A selection of our current PhD students.
Supervisors are primarily our staff at the Department of Zoology, other supervisors have their affiliation noted.
Theo Atkinson
Email theo.atkinson@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: The genomic consequences of insularity in the Silvereye
Supervisors: Professor Bruce Robertson, Dr Ludovic Dutoit, Sonya Clegg (University of Oxford).
Katherine Buschang
Email katie.buschang@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: I investigate how ecological factors shape the spread of Toxoplasma gondii globally and in New Zealand birds, while refining how we detect and measure infection.
Supervisors: Professor Robert Poulin, Dr Jerusha Bennett, Dr Clement Lagrue
Xuhong Chai
Email chaxu414@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Microbiome of parasites
Supervisors: Professor Robert Poulin, Dr Priscila Salloum.
Jessica Deuber
Email deuje093@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Evolution of gene expression in hybrids.
Supervisors: Dr Ludovic Dutoit, Professor Jon Waters, Dr Nathan Kenny.
Ashimi Dilhara
Email kiras375@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Ecosystem function and species response in intermittently closed estuaries: Integrating hydrology, nutrient dynamics, and organic matter quality.
Supervisors: Associate Professor Marc Schallenberg, Professor Gerry Closs, Professor Ross Thompson, Dr Sami Khan
Kahu Hema
Email hemka585@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Genomics and evolution of wing loss and melanism in Z. fenestrata.
Supervisors: Dr Graham McCulloch, Professor Jon Waters, and Dr Ludovic Dutoit.
Ayuningtyas Indrawati
Email ayu.indrawati@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Recruitment sources and population structure of anguillid eels in Australia and New Zealand.
Supervisors: Professors Gerry Closs and Ross Thompson.
Cameron McDougall
Email mcdca892@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Evolutionary parasitology
Supervisors: Professor Robert Poulin, Dr Priscila Salloum
Mia Milsom
Email milmi783@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Investigating liver health and metabolic dysfunction in farmed salmon.
Supervisors: Professor Mark Lokman, Dr Erin Damsteegt, Professor Daryl Schwenke (Department of Physiology), Dr Kaj Kamstra (Department of Anatomy).
Prashant Neupane
Email neupr754@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Ecology and Biology of Ground Nesting Bees
Supervisor: Dr Jennifer Jandt
Jon Rolfes
Email jon.rolfes@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Ecology and conservation of endemic lizards
Supervisors: Associate Professor Stephanie Godfrey, Dr Jo Monks, Dr Bart Geurten
Newton Saha
Email sahne731@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Variation in Otolith (earstone) shape in New Zealand Gobiomorphus spp. fish in relation to habitat and life history
Supervisor: Professor Gerry Closs
Greer J Sanger
Email sangr426@student.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Pūrerehua kahukura and kahukōwhai, mātauranga, ecology, and behaviour
Supervisors: Dr Jo Monks, Dr Jenny Jandt, Priscilla Wehi
Jacqueline Theis
Email jacqueline.theis@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Ecology
Topic: Enhancing urban biodiversity in highly modified spaces.
Supervisors: Professor Yolanda van Heezik, Professor Barbara Barratt (Bioeconomy Science Institute, formerly AgResearch).
Hossein Valikhani
Email hossein.valikhani@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Developing a landscape perspective of Gollum galaxias (Galaxias gollumoides) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) management, South Island, New Zealand.
Supervisors: Professors Gerry Closs and Ross Thompson.
Nut Xanat Suárez Pérez
Email nut.suarez@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
PhD Zoology
Topic: Loss of morphological diversity and extinction in New Zealand skinks
Supervisors: Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, Dr Jo Monks, Dr Pascale Lubbe