Q&A with Catrin Ogilvie, 20Twenties Young Alumni Award winner in 2025
Microbiology and Mātauranga Māori have together shaped Catrin’s time at Otago and her early career path.
Catrin (Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa) graduated with a BAppSc in Molecular Biotechnology, with a minor in Māori Studies, in 2024, and BSc (Hons) in Microbiology 2026.
She was awarded the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Māori Postgraduate Scholarship to undertake her honours studies. Working with Associate Professor Htin Lin Aung in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, her honours project focused on tuberculosis (TB) in Māori communities.
Catrin has also been a tutor at the Pūhoro STEMM Academy, which improves rangatahi engagement in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and mātauranga Māori, and helps tauira navigate university entrance and scholarship applications.
While at Otago, she represented New Zealand in Ultimate Frisbee tournaments at the 2022 World Under-20 and 2025 World Under-24 Ultimate Championships.
Q: How did you react when you heard you had received the award, and what does it mean to you?
I was honestly quite surprised to receive the award, but I’m very grateful to be recognised alongside such dedicated and talented young Otago alumni who are making meaningful contributions to their communities.
Q: What path have you followed since graduation?
After finishing my honours year, I continued my research over summer, working to better understand the strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis responsible for the largest TB cluster in Aotearoa and strongly associated with Māori communities.
At the start of this year, I moved to Wellington to work at the Ministry for Primary Industries within New Zealand Food Safety, before moving into a scientist role at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.
I now work on the RNA Technology Platform, which was established following the COVID-19 pandemic to build Aotearoa’s capability in RNA research and technology.
Q: What inspires and motivates you to work in your field?
I’m really motivated by being able to support research that addresses real-world issues. In my current role, we give scientists the capability to develop solutions that are specific to Aotearoa.
This includes research into issues that disproportionately affect Māori and Pasifika populations, as well as creating H5 bird flu vaccines for our endangered taonga species.
I find it incredibly motivating to see issues in the news, or experience them personally, such as through COVID-19, and then come into work and be able to support research addressing those challenges.
More broadly, I’m motivated by my own experiences and I’m interested in increasing opportunities for Māori students through mentoring and supporting Māori participation in science, and I want to continue this alongside my current role.
I have also recently completed a Certificate in Physical Wellbeing through Te Wānanga o Raukawa - Poupou Whakapiki Mauri. I hope to bring this kaupapa into my work in the medical research space.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
I’m keen to gain some experience overseas, particularly in areas like tropical medicine, global health, health equity and Indigenous rights.
My time at Otago highlighted the importance of the political, social and environmental factors that determine disease prevalence and outcomes, and I’d like to eventually work more directly with and advocate for affected communities.
I’m still figuring out whether postgraduate study, including a PhD, is something I want to pursue, but I’m really enjoying working in biotechnology and research and am keen to see where it takes me.
Q: Tell us about the highlights of your time at Otago, and how it has influenced you in your career?
A pretty standard answer, but 100 per cent truthful – the people I met were definitely the highlight of my time at Otago.
I’m grateful for the lecturers, mentors and friends who supported me and helped shape my interests. Getting involved in research and becoming a part of Pūhoro STEMM Academy’s kaupapa also played a big part in shaping where I’ve ended up.
And, of course, a special mention to the Otago University Ultimate Club!