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Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser

Rachel Sizemore

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Rachel Sizemore (Ngāi Tahu) is the Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser within the Graduate Research School supporting Māori Postgraduate students.

Ko Hikaroroa te māunga, ko Waikouaiti te awa, ko Takitimu te waka, ko Ngāi Tahu tōku iwi, nō Ōtepoti ahau. Ko Rachel Sizemore tōku ingoa.

Kia ora. I am Rachel Sizemore and as well as being the Māori Postgraduate Support Advisor with the Graduate Research School, I am also the Kaiāwhina Māori in the Otago Business School. I come from a scientific research background. I have a BSc (Otago) in Zoology & Anatomy, an MSc (Otago) in Anatomy and a PhD (Otago) in Neuroscience. I am passionate about making sure you have a successful tertiary experience.

Rachel is able to assist you with some of the challenges you may face as a postgraduate student by:

  • acting as a link to the resources offered by the University;
  • offering workshops, regular research hui and seminars;
  • acting in an advocacy capacity;
  • offering support to individual students;
  • offering advice on scholarships; and,
  • providing opportunities for you to meet other Māori postgraduate students and staff at Otago and nationally.

If you are struggling and would like someone to talk ideas over with, please feel to contact Racehel:

Tel +64 3 479 8082
Email maori.postgrad@otago.ac.nz
Office: G.02, 103 St David Street
Hours:
— Wednesday, 8:30am to 12 noon
— Thursday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm

Events, services and opportunities

The purpose of the Māori post graduate support programme is to encourage the development of excellent scholars, researchers and future leaders through various support mechanisms, including seminars, workshops and training. As part of this programme, there are regular writing days, retreats, hui and workshops.

Hui

Hui are held throughout the year from noon to 2:00pm. Lunch is provided so it is important to register your attendance for catering purposes. If you have special dietary requirements it is important to let us know.

Register for the 2020 hui events:

Writing Days

There are regular Writing Days for Māori postgraduate candidates scheduled for those enrolled in a thesis who wish to get together for a chance to write in a group setting. Many candidates find this process extremely useful. Lunch is provided.

If you would like to know more about these writing days, please contact:

Rachel Sizemore
Email maori.postgrad@otago.ac.nz.

Register to attend any of the following writing days:

Multi-day writing retreats

Writing retreats are an opportunity for Māori postgraduate candidates to retire to a quiet peaceful location and realise writing goals.

Writing is done either in solitude or in a group setting with timed blocks of writing and regular breaks. Meals are provided. Distance students may be assisted with travel costs.

For more details, please contact:

Rachel Sizemore
Email maori.postgrad@otago.ac.nz

The dates of the 2020 writing retreats are as follows:

Upcoming postgraduate workshops

Few students arrive at a thesis knowing exactly what to do and how to do it. Most find it beneficial to attend some of the many courses offered.

These courses help you to work smarter, understand the process and expectations and give you helpful practical advice on everything from software, to the research process to writing and publishing.

Graduate Research School

To find out about all the workshops and events offered to Doctoral and Master's Thesis candidates by the Graduate Research School.
Visit the Graduate Research School Workshops and Events page

Higher Education Development Centre and the Student Learning Development

Find out about the many workshops on offer through HEDC and the Student Learning Development:
Visit the HEDC workshop registration page

Here you'll find workshops on a number of topics including getting started, what is entailed in the research journey, tips for procrastinators, how to structure a thesis, how to start a thesis and how to finish it.

There are also a number of resources available to download on the actual writing of a thesis.
Visit the Writing of a Thesis page

The Library

Every semester the library runs workshops specifically for Postgraduate students.
Check out their upcoming courses via the workshop registration page

ITS Training

ITS run numerous courses on using the computer software that may be of use to your research, including EndNote for bibliographies, Word for long documents and conference poster preparation.
Visit the ITS training page for more about courses that might help you