammalian predators on the Rangatata River, South Canterbury.

Supervisor:  Philip Seddon, Deb Wilson (Landcare), Colin O'Donnell (Department of Conservation)

PIGGOTT, Jay

Email: pigje354@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Multiple stressors in pasture streams:  the effects of nutrients, sediment and water temperature.

Supervisors:  Christoph Matthaei, Colin Townsend

PULLAR, Kiri

Email pulki839@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Computational modelling of elasmobranch electroreception:  sensory biophysics and neural processing.

Supervisor: Mike Paulin

RAMEZANI, Javad

Email: ramja054@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Effects of agricultural stressors on trout populations in Otago.

Supervisors: Gerry Closs, Christoph Matthaei

RODDA, Judy

Email: rodju951@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Population biology of Hector's dolphin at Te Wae Wae Bay, Southland, New Zealand.

Supervisor: Tony Moore (Surveying), Liz Slooten

SALIS, Romana

Email:  salro483@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic: Multiple stressor effects of nitrification dicyandiamide (DCD), nutrients and sediment on stream benthic communities.  

Supervisor:  Christoph Matthaei & Tina Summerfield (Botany)

SENIOR, Alistair

Email: senal826@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Quantifying the fitness of sex reversed fish.

Supervisor: Shinichi Nakagawa

SEYBOLD, Anna

Email:  seyan398@student.otago.ac.nz

Topic:  Molecular adaptation mechanisms in Antarctic nematodes.

Supervisors:  Craig Marshall, Peter Dearden, David Wharton

SHAHPOURY, Pourya

Email: pshahpoury@chemistry.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Chemistry)

Topic:  Pesticides in New Zealand streams.

Supervisors: Kimberley Hageman, Christoph Matthaei, Keith Hunter

STUMBO, Anthony

Email:   stuan077@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Impact of optic parasites on fish behaviour.

Supervisor:  Robert Poulin

SUGISHITA, Junichi

Email: sugju811@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Foraging ecology of Northern Royal Albatross.

Supervisor: Philip Seddon

SUTTON, Jolene

Email: sutjo591@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Neutral microsatellite and functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) variation in New Zealand passerines with different bottleneck histories.

Supervisors: Ian Jamieson, Bruce Robertson

SYMON, Vanda

Email:  camva237@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Science Communication)

Topic:

Supervisor:   Jean Fleming

TAYLOR, Amy

Email: tayam433@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Genetics)

Topic:  Epigenetic control of regeneration in Xenopus laevis and Ambystoma mexicanum.

Supervisor: Caroline Beck/Alison Mercer

VALOIS, Amanda

Email: valam479@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic: Parasitism in lake plankton communities: direct and indirect effects of invasive species on parasite prevalence and virulence.

Supervisor: Robert Poulin

VIVANCOS, Aurelien

Email: vivau915@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Ecology)

Topic:  Social structure within shoals of similar sized drift-feeder and its implication for habitat and resources partitionning:  an example with juveniles non-diadromous Galaxiid (Galaxiid sp.).

Supervisor: Gerry Closs

WANG, Elisha

Email: wanyi487@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Genetics)

Topic:  Lens and limb regeneration in anuaran amphibian Xenopus laevis.

Supervisors:  Caroline Beck, Jon Waters

WARBURTON, Manna

Email: warma014@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Constraints of life history on the distribution of diadromous fish.

Supervisor:  Gerry Closs, Martin Krkosek

WEAVER, Amy

Email: weaam485@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Environmental Science)

Topic:  Land use development and microbial nutrient cycling in an oligotrophic lake.

Supervisors: Carolyn Burns, Marc Schallenberg

WEBSTER, Trudi

Email: webtr515@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Southern right whale acoustics: repertoire, behaviour and the effects of noise pollution.

Supervisors: Steve Dawson (Marine Science), Mike Paulin

WEISER, Emily

Email: weiem624@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Managing genetic diversity for population viability in threatened birds.

Supervisor: Ian Jamieson/Catherine Grueber

WESTON, Kerry

Email: weske543@student.otago.ac.nz

Course: PhD (Zoology)

Topic:   Conservation genetics of rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris).

Supervisor: Bruce Robertson/Ian Jamieson

WREN, Sally

Email:   wresa659@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:

Supervisor:  Phil Bishop

WYLIE, Matt

Email:  wylma731@student.otago.ac.nz

Course:  PhD (Zoology)

Topic:  Gonadotropin secretion and gonad development in hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios). 

Supervisor:  Mark Lokman

 

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340 Great King Street
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

Tel 64 3 479 7986
Fax 64 3 479 7584
Email zoology@otago.ac.nz