Dean
Professor Diane Ruwhiu
Tel +64 3 479 8075
Email dean.grs@otago.ac.nz
Room G.01, 103 St David Street
Diane leads the Graduate Research School team and oversees all thesis-related matters at the University. She is available to assist with queries or concerns.
Deputy Dean
Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith
Tel +64 3 470 4682
Email deputydean.grs@otago.ac.nz
Room G.15, 107 St David Street
Rachel contributes to the leadership of the Graduate Research School team, overseeing researcher development programmes for graduate research candidates and supervisors.
Honorary Professor of Doctoral Education
Professor Vijay Kumar
Email vijay.kumar@qiu.edu.my
Professor Kumar is an Honorary Professor of Doctoral Education at the University of Otago and currently serves as the Dean of Postgraduate Studies at QUEST International University in Malaysia. A long-standing advocate for researcher development, he continues contributing to the professional growth of doctoral candidates and supervisors at Otago, drawing on his international experience and leadership in graduate research education.
Administrator
Rachel Bates
Tel +64 3 479 5737
Email gradresearch@otago.ac.nz
Room G.08, 103 St David Street
Rachel provides administrative support to the Graduate Research team and loves dealing with everyone who drops into our office on St David Street.
Manager
Andrew Lonie
Tel +64 3 470 3447
Email manager.grs@otago.ac.nz
Room G.07, 103 St David Street
Andrew is the manager at the Graduate Research School. He provides a support service to doctoral and thesis masters' candidates and supervisors, manages PhD admissions, and various projects and events pertaining to thesis candidates. Andrew is happy to assist with queries or concerns.
Senior Professional Practice Fellow
Nick Baker
Tel +64 3 479 8461
Email n.baker@otago.ac.nz
Room G.02, 103 St David Street
Nick is responsible for researcher development at the Graduate Research School and oversees and facilitates the Graduate Research School workshop programme.
Find out about Graduate Research School workshops
Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser
Dr Rachel Sizemore
Tel +64 3 479 8082
Email maori.postgrad@otago.ac.nz
Room G.02, 103 St David Street
Rachel is in the office at the Graduate Research School on Wednesday mornings and all day on Thursdays and Fridays.
Find out more about Rachel's role in the Graduate Research School
Pacific Postgraduate Support Adviser
Inano Taripo-Walter (Cook Islands Māori)
Email inano.walter@otago.ac.nz
Inano's role at the Graduate Research School is to support Pacific Island candidates through their postgraduate journeys.
Information about regular writing days offered to Pacific Island candidates.
Senior Teaching Fellow
Dr Navé Wald
Tel +64 3 471 6365
Email nave.wald@otago.ac.nz
Room G.06, 103 St David St
Navé is an experienced senior academic and works as Graduate Research Development Coach. He offers one-to-one and small group meetings for graduate research candidates to support and enhance their development of key research knowledge and skills, as well as related challenges such as time management, procrastination, imposter syndrome, managing supervisory relationships, and expectations of graduate study. He also runs workshops dealing with essential skills for research candidates.
Find out about mentoring and book a session
Find out about Graduate Research School Workshops
Graduate Research School Intern
Victoria Chiwuzoh
Tel +64 21 162 6130
Email chivi64P@registry.otago.ac.nz or chivi961@student.otago.ac.nz
Room G.02, 103 St David Street
Victoria is currently working on a PhD in Higher Education. She actively supports graduate researcher development such as workshops and online learning and contributes to the broader activities of the Graduate Research School.