Staff

View the School of Biological Sciences’ staff list, including role and contact details.

Academic Staff
Adjunct Staff - Medical Research Institute of New Zealand
Adjunct Staff - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Emeritus Professors
Research and Teaching Fellows
Senior Tutors
Administration Staff
Technical Staff

Head of School

Prof Nicola Nelson

Head of School
School of Biological Sciences

nicola.nelson@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5435
027 563 5435
TTR 214, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Deputy Head of School

Prof David Ackerley

Deputy Head of School
School of Biological Sciences

david.ackerley@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5576
+64 21 02284710
TTR 411, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Academic Staff

Prof James Bell

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

james.bell@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864426
TTR 409, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Kevin Burns

Professor of Biology
School of Biological Sciences

kevin.burns@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6873
+64 21 2174018
TTR 326, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Davide Comoletti

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science
School of Biological Sciences

davide.comoletti@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6029
AM 307, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Lisa Connor

Senior Lecturer in Immunology
School of Biological Sciences

lisa.connor@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864418
AM 310, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Simon Davy

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

simon.davy@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5573
+64 27 5635573
TTR 214, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Darren Day

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

darren.day@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6087
TTR 336, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Nicola Day

Lecturer in Plant Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Prof Elaine Dennison

Professor of Clinical Research
School of Biological Sciences

elaine.dennison@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864441
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Julie Deslippe

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

julie.deslippe@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6084
TTR 334, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Jonathan Gardner

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

jonathan.gardner@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5574
TTR 335, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Monica Gerth

Senior Lecturer in Microbiology
School of Biological Sciences

monica.gerth@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864434
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Stephen Hartley

Director of the Centre of Biodiversity & Restoration Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

stephen.hartley@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5447
+64 21 1729579
TTR 330, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Bronwyn Kivell

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

bronwyn.kivell@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9707
TTR 317, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Anne La Flamme

Professor of Immunology
School of Biological Sciences

anne.laflamme@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6093
AM 306, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Phil Lester

Professor in Biology
School of Biological Sciences

phil.lester@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5096
+64 212435096
TTR 329, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Joanna Mackichan

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

joanna.mackichan@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864420
+64 21 0533232
AM 303, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Melanie McConnell

Group Manager Cell and Molecular Biology
School of Biological Sciences

melanie.mcconnell@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864435
AM 309, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Andrew Munkacsi

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

andrew.munkacsi@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5171
AM 322, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Nicola Nelson

Head of School
School of Biological Sciences

nicola.nelson@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5435
027 563 5435
TTR 214, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Diane Ormsby

Lecturer · Chair SBS Learning & Teaching
School of Biological Sciences

diane.ormsby@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5271
TTR 331, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Jeremy Owen

Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences

jeremy.owen@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5277
TTR 410, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Wayne Patrick

Director, Centre for Biodiscovery
School of Biological Sciences

wayne.patrick@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864411
TTR 318, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Lifeng Peng

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

lifeng.peng@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5233
04 463 8076
AM 302, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

AProf Peter Pfeffer

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

peter.pfeffer@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 7462
TTR 319, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

AProf Nicole Phillips

Associate Dean - Students (International) · Director, Coastal Ecology Laboratory
Wellington Faculty of Science · ,School of Biological Sciences

nicole.phillips@vuw.ac.nz
04 470 9259
04 463 9259
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Janet Pitman

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

janet.pitman@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 7450
TTR 320, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

AProf Peter Ritchie

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

peter.ritchie@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864422
+64 21 660242
04 886 4422
TTR 407, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Alice Rogers

Lecturer in Fisheries Biology
School of Biological Sciences

alice.rogers@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864413
TTR 325, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Ashley Rowden

Professor in Biology

ashley.rowden@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6283
TTR 337, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Danielle Shanahan

Senior Lecturer in Conservation Management
School of Biological Sciences

danielle.shanahan@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Rachael Shaw

Lecturer in Behavioural Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

rachael.shaw@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864409
TTR 321, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Ken Ryan

Professor · Programme Manager Ecology & Biodiversity, Biology
School of Biological Sciences

ken.ryan@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6083
027 6333 147
04 463 6083
TTR 333, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Jeff Shima

Professor in Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

jeffrey.shima@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6494
+64 27 5635475
TTR 328, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

AProf Paul Teesdale-Spittle

Associate Dean - Academic (Programme Development)
Wellington Faculty of Science

paul.teesdale-spittle@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6094
AM 308, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

AProf Heiko Wittmer

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

heiko.wittmer@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 7432
TTR 323, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Prof Joe Zuccarello

Group Manager - Ecology and Biodiversity
School of Biological Sciences

joe.zuccarello@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6414
TTR 324, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Adjunct Staff - Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

Prof Richard Beasley

Medicine
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

richard.beasley@mrinz.ac.nz
04 805 0238
Level G, CSB Building, Wellington Hospital Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021

Adjunct Staff - Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Prof Mike Berridge

Cancer Cell Biology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

mberridge@malaghan.org.nz
04 499 6914 ext 825
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Central Services Building, Entrance 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus

Dr Olivier Gasser

Translational Immunology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

ogasser@malaghan.org.nz
04 499 6914
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Central Services Building, Entrance 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus

Prof Ian Hermans

Deputy Director of Research
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

ihermans@malaghan.org.nz
04 499 6914
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Central Services Building, Entrance 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus

Prof Graham Le Gros

Director of Research
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

glegros@malaghan.org.nz
04 499 6914
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Central Services Building, Entrance 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus

Prof Franca Ronchese

Immune Cell Biology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

frochese@malaghan.org.nz
04 499 6914
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Central Services Building, Entrance 7 Kelburn Pde, Kelburn Campus

Emeritus Professors

EProf Charles Daugherty

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences

charles.daugherty@vuw.ac.nz
04 4636085
Room 213, Te Toki a Rata Building, Kelburn Parade

EProf Phil Garnock-Jones

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences

phil.garnock-jones@vuw.ac.nz
04 4636085
Room 213, Te Toki a Rata Building, Kelburn Parade

Prof John Miller

Professor in Cell Biology and Physiology
School of Biological Sciences

john.h.miller@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6082
0210787487
463 6082
TTR 213, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

EProf Ken McNatty

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences

kenneth.mcnatty@vuw.ac.nz
04 4636085
Room 213, Te Toki a Rata Building, Kelburn Parade

Research and Teaching Fellows

Emma Andrews

Post Doctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences · Microbes Molecules and Evolution

emma.andrews@vuw.ac.nz
04 4635233 +8838
TTR 307, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr James Baty

Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences · Invasive Species Research Group

james.baty@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9798
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Alistair Brown

Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Biotechnology
School of Biological Sciences

alistair.brown@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864417
TTR 309, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Kaitlin Buick

Research Assistant
School of Biological Sciences

kaitlin.buick@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Mariana Bulgarella

Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

mariana.bulgarella@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864424
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Mark Calcott

Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Microbial Biotechnology
School of Biological Sciences

mark.calcott@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9788
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Leticia Castro

Research Assistant
School of Biological Sciences

leticia.castro@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6258
AM 301, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Zaramasina Clark

Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

zaramasina.clark@vuw.ac.nz

Christopher Cornwall

Research Fellow in Marine Biology · Rutherford Discovery Fellow
School of Biological Sciences · Marine Biology

christopher.cornwall@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5150
04 463 5720
04 463 5720
TTR 321, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Antoine Felden

Research Assistant
School of Biological Sciences

antoine.felden@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864446
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Balam Jimenez Brito

Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

balam.jimenezbrito@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Randy Lacey

Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Microbiology
School of Biological Sciences

Hung En Lai

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

hungen.lai@vuw.ac.nz
TTR 309, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Naasson Mbambi

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

naasson.mbambi@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Matt Nitschke

Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

matt.nitschke@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Clint Oakley

Post Doctoral Fellow in Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

clint.oakley@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9796
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Tifany Oulavallickal

Post Doctoral Fellow in Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences

tifany.oulavallickal@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864445
TTR 307, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Kelly Paton

Post Doctoral Fellow in Neurobiology
School of Biological Sciences

kelly.paton@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864410
TTR A357, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Maren Preuss

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

maren.preuss@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Katharina Robichon

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

katharina.robichon@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6874
AM 324, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Abigail Sharrock

Isabelle Stewart

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Vaccine Development
School of Biological Sciences

isabelle.stewart@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Stephanie Tomscha

Post Doctoral Fellow in Ecosystem Services
School of Biological Sciences

stephanie.tomscha@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9783
TTR, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Chelsea Vickers

Postdoctoral Fellowship
School of Biological Sciences

chelsea.vickers@vuw.ac.nz

Dr Elsie Williams

Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

elsie.williams@vuw.ac.nz

Helen Woolner

Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Chemical Genetics
School of Biological Sciences

helen.woolner@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6090
AM 323, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Senior Tutors

David Maass

Senior Tutor
School of Biological Sciences

david.maass@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864423
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Fabian Westermann

Senior Tutor
School of Biological Sciences

fabian.westermann@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 6136
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Administration Staff

Melissa Fiu

School Manager
School of Biological Sciences

melissa.fiu@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5332
04 463 5332
TTR 212, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Paul Marsden

Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

paul.marsden@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5555
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Mary Murray

Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

mary.murray@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5339
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Mark Stephen

Graduate Programmes Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

mark.stephen@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5581
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Sandra Taylor

Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

sandra.taylor@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5747
TTR 206, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Technical Staff

Dr Stephen Meyer

Manager Technical Services
School of Biological Sciences

stephen.meyer@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5579
TTR 211, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Mel Dohner

Laboratory Technical Officer - Ecology and Biodiversity
School of Biological Sciences

mel.dohner@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 4785
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Craig Doney

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

craig.doney@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864433
+64 27 4431918
TTR 15, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Joanna Hamilton

Laboratory Technician - Biochemistry and Molecular
School of Biological Sciences

joanna.hamilton@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9757
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Kayla Griffin

Laboratory Tech Officer - Ecology and Biodiversity
School of Biological Sciences

kayla.griffin@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9759
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Derek Heath

Laboratory Technical Officer - Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences

derek.heath@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5580
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Neville Higgison

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

neville.higgison@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5154
+64 27 5655154
TTR 15, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Susan Keall

Senior Technical Officer - Conservation Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

susan.keall@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5324
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Danyl McLauchlan

IT Systems Consultant
School of Biological Sciences

danyl.mclauchlan@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 5735
AM 301, Alan Macdiarmid Building, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Daniel McNaughtan

Coastal Ecology Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

daniel.mcnaughtan@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9257
+64 21 684704
CEL 101, Coastal Ecology Lab, 396 The Esplanade

Dr Lesley Milicich

Laboratory Technical Officer - Botany and Plant Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

lesley.milicich@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9733
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Sushila Pillai

Laboratory Technical Officer - Cell and Dev Biology
School of Biological Sciences

sushila.pillai@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864432
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Dr Pisana Rawson

Laboratory Technician - Microbiology and Molecular Biology
School of Biological Sciences

pisana.rawson@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864443
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Paul Roulston

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

paul.roulston@vuw.ac.nz
04 8864421
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

Chris Thorn

Laboratory Technical Officer - Genetics and Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

chris.thorn@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9756
TTR 401, Te Toki A Rata, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

John Van der Sman

Coastal Ecology Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

john.vandersman@vuw.ac.nz
04 463 9250
+64 27 5348377
CEL 101, Coastal Ecology Lab, 396 The Esplanade