PhD
Caroline Bélanger
Canada
PhD topic: Volcanology project studying Ubehebe, Death Valley, California
Supervisor: James White
Email: belca553@student.otago.ac.nz
Francesco Cappuccio
Italy
PhD topic: Fracture characterisation and structural and chemical correlations in drilled rock cores by means of automated image analysis, CT scan, and multifractals
Supervisors: Virginia Toy, Steven Mills (Computer Science)
Email: capfr277@student.otago.ac.nz
Sebastian Clar
Germany/NZ
PhD topic: Seismic Oceanography: 3D and Time-Lapse Imaging of Mixing Processes at Water Mass Boundaries off New Zealand
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Rob Smith (Marine Science), Christina Riesselman
Email: clase510@student.otago.ac.nz
Hazel Conway
Ireland
PhD topic: Investigating an uplifted submarine volcanic succession on Milos Island, Greece
Supervisors: James White
Email: conha128@student.otago.ac.nz
Joanna Cooper
Canada
PhD topic: Investigating water-mass mixing across the Sub-tropical Front east of the South Island using seismic oceanography.
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Ross Vennell (Marine Science)
Email: coojo202@student.otago.ac.nz
Amber Coste
France/UK
PhD topic: Describing several specimens of fossil “tusked” New Zealand dolphins and investigating their teeth.
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Carolina Loch (Dentistry)
Email: cosam991@student.otago.ac.nz
Grace Duke
USA
PhD topic: Characterising Antarctic primary productivity during the Pliocene using nitrogen bound in frustules
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Robert Van Hale (Chemistry) and Rebecca Robinson (University of Rhode Island)
Email: dukgr761@student.otago.ac.nz
Sheng Fan (Van)
China
PhD topic: Natural Ice Microstructure.
Supervisors: Dave Prior, Christina Hulbe and Heather Purdie
Email: fansh405@student.otago.ac.nz
Michelle Fitzgerald
New Zealand
PhD topic: Lithic fragment populations in a cluster of closely spaced volcanoes in central Hopi Buttes Volcanic Field, Navajo Nation, Arizona
Supervisor: James White, Mike Palin
Email: fitmi203@student.otago.ac.nz
Ian Geary
New Zealand
PhD topic: The Miocene to Quaternary macrofossil plant and fungal floras of Auckland and Northland
Supervisor: Daphne Lee, Janice Lord (Botany) John Conran (The University of Adelaide)
Email: geaia102@student.otago.ac.nz
Greer Gilmer
New Zealand
PhD topic: Climate records from Auckland Islands, Antarctica and Lake Ohau.
Supervisors: Chris Moy, Christina Riesselman, Marcus Vandergoes (GNS)
Email: gilgr092@student.otago.ac.nz
Jonathan Griffin
Australia
PhD topic: Earthquake recurrence in low seismicity regions.
Supervisors: Mark Stirling, Ting Wang, Matt Gerstenberger (GNS)
Email: jonathan.griffin@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Jasper Hoffmann
Germany
PhD topic: Geophysics project examining fluid migration and escape features in the Canterbury Basin
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Gareth Crutchley (GNS Science), Christian Ohneiser
Email: hofja961@student.otago.ac.nz
Stephanie Junior
USA
PhD topic: Analyzing gold in the mantle, petrological and geochemical studies of New Zealand peridotites.
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: steph.junior@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Anna Kowal
Poland
PhD topic: Strong motion seismology. Ground motion simulations for Dunedin-Mosgiel area.
Supervisor: Mark Stirling
Email: kowan133@student.otago.ac.nz
Katie Matts
UK
PhD topic: Fossil penguins
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: matka014@student.otago.ac.nz
Risa Matsumura
Japan
PhD topic: Alpine Fault Cataclasites
Supervisors: Virginia Toy, Norio Shigematsu (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba)
Email: matri628@student.otago.ac.nz
Moyna Mueller
PhD topic: Palaeontology, Hector’s dolphin, comparative flipper anatomy, morphology and taxonomy
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Jo Stanton, (Anatomy and Structural Biology), Steve Dawson (Marine Science)
Email: moyna.muller@otago.ac.nz
Marshall Palmer
New Zealand
PhD topic: Geochemical characterization and in-situ dating of various scheelite deposits within the South Island of New Zealand
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: palma487@student.otago.ac.nz
Alessio Pontesilli
Italy
PhD topic: Petrology and experimental petrology of the Dunedin Volcanic Complex
Supervisors: Marco Brenna, Silvio Mollo (University of La Sapienza, Rome), Matteo Masotta (University of Pisa), James White
Email: alessiopontesilli@gmail.com
Kat Sauer
USA
PhD topic: Influence of fluids and microstructural heterogeneities on the rheological behaviour of large-scale continental faults: Insights from the Alpine Fault mylonite zone, New Zealand
Supervisor: Virginia Toy, Dave Prior
Email: katrina.sauer@otago.ac.nz
Yilun Shao
China
PhD topic: Rheological processes in the upper mantle under the South Island of New Zealand
Supervisors: Dave Prior, James Scott, Martin Reyners (GNS Science)
Email: shayi182@student.otago.ac.nz
Olivia Truax
USA
PhD topic: TBA
Supervisor:
Email: truol520@student.otago.ac.nz
Francesco Turco
Italy
PhD topic: Geophysical characterisation of gas hydrate systems on New Zealand's Hikurangi subduction margin
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Gareth Crutchley (GNS Science)
Email: turfr013@student.otago.ac.nz
Mathew Vanner
New Zealand
PhD topic: Jurassic to Quaternary fossil wood of the South Island, New Zealand
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce
Email: vanma943@student.otago.ac.nz
Arwen Werno 
New Zealand
PGDipSci Topic: Comparison of the morphology and emplacement of ‘pancake’ domes on Venus to rhyolitic submarine domes on Earth
Supervisor: James White
Email: arwenwerno@gmail.com
Rong Zhang
China
PhD topic: Drivers of monogenetic versus polygenetic intraplate volcanism: A comparative study of Tianchi-Longgang (China), and Dunedin-Waipiata (New Zealand) volcanic systems
Supervisors: Marco Brenna, James White, Gabor Kereszturi (Massey University), Jiandong Xu (China Earthquake Administration)
Email: zharo178@student.otago.ac.nz
Master of Science (MSc)
Ella van den Berg
New Zealand
MSc topic: Paleoseismology and earthquake hazard of the Cardrona (north) and Grandview Faults, Central Otago
Supervisors: Mark Stirling, David Barrell (GNS)
Email: ella.vandenberg@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Luke Carrington
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic characteristics and extreme hazards of faulting around Dunedin
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman, Steve Smith
Email: carlu665@student.otago.ac.nz
Donna Condon
New Zealand
MSc topic: Reconstructing Antarctic Bottom Water Current Strength at ODP Site 1101
Supervisors: Christian Ohneiser, Chris Moy
Email: condo821@student.otago.ac.nz
Harry Davies
MSc topic: Expanding the Footprint of Mesothermal Gold: Trace Elements in Sulphides
Supervisors: Mike Palin, Doug MacKenzie
Email: davha306@student.otago.ac.nz
Dannielle Eagles
New Zealand
MSc topic: Fossil baleen whales
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: eagda897@student.otago.ac.nz
Tayla Hill
New Zealand
MSc topic: Determining the preconditioning and triggering mechanisms of submarine mass movement over anticline ridges, offshore Wairarapa
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Joshu Mountjoy (NIWA) and Sally Watson (NIWA)
Mikaeli Lalor
MSc topic: High-resolution lacustrine records of late Holocene climate change from southern New Zealand
Supervisor: Chris Moy
Email: mikaeli.lalor@otago.ac.nz
James Leaper
New Zealand/United Kingdom
MSc topic: Investigating the internal mysteries of the beautiful, yet catastrophic Cascade rock avalanche within Fiordland to gauge potential landslides that jeopardise New Zealand
Supervisor: Steven Smith
Email: leaja507@student.otago.ac.nz
Hamish Lilley
New Zealand
MSc topic: Gold in Preservation Inlet, Fiordland
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: lilha287@student.otago.ac.nz
Jakob Morgan 
New Zealand
MSc Topic: Deeply sourced lithic fragments in overlapping maar deposits of central Hopi Buttes volcanic field, Navajo Nation, Arizona, USA
Supervisor: James White
Email: morja406@student.otago.ac.nz
Ross Nicolls
MSc Topic: East Otago range front geomorphology; constraints on location and timing of fault activity
Supervisor: Mark Stirling
Michael William Ofman
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic anisotropy and deformation fabrics of the Horoman Peridotite, Hokkaido, Japan
Supervisor: Virginia Toy
Email: ofmmi216@student.otago.ac.nz
Jan-Kristian Piekarski
Germany
MSc topic: Middle Cenozoic unconformities of Waihao Valley, South Canterbury Basin
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: pieja996@student.otago.ac.nz
Oliver Rees
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic characterisation of sediments in Otago Harbour
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Andrew Gorman
Email: reeol408@student.otago.ac.nz
Clarissa Ross
MSc Topic: The influence of clay mineral properties on expansion in Southland soils, New Zealand
Supervisor: Candace Martin
Lachie Scarsbrook
New Zealand
MSc topic: Does size matter? Using osteology and ancient DNA to infer impacts of human colonization on Duvaucel’s gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii).
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Nic Rawlence (Zoology)
Email: lachie.scarsbrook@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Rilee Thomas
New Zealand
MSc topic: The effects of solute chemistry of ice on ice deformation behaviour
Supervisor: Dave Prior, Gemma Kerr
Email: thori218@student.otago.ac.nz
Erin Weightman
Australia, UK, New Zealand
MSc topic: Mine waste as a source of environmentally hazardous arsenic and sulphate
Supervisors: Dave Craw, James Scott
Email: weier012@student.otago.ac.nz
Caroline Wilsher 
MSc Topic: Eocene-Oligocene climate sensitivity reconstructed using sediments from Winton Basin, Southland
Supervisor: Christian Ohneiser
Yuval Yagolnitzer
Israel, New Zealand
MSc topic: The Pigroot Duality, an experimental analysis of the Pigroot phonolite
Supervisor: Marco Brenna
Email: yuval.yagolnitzer@hotmail.com
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
Aidan Aubert
New Zealand
BSc (Hons) topic: Origin of modern and paleo garnet deposits in the Manakaiaua River area, South Westland, New Zealand
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: aidan.aubert@gmail.com
Wendel Broek
BSc (Hons) topic: The Highcliff Tuff, Dunedin Volcano
Supervisor: Marco Brenna
Email:
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
Aleisha Savage
PGDipSci Topic: Holocene paleoclimate record in the Adare Trough, Antarctica
Supervisor: Christina Riesselman
Email: saval436@student.otago.ac.nz
Students co-supervised by geology staff
These are students that have primary supervisors and office spaces in other departments. They have secondary supervisors in the Department of Geology.
Peter Batson
PhD (Marine Science) topic:
Supervisors:
Email:
Martin Forbes
PhD (Surveying) topic: Structural provinces and limits on rift propagation in the Ross Ice Shelf
Supervisors: Christina Hulbe (School of Surveying), Dave Prior (Geology), Andrew Gorman (Geology)
Email: martin.forbes@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Sophie Gangl
PhD (Chemistry) topic: Geochemical characterization of the development of OAE-2 (C/T boundary) using C isotopes and redox-sensitive metal isotopes
Supervisors: Claudine Stirling (Chemistry), Matthew Clarkson (Chemistry), Chris Moy
Email: ganso923@student.otago.ac.nz
Risha Jasmine Singh
PhD (Toxicology) topic: Biosorption of Heavy Metals from Water
Supervisors: Rhonda Rosengren (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Candace Martin
Email: sinri581@student.otago.ac.nz
Uru-Manuka Ming-Cheung (Ming) Williams
MSc(Marine Science) topic: The effects of sedimentation on the physiology of living New Zealand brachiopods
Supervisors: Miles Lamare (Marine Science), Daphne Lee (Geology), Jeffrey Robinson (Geology)
Email: ming.williams@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Shaun Wilson
MSc (Zoology) topic: Ecotypic varation and sexual dimorphism in the orca (Orcinus orca) skull
Supervisors: Liz Slooten (Zoology), Ewan Fordyce
Email:
