Students who have studied in the Department of Biochemistry go on to a wide variety of interesting careers around New Zealand and the world. Here are stories featuring the work and careers of some of our alumni.
Jacob Lamb
Jacob Lamb is passionate about using biology, and his background in biochemistry, to help us use energy in a better way.
Laura Haycock
A degree in biochemistry provided Laura Haycock with an answer and a pathway into the world of pharmaceuticals.
Moizle Ocariza
Graduating with a degree in biochemistry in the midst of a global pandemic gave Moizle Ocariza a flying start to her career in biotechnology.
Tom Wiggins
Tom Wiggins has discovered that a postgraduate degree in biochemistry opens up career opportunities in amazing places around the world.
Sara Humphreys
From the beginning, Sara Humphreys has been keen to explore the world around her, in all sorts of ways.
Dora Leahy
A budding interest in biology and chemistry at Taumarunui High School was the first step for Dora Leahy towards a career as a medical scientist.
Matthew Prouse
Matthew Prouse wanted a career where he could go to work each day and, as he explains, "learn about life and expand my understanding of the world."
Dick Hitchings
“As far as getting a future-proof field to work in, you couldn’t do much better than biochemistry.”
Simone Colson
“I have absolutely no regrets about studying biochemistry and encourage you to take it on.”
Courtney McLauchlan
“I absolutely loved learning how biochemistry could work with other disciplines, and how it is right on the forefront of scientific innovation..."
Gemma Dickson
Ask Gemma Dickson about one of the most interesting biochemistry classes she's taken, and she'll tell you about the time she found a never-before-discovered transposable element in a Candida albicans sample.
Jessica Craig
Coming to Otago for its "world-class reputation" and the "scarfie experience," Jessica chose to study a wide range of science papers in her first year and go from there.
Stephen Clarke
“The Biochemistry staff were really enthusiastic and willing to take time out to talk. The labs and courses were well organised and the subjects were interesting and diverse, setting me up for many potential directions later on.”
Dr Paul Johnston
Asked to describe his overall impression of his PhD journey, Paul Johnston gives a one-word answer, “Long.”
Jade Hollis-Moffatt
Dr Jade Hollis-Moffatt is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Biochemistry Department, investigating why 10 to 15 per cent of Maori and Pacific Island men develop gout.
Abhishek Kumar
He is hoping to live the dream of all Antarctic researchers and take a rare trip to the icy continent...
Damian Camp
Damian Camp, Chief executive officer of Ovita, is an ideal example of where mixing science and business can take you.
