Zoology PhD Students

ALDEN, Bryony

Email

aldbr243@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Microplastic pollution in Australasian freshwater ecosystems: is it a problem and what impact does it have on aquatic life?

Supervisors

Christoph Matthaei, Phil Bishop

ALTOBELLI, Joseph

Email

altjo375@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Breeding behaviour and reproductive success of leiopelmatid frogs.

Supervisors

Phil Bishop, Kath Dickinson (Botany)

ARA, Motia Gulshan

Email

aramo685@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Morphological and genetic variation in New Zealand smelts.

Supervisors

Travis Ingram, Graham Wallis

BABIO, Lucila

Email

bablu673@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Vitellogenesis in the short-finned eel, Anguilla australis: physiology of vitellogenin uptake and its receptor(s).

Supervisors

Mark Lokman, Erin Damsteegt, Sally McCormick (Biochemistry)

BANERJEE, Sulagna

Email

bansu487@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Genetics)

Topic

Role of neuroinflammation in epilepsy.

Supervisors

Caroline Beck

BENNETT, Jerusha

Email

benje870@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Otago coastal marine ecosystem from a parasite perspective: diversity, ecology and evolution of species interactions.

Supervisors

Robert Poulin, Fatima Jorge, Bronwen Presswell

BERTOIA, Aaron

Email

beraa464@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Improving monitoring tools for native alpine invertebrates.

Supervisors

Bruce Robertson

BHATTARAI, Upendra

Email

bhaup057@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Genetics)

Topic

Investigating the molecular basis of parasitic mind control.

Supervisors

Neil Gemmell (Anatomy), Eddy Dowle (Anatomy), Robert Poulin

CHUKWUKA, Christian

Email

christian.chukwuka@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Implications of climate change for basking behaviour, retreat site use and physiological stress responses of the Otago/Southland gecko.

Supervisors

Alison Cree, Jo Monks

CURTIN, Emma

Email

curem387@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The ecology of introduced dung beetles in the South Island.

Supervisors

Phil Bishop, Barbara Barratt (Landcare), Jenny Jandt

DE ANGELI DUTRA, Daniela

Email

deada056@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

How do migratory birds connect haemosporidian parasite lineages in Brazil?

Supervisor

Robert Poulin

DETONI, Mateus

Email

fajma963@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Social wasp behavioural ecology and genomics.

Supervisors

Jenny Jandt

DIVERS, Sean

Email

divse220@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

New Zealand eel aquaculture, establishing broodstock conditioning and maturation protocols.

Supervisors

Mark Lokman, Henry Kaspar

DOHERTY, Jean-Francois (Jeff)

Email

mohmi699@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Behavioural aspects of cave weta parasitised by hairworms during infection.

Supervisors

Robert Poulin

DURANTE, Leonardo

Email

maile330@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Marine Science)

Topic

Identifying food-web structure, resource use and movements of fishes under the Quota Management System.

Supervisors

Steve Wing (Marine Science), Travis Ingram

EDA, Adria Rae Abigail

Email

adria.eda@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Metagenomic analysis of cutaneous microbiome in New Zealand frogs associated with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)

Supervisors

Phil Bishop, Jo-Ann Stanton (Anatomy)

FILION, Antoine

Email

filan059@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Malaria outbreak in mosquitoes and birds: a case of population synchrony?

Supervisors

Robert Poulin, Steph Godfrey

FOSTER, Brodie

Email

fosbr368@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Evolutionary genetics of wing loss and mimicry in stoneflies.

Supervisors

Jon Waters

FOSTER, Nicholas

Email

nicholas.foster@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Spatial ecology, resource associations and niche partitioning of invasive browsing and omnivorous mammals in the uplands of the Mackenzie Basin.

Supervisors

Yolanda van Heezik, Phil Seddon

FOSTER, Yasmin

Email

yasmin.foster@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Using DNA methylation to age the kākāpō and other endangered New Zealand birds.

Supervisors

Bruce Robertson, Sheri Johnson

GOODMAN, Jane

Email

jgoodman@doc.govt.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Conservation of migratory galaxiids.

Supervisors

Gerry Closs, Travis Ingram

HAMLIN, Taylor

Email

hamta777@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Statistics)

Topic

Population ecology of Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea.

Supervisors

Matt Schofield (Maths and Stats), Phil Seddon, Dean Anderson (Landcare)

HEYZER, Audrey

Email

heyau484@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Engaging people in biodiversity management: exploring the convergence of culture and nature.

Supervisors

Yolanda van Heezik, Claire Freeman (Geography)

HICKCOX, Rachel

Email

rachel.hickcox@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Combating another mass extinction: A global macroecological approach to investigate the distribution of penguins.

Supervisors

Phil Seddon, Yolanda van Heezik

HUNN, Julia

Email

hunju034@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Multiple-stressor effects of three key climate change drivers on stream fish and invertebrate communities.

Supervisors

Christoph Matthaei, Jeremy Piggott

HUNTER, James

Email

james.hunter@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Spatially explicit modelling of Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri) reintroduction.

Supervisors

Phil Seddon, Ralf Ohlemuller (Geography)

JARVIS, Matthew

Email

matthew.jarvis@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Potential impacts of global change on amphidromous fishes.

Supervisors

Gerry Closs, Steve Wing (Marine Science)

KARUNARAJ, Prashath

Email

prashath.karunaraj@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Genetics)

Topic

The origins, evolution and diversity of extracellular fine-tuning mechanisms for regulating TGFb signalling in metazoans.

Supervisors

Caroline Beck, Peter Dearden (Biochemistry)

KHAN, Samiullah (Sami)

Email

sami.khan@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Investigation of pelagic food web resilience and potential of biomanipulation techniques to help restore ecological integrity in Lake Hayes and Lake Johnson (Central Otago, NZ).

Supervisors

Marc Schallenberg, Kevin Collier (Waikato)

KHAN, Md Saiful (Saif)

Email

saif.khan@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Monitoring of threatened bird colonies and their habitat in braided river ecosystems of New Zealand using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Supervisors

Phil Seddon

LUBBE, Pascale

Email

pascale.lubbe@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Genetics)

Topic

The influence of climate change on New Zealand biodiversity

Supervisors

Michael Knapp (Anatomy), Nic Dussex, Nic Rawlence

MARTINI, Denise

Email

marde569@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Anatomy)

Topic

Evolution and conservation of the endangered New Zealand kākā.

Supervisors

Michael Knapp (Anatomy), Neil Gemmell (Anatomy), Bruce Robertson

MICHELSEN-HEATH, Sue

Email

micsu171@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Physiological responses of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) after exposure to the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos.

Supervisors

Alison Mercer, Mark Lokman, Kimberly Hageman (Chemistry)

MILOTIC, Marin

Email

marin.milotic@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Woylie parasite co-extinction and conservation

Supervisors

Steph Godfrey, Alan Lymbery, Andy Thompson

MOHAMMADI DARESTANI, Mitra

Email

mohmi699@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The process of landlocking in kōaro.

Supervisors

Travis Ingram, Gerry Closs, Mark Lokman

MORA-TEDDY, Aidan

Email

morai246@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Freshwater microplastic pollution and the effects on stream communities.

Supervisors

Christoph Matthaei, Gerry Closs

MURAUSKAITE, Dovile

Email

murdo713@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Genetic diversity of multi-drug resistant Teladorsagia circumcincta

Supervisors

Robert Poulin

PARK, Eunji

Email

pareu642@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Microsporidians in New Zealand: Hidden diversity, ecological role, and phylogeny

Supervisors

Robert Poulin

PARVIZI, Elaheh

Email

parel659@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Modern and ancient DNA analysis of NZ intertidal mollusks: testing for genetic disruption of marine phylogeographic patterns associated with earthquakes

Supervisors

Jon Waters, Nic Rawlence

RAGSDALE, Alexandria (Alex)

Email

ragal599@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Do older male zebrafish more faithfully transmit stress induced epigenetic states?

Supervisors

Sheri Johnson, Tim Hore (Anatomy), Hamish Spencer

RAMACHANDRA, Sisitha

Email

ramsi613@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The effect of different hormones and the changes in the molecular bases of fresh water eels during silvering.

Supervisors

Mark Lokman

RUEHLE, Brandon

Email

ruebr859@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Effects of visual obstruction by Tylodelphys sp. on reproductive efforts of Gobiomorphus cotidianus

Supervisors

Robert Poulin

SAMUS, Andreas

Email

saman342@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Connection to nature in urban gardens.

Supervisors

Claire Freeman (Geography), Kath Dickinson (Botany), Yolanda van Heezik

SCHALLENBERG, Lena

Email

lena.schallenberg@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Characterising picocyanobacterial diversity, abundance and function in New Zealand lakes: how picoplankton shape our freshwater environments.

Supervisors

Carolyn Burns, Susie Wood

SORYL, Asher

Email

soras342@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Bioethics)

Topic

Establishing welfare biology: Creating a new research discipline for studying the welfare of all sentient beings.

Supervisors

Mike King (Bioethics), Andrew Moore (Philosophy), Phil Seddon

STUART, Rose

Email

holro960@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The use of Southland coastal wetlands by native fish for growth and recruitment.

Supervisors

Gerry Closs, Travis Ingram

THOMAS, Beauchamp (Luna)

Email

thobe008@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Exploring the mating behavior of the endemic New Zealand stag beetle genus, Geodorcus.

Supervisors

Sheri Johnson

TOORCHI, Mahsa

Email

tooma453@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The role of landscape in determining freshwater fish distribution and abundance.

Supervisors

Gerry Closs, Pascal Sirguey (Surveying), Peter Whigham (Information Science)

VELASQUEZ SAYAGO, Marcel

Email

velma174@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Marine Sciences)

Topic

Effects of past natural disturbances on spatial genetic structure of marine ecosystems.

Supervisors

Crid Fraser (Marine Sciences), Jon Waters

VERRY, Alex

Email

veral540@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Using ancient DNA to examine the impact of glaciation on New Zealand's fauna.

Supervisors

Nic Rawlence, Jon Waters, Graham Wallis

VIRENS, Josef

Email

jo.virens@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

The effects of climate change on the thermal ecology of Otago's heliothermic lizards.

Supervisors

Alison Cree

WALTON, Kerry

Email

walke635@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Application and efficacy of ancient DNA methods to obtain genetic sequences from museum biological specimens.

Supervisors

Hamish Spencer, Nic Rawlence

WANSBROUGH, Jesse

Email

wanje130@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Assessing facultative iteroparity in Galaxias maculatus.

Supervisors

Gerry Closs, Mark Lokman

WICKMAN, Lindsay

Email

wicli336@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Marine Science)

Topic

Population modelling of Hector's dolphins.

Supervisors

Steve Dawson (Marine Science), Peter Dillingham (Maths and Stats), Liz Slooten

WREN, Sally

Email

wresa659@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Improving knowledge and techniques for the conservation of New Zealand's native frogs.

Supervisors

Phil Bishop

YOUNG, Melanie

Email

melanie.young@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Coping with nutritional stress: diet, dispersal and plasticity in the foraging strategies of hoiho/yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes).

Supervisors

Yolanda van Heezik, Bruce Robertson, Phil Seddon

ZAMORANO, Daniel

Email

zamda279@student.otago.ac.nz

Course

PhD (Zoology)

Topic

Including disturbance as a driver of stream periphyton in a metacommunity framework.

Supervisors

Christoph Matthaei, Travis Ingram