Friday 5 December 2014 11:16am
The SJWRI is delighted to announce that forensics PhD student Jenny McDowell was awarded an AMP National Scholarship last night (Dec 4) in Auckland.
As a teenager, Jenny overcame the debilitating after-effects of a shark attack which inspired her interest in anatomy and forensic anthropology, which led to beginning a PhD in the SJWRI under the mentorship of the late Professor Jules Kieser. Following in Jules' footsteps, Jenny's aim is become a world expert in marine forensics and disaster victim identification, and to be the first in New Zealand to obtain international accreditation in forensic anthropology. Her PhD research looks at the chemical and morphological changes which happen in juvenile bone when exposed to a marine environment, as a means of understanding marine decomposition of human body parts in a forensic context.
The aim of the AMP National Scholarship scheme is to support 'Kiwis who want to do their thing'. Each scholarship is worth up to $10,000. Unlike research-related funding which SJWRI students typically pursue, there are no limits around what this scholarship can be awarded for. This year's recipients were from fields as diverse as cancer rehabilitation to fashion to BMX racing.
We are extremely proud of Jenny and thrilled that the AMP award, together with support from the SJWRI, will help her finish her PhD and achieve her dream of becoming an internationally accredited forensic anthropologist.
TVNZ 'Breakfast' interview with Jenny McDowell (One News, 5 Dec 2014)
RadioLive interview with Jenny McDowell (7 Dec 2014)
Shark ordeal spurred passion for forensics (Otago Daily Times, 5 Dec 2014)
Jenny McDowell wins OCEM Student Research Award (7 Nov 2014)