Research Fellow
BA, BSc(Hons), PhD (VUW)Research interests
Dr Michaela Pettie (Ngāti Pūkenga) is a Research Fellow on the EDGI study. She is investigating perspectives and experiences of eating disorders, especially the experiences for Māori and Rainbow/LBGTQIA+ community members. She is also working with tangata whenua and key communities to understand their needs and how they might support their whānau impacted by eating disorders.
Dr Pettie completed her studies in Behavioural Neurogenetics at Victoria University of Wellington. Her PhD was on the genetic and environmental factors involved in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Since completing her PhD, she has been working with people and communities. As a wāhine rainbow community member with disabilities, she is an advocate for those that are affected by trauma and chronic health issues. Over the last four years, she has worked with sexual abuse support organisations, especially the organisations who support the needs of men and members of the rainbow community.