Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Division
Research and Enterprise Office management team
Level 1, East Wing, Centre For Innovation Building, 87 St David Street, Dunedin Campus
Research and Enterprise Office, Research Division, fosters research excellence, and supports researchers to be successful. We assist researchers with pursuing funding opportunities, partnering with next users of research (including national and local government, non-government organisations and business), completing grant applications, and the establishment of research contracts.
Director, Research and Enterprise
Dr Martin Gagnon
Tel +64 3 479 8983
Email martin.gagnon@otago.ac.nz
Senior Research Advisory Manager
Dr Rachel Elliot
Tel +64 3 479 5895
Mob +64 21 279 5895
Email rachel.elliot@otago.ac.nz
Senior Research Advisory Manager
Dr Samuel Heenan
Tel +64 3 479 7628
Mob +64 21 279 0535
Email samuel.heenan@otago.ac.nz
Executive Assistant
Lynette Mitchell
Tel +64 3 479 8905
Email lynette.mitchell@otago.ac.nz
Finance Manager
Keri Te Tamaki
Tel +64 3 471 4271
Email keri.tetamaki@otago.ac.nz
Kaiwhakatere Rakahau Māori – Māori Research Partnerships Manager
Ben Te Aika
Mob +64 21 279 0907
Email ben.teaika@otago.ac.nz
Research Information Manager
Dr John Milnes
Tel +64 3 479 4517
Email john.milnes@otago.ac.nz
Team Leader: Research – Administration
Ms Rhonda McSkimming
Tel +64 3 479 5671
Mob +64 21 278 5671
Email rhonda.mcskimming@otago.ac.nz
Business Development Managers
Level 2, East Wing, Centre For Innovation Building, 87 St David Street, Dunedin Campus
Business Development Managers (BDMs) help build partnerships with industry and other end-users who could benefit from, and contribute to, the development of your research. All BDMs, except our Auckland colleague, are located in the Centre for Innovation, Dunedin Campus.
Agriculture, Antartic science, food and beverage
Dr Muriel Dufour
Mob +64 21 279 8325
Email muriel.dufour@otago.ac.nz
Biotechnology, food, and health – Auckland region
Mr David Powell
Level 4, University of Otago House, 385 Queen St, PO Box 5543, Auckland.
Mob +64 21 983 499
Email d.powell@otago.ac.nz
Biotechnology and public health
Dr Carthika Luxmanan
Mob +64 21 185 1120
Email carthika.luxmanan@otago.ac.nz
Clinical research, genetics, and agriculture
Dr Annie O'Connell
Mob +64 21 279 0623
Email anne.oconnell@otago.ac.nz
Culture, society, and economy
Paul Foster-Bell
Mob +64 21 279 1664
Email paul.foster-bell@otago.ac.nz
Energy, manufacturing, data and technology ecosystems
Dr Amarni Thomas
Mob +64 21 279 0890
Email amarni.thomas@otago.ac.nz
Environment and energy
Dr Rita Przybilski
Mob +64 21 222 7346
Email rita.przybilski@otago.ac.nz
Health and wellbeing, and international development
Tomás Ribeiro
Mob +64 221 530 376
Email tomas.ribeiro@otago.ac.nz
Research consortia
Dr Mel Black
Mob +64 21 279 4590
Email melony.black@otago.ac.nz
Dr Mary Gower (on leave returning 2023)
Research Advisers – Business, Humanities, and Sciences
Research Advisers support researchers with funding applications (contestable funding) including developing the proposals and collaborative applications. They also assist with negotiation and management of contracts once funding has been secured. They welcome your contact as soon as you join the University.
Business School
Chelvica Ariyanayagam
Room 2.05, Business School, 60 Clyde Street, Dunedin
Tel +64 3 479 5934
Mob +64 27 279 5934
Email chelvica.ariyanayagam@otago.ac.nz
Division of Humanities
Dr Natalie Harfoot
- College of Education
- Higher Education Development Centre
- School of Geography
- School of Social Sciences
Room 5S12, Arts (Burns) Building , 95 Albany Street
Tel +64 3 479 4173
Mob +64 21 279 4173
Email natalie.harfoot@otago.ac.nz
Michelle Walker
Room 5S12, Arts (Burns) Building , 95 Albany Street
Hours of work:
Monday: 9:15am–3:45pm
Tuesday: 9:15am–2:15pm
Friday: 9:15am–4:30pm
Tel +64 3 479 4173
Mob +64 21 279 1196
Email michelle.walker@otago.ac.nz
Division of Sciences
Kate Berard
- Departments of Computer Science, Food Science, Human Nutrition, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, and Psychology
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences
Room G30, Ground floor, Union Court, 85 Union St, Dunedin
Tel +64 3 479 8484
Email kate.berard@otago.ac.nz
Melanie Remy
- Departments of Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Marine Science, Science Communication and Zoology
- School of Surveying
Room G31, Ground floor, Union Court, 85 Union Place West, Dunedin
Tel +64 3 479 7717
Email melanie.remy@otago.ac.nz
Research Advisers – Health Sciences
Health Sciences Research Advisers support researchers with funding applications (contestable funding) including developing proposals and collaborative applications. They also assist with subsequent negotiation and management of contracts. They welcome your contact as soon as you join the University.
Anatomy and Physiology
Dr Eric Lord
Room G04, Wellcome Building (corner of Frederick and Great King Streets)
Tel +64 3 479 4592
Mob +64 21 279 4592
Email eric.lord@otago.ac.nz
Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Dr Jacqueline Nielsen
Room 802, Microbiology Building, 720 Cumberland Street, and Room 230a, Biochemistry Building, 710 Cumberland Street
Tel +64 3 279 4591
Mob +64 21 323 394
Email bioc-micro.research@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kerry Galvin
Room 802, Microbiology Building 720 Cumberland Street
Mob +64 21 279 1720
Email bioc-micro.research@otago.ac.nz
Bioethics Centre, Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori, Centre for Pacific Health, Pharmacovigilance Centre
Chelvica Ariyanayagam
Dean's Office, Ground floor, Business School, 60 Clyde Street, Dunedin
Tel +64 3 479 5934
Mob +64 21 279 5934
Email chelvica.ariyanayagam@otago.ac.nz
Centre for International Health
Dr Natalie Harfoot
Room 5S12, Arts (Burns) Building , 95 Albany Street
Tel +64 3 479 4173
Mob +64 21 279 4173
Email natalie.harfoot@otago.ac.nz
Faculty of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy, School of Physiotherapy, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Ms Diana Rothstein
Room G04, Wellcome Building (corner of Frederick and Great King Streets).
Tel +64 3 479 4043
Mob +64 21 0243 7971
Email diana.rothstein@otago.ac.nz
General Practice and Rural Health, Preventive and Social Medicine, Psychological Medicine, Women's and Children's Health
Ali Cameron
Health Research South, Otago Medical School, 1st Floor, Dunedin Public Hospital
Tel +64 3 470 9030
Email ali.cameron@otago.ac.nz
Medicine, Pathology, Surgical Sciences
Dr Edwin Meijerink
Room 225, Biochemistry, 710 Cumberland Street
Tel +64 3 479 4190
Mob +64 21 279 5085
Email edwin.meijerink@otago.ac.nz
Research Adviser – Māori
Fran provides a high level of assistance and advice to academic staff in designated areas within the University for the development of research funding applications and the management of research projects focused on Māori research.
Fran Munro
Mob +64 21 279 20290
Email fran.munro@otago.ac.nz
Research Advisers – University of Otago, Christchurch
Level 5, 2 Riccarton Ave, Christchurch
Tel +64 3 364 1133
MIHI/Dean’s Department, Anaesthesia
Dr Suzanne Benjes
Mob +64 21 279 0302
Email suzanne.benjes@otago.ac.nz
Paediatrics, Surgery, Population Health, Psychological Medicine, General Practise
Dr Dot Brown
Email dot.brown@otago.ac.nz
Pathology and Biomedical Science, Radiology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Postgraduate Nursing
Dr Ian Cooke (start date: 15 May, 2023)
Email ian.cooke@otago.ac.nz
Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Physiotherapy
Emily Oughton
Mob +64 21 279 2253
Email emily.oughton@otago.ac.nz
Research Advisers – University of Otago, Wellington
Dr Nina Barton
Mob +64 21 279 1580
Email nina.barton@otago.ac.nz
Christine Groves
Mob +64 21 279 5541
Email christine.groves@otago.ac.nz
Research Advisory Specialists
Contracting support
Research Advisory Specialists provide contracting support for Business Development Managers and Research Advisers.
Elizabeth Hogbin
Tel +64 3 479 8395
Mob +64 21 279 0646
Email elizabeth.hogbin@otago.ac.nz
Legal Team
Ground Level, West Wing, Centre for Innovation, 87 St David Street, Dunedin
Legal adviser
Mr Will Martin
- Funding contracts
- Intellectual property
- Commercialisation opportunities
Tel +64 3 479 5374
Mob +64 21 279 5374
Email will.martin@otago.ac.nz
Operations Team - administrative, financial and IT support
Ground Level, West Wing, Centre for Innovation, 87 St David Street, Dunedin
Research Information Manager
Dr John Milnes
Tel +64 3 479 4517
Email mailto:john.milnes@otago.ac.nz
Information Systems Officer
Ms Lorraine Harris
Tel +64 3 479 8070
Email lorraine.harris@otago.ac.nz
Research Administration Team
Ms Rhonda McSkimming – Team Leader
Tel +64 3 479 5671
Email rhonda.mcskimming@otago.ac.nz
Research Administrators
All Research Administrators have a central shared email address:
Email research@otago.ac.nz
- Ms Melanie Adams
- Ms Tegan Ferrier
- Ms Sharon Helm
- Ms Jess King
- Ms Sarah-Jane Robertson
- Ms Fiona Seaton (Research Committee Administrator)
- Nikki Shaw
- Ms Rosemary Wallbutton
Research Administrator, University of Otago, Christchurch,
Level 5, 2 Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch
Jen Dreaver
Tel +64 3 364 1133
Mob +64 21 279 2250
Email research@otago.ac.nz
Research Administrator, University of Otago, Wellington
Ms Beck O'Shaughnessy
Tel +64 4 918 6251
Fax +64 4 389 5319
Email research@otago.ac.nz
Research Finance Associates Team
Research Finance Associates manage awarded funding by providing support for expenditure, invoicing, and reporting to funders.
Keri Te Tamaki – Finance Manager
Tel +64 3 479 4271
Email keri.tetamaki@otago.ac.nz
- Managing the Research Finance Associate Team
- Research Division including R&E, Research Divisional Office, Graduate Research School and University Press
- Committees Division including Scholarships / Entrance Scholarships, Research Committee, Equipment Committee, Internationalisation Committee
Research Finance Associates
All email enquiries to:
Email research.finance@otago.ac.nz
Ms Apple Burr
Tel +64 3 479 4022
- Bioethics
- Biostatistics Centre
- Computer Science
- Dunedin School of Medicine (DSM)
- External Engagement Divisional Office
- Health Sciences Divisional Office
- Health Sciences Pacific
- Health Sciences Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori
- Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC)
- Otago Medical School
- Pacific Development Office
- Pharmacovigilance Centre
- Poisons Centre
- Psychology
- Research Divisional Office
- School of Pharmacy
- School of Physiotherapy
- Science Communication
- Te Whare Tawharau
Ms Lisa Hart
Tel +64 3 479 8234
- Anatomy
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Human Nutrition
- Mathematics
- Otago Business School
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Physics
- Physiology
- Statistics
- University of Otago, Christchurch
- University of Otago, Wellington
Ms Jodie Ludwig
Tel +64 3 479 4056
- Biochemistry
- Division of Humanities
- Division of Sciences
- Genomics Aotearoa
- University of Otago, Wellington: Deans Office, Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Primary Healthcare and General Practice.
