Staff

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

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Head of School

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Prof Janet Pitman

Head of School
School of Biological Sciences

Deputy Head of School

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AProf Monica Gerth

Deputy Head of School · Associate Professor of Microbiology
School of Biological Sciences

Academic staff

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Prof David Ackerley

Professor of Biotechnology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Directed evolution, artificial acceleration of rates of mutation and recombination in genes and genomes, and selection of variants with improved qualities... read more

Enzymes Synthetic biology Microbiology Biocatalysis and enzyme technology Gene and molecular therapy Medical biotechnology diagnostics (incl. biosensors) Medical molecular engineering of nucleic acids and proteins
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Prof James Bell

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  My research supports the management and conservation of tropical and temperate marine ecosystems. I have strong focus on sponge ecology. Sponges are important... read more

Conservation and biodiversity Ecology Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
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Prof Kevin Burns

Professor of Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas: 

Behaviour, Biological Complexity, Ecology, Evolution, Island Biology

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Ecology Behavioural ecology Biogeography and phylogeography Evolutionary biology Plant biology
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Dr Zaramasina Clark

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  I’m interested in ensuring that people suffering from infertility are able to access effective treatments (assisted reproductive technologies), to realise... read more

Animal cell and molecular biology Animal developmental and reproductive biology
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Dr Davide Comoletti

Associate Professor in Biomedical Science
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  In my laboratory we study how neurons connect with other neurons or with the glia through proteins exposed on their cell surface. We have a robust research pr... read more

Structural biology (incl. macromolecular modelling) Neurosciences
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Dr Christopher Cornwall

Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  My Royal society funded research focuses on New Zealand’s iconic kelp forest communities. Side research funded by the Australian Research Council focuses on... read more

Climate change processes Conservation and biodiversity Ecology Global change biology
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Prof Simon Davy

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Coral reef biology and marine symbiosis, especially cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis... read more

Ecology Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Zoology
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Dr Darren Day

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Neuroscience, drugs of abuse, mitochondrial function... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology
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Dr Nicola Day

Senior Lecturer in Plant Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Boreal forestEcological disturbanceEcological resilienceFire ecologyFungal ecologyGlobal changeInvasive speciesMicrobesMycorrhizasPlantsPlant-soil fee... read more

Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology Soil biology Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Terrestrial ecology Ecology not elsewhere classified Plant biology
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Jules Day-Cooney

Lecturer (Teaching)
School of Biological Sciences

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Prof Elaine Dennison

Professor of Clinical Research
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Epidemiology of rheumatic disease, specifically osteoporosis... read more

Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Epidemiology not elsewhere classified
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AProf Julie Deslippe

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  I lead a vibrant and diverse research programme focused on understanding the complex plant-soil systems that sustain life on Earth. Soils are the major global... read more

Ecosystem function Soil biology Ecology Microbial ecology Plant biology Conservation and biodiversity Environmental rehabilitation and restoration
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Dr Bridgette Farnworth

Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

Behavioural ecology Animal behaviour Conservation and biodiversity
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AProf Stephen Hartley

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Wetland restoration - vegetation succession, tree growth and survival under different management regimesForest restoration - ecosystem responses to wides... read more

Environmental sciences Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology Landscape ecology Conservation and biodiversity Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Population ecology Terrestrial ecology Modelling and simulation Land use and environmental planning
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Dr Bronwyn Kivell

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Anti-addiction pharmacotherapies, Non-addictive pain medications, Immunomodulatory effects of kappa opioids, Evaluating novel remyelination drugs for the tr... read more

Cell neurochemistry Receptors and membrane biology Animal physiology - cell Animal behaviour Animal neurobiology Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
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Prof Anne La Flamme

Professor of Immunology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  My primary research specialty is in the immune regulation of disease. In particular, my research focuses on the pivotal role of myeloid cells (e.g.... read more

Host-parasite interactions Applied immunology (incl. antibody engineering, xenotransplantation and t-cell therapies) Autoimmunity Cellular immunology
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Prof Phil Lester

Professor of Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas: 

Entomology, ecology of social insects, pathogens, parasites, molecular genetics methods including dsRNA and antibody treatments, population dynamics

... read more

Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology Conservation and biodiversity Ecology
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Dr Joanna Mackichan

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Melanie McConnell

Associate Professor in Genetics
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  The primary focus of my research is to understand how cancer cells survive stress, and to apply this knowledge to the development of more effective cancer th... read more

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Dr Andrew Munkacsi

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Translational genomics to treat defective cholesterol and sphingolipid transport in human neurodegenerative diseases, HDAC inhibitors as a candidate therapy to... read more

Natural products and bioactive compounds Cell metabolism Genetics Genomics Mycology Ngā pūnaha whakahaere mōhiohio me te mātauranga o te Māori (Māori information and knowledge management systems) Pacific Peoples information and knowledge management systems Medical biochemistry - lipids Metabolic medicine Ngā rongoā me ngā whakamaimoa o te Māori (Māori medicine and treatments)
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Dr Diane Ormsby

Senior Lecturer · Program Director for Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Research related to reproduction, inclusing mate selection, sex ratios of children born in relation to evolutionary theories, breast milk osmolality, male tu... read more

Developmental genetics (incl. sex determination) Animal developmental and reproductive biology Animal reproduction and breeding Reproduction Ecology Reproductive medicine Curriculum and pedagogy Other human society Paediatrics Animal diet and nutrition Animal physiology - cell
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Jeremy Owen

Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  - Exploration of specialized metabolites in marine symbiotic microbiomes using metagenomic approaches- Investigating the diversity and ecological roles of sp... read more

Natural products and bioactive compounds
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Prof Wayne Patrick

Associate Dean of Science, Research
Faculty of Science and Engineering

Research Areas:  The evolution of enzymes and metabolic pathways; building better enzymes by directed evolution and rational design; the biochemical basis of antibiotic... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology Microbiology
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Dr Lifeng Peng

Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Proteomics, Metabolomics, Metabolic pathway analysisMy current research is focused on the molecular mechanism study and biomarker discovery of metabolic d... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology Cellular interactions (incl. adhesion, matrix, cell wall) Proteomics and intermolecular interactions (excl. medical proteomics) Medical biochemistry and metabolomics not elsewhere classified
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AProf Peter Pfeffer

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Cattle embryology, Mouse embryology, Lineage determination and Patterning... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology Developmental genetics (incl. sex determination) Zoology
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AProf Peter Ritchie

Associate Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  The central goal of my research is to apply cutting edge whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics technologies to New Zealand species and transform the wa... read more

Evolutionary biology Genetics Genomics Evolutionary impacts of climate change
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Alice Rogers

Director, Victoria University Coastal Ecology Laboratory
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Impacts of climate change of fish and fisheries... read more

Climate change processes Conservation and biodiversity Ecology Fisheries sciences Environmental marine biotechnology
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Prof Ashley Rowden

Professor of Marine Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  My research interests are largely focused on examining the drivers and processes that control and maintain biodiversity in the marine environment.... read more

Conservation and biodiversity Ecology Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
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Danielle Shanahan

Volunteer

School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Rachael Shaw

Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas: 

Animal Cognition, Animal Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution, Conservation

... read more

Conservation and biodiversity Ecology Animal behaviour Other psychology
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Prof Jeffrey Shima

Associate Dean, Postgraduate Research
Faculty of Science and Engineering

Research Areas:  Population ecology, including dispersal and connectivity, recruitment dynamics, and population regulationLarval biology, including otolith-based life-his... read more

Ecology Behavioural ecology Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Ecological physiology Freshwater ecology Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Population ecology Life histories Aquaculture and fisheries stock assessment
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Prof Paul Teesdale-Spittle

Head of School
School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Research Areas:  Biological evaluation of compounds for the treatment of cancer, coupled to development of new bioactive compounds using chemical technique... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology Zoology Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences Basic pharmacology
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Prof Heiko U Wittmer

Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  The primary focus of my work is currently directed at understanding the dynamical consequences of direct and indirect species interactions (e.g., predation,... read more

Conservation and biodiversity Wildlife and habitat management Population ecology Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology)
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Dr Helen Woolner

Senior Lecturer · Lecturer in Chemical Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Natural products and bioactive compounds
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Prof Joe Zuccarello

Professor of Biology
School of Biological Sciences

Research Areas:  Seaweed, algae, evolution, phylogenetics, Taxonomy, applied phycology... read more

Biochemistry and cell biology Evolutionary biology Plant and fungus systematics and taxonomy Phycology (incl. marine grasses)

Administration staff

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Emily Brook

School Manager
School of Biological Sciences

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Hannah Hollamby

Operations Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

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Mary Murray

Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

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Lauren Priday

Programme Administrator
School of Biological Sciences

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Kaysee Savali

Programme Administrator, Biological Sciences
School of Biological Sciences

Technical staff

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Paul Fisher

Manager, Technical Services
School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Madhavi Dassanayaka

Laboratory Technician, Microbiology and Molecular Biology
School of Biological Sciences

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Mel Dohner

Laboratory Technical Officer, Ecology and Biodiversity
School of Biological Sciences

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Craig Doney

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

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Kayla Griffin

Laboratory Tech Officer, Ecology and Biodiversity
School of Biological Sciences

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Joanna Hamilton

Laboratory Technician, Biochemistry and Molecular
School of Biological Sciences

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Neville Higgison

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

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Susan Keall

Senior Technical Officer, Conservation Ecology
School of Biological Sciences

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Danyl McLauchlan

IT Systems Consultant
School of Biological Sciences

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Simon Maddalena

Coastal Ecology Technical Officer · Boating Safety Officer
School of Biological Sciences

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Sushila Pillai

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

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Dr Pisana Rawson

Laboratory Technical Officer, Biology
School of Biological Sciences

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Erika Robinson

SAF Technical Coordinator
School of Biological Sciences

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Paul Roulston

Equipment Technical Officer
School of Biological Sciences

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Valerio Micaroni

Coastal Ecology Technical Officer · Diving Safety Officer
School of Biological Sciences

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Haider Khan

SAF Laboratory Technician
School of Biological Sciences

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Kirill Woodhouse

SAF Laboratory Technician
School of Biological Sciences

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Roberto Parada Salazar

Laboratory Technical Officer - Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Immunology
School of Biological Sciences

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Pauline Cervantes

Laboratory Technical Officer, Genetics and Ecology

School of Biological Sciences

Senior Tutors

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Dr Adria Eda

Senior Tutor
School of Biological Sciences

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Ada Woods

Senior Tutor
School of Biological Sciences

Research and teaching fellows

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James Baty

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Alistair Brown

Senior Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Mariana Bulgarella

Senior Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Mark Calcott

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Antoine Felden

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Hannah Lee-Harwood

Interested Party

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

School of Biological Sciences|School of Biological Sciences

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Georgia Lenihangells

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Rory Little

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Matt Nitschke

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Dr Clint Oakley

Senior Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Abigail Sharrock

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Sarah Sczelecki

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Sven Sondauss

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Ross van de Wetering

Interested Party

Research Assistant

School of Biological Sciences|School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Monica Gruber

Adjunct Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Dr Ohad Peleg

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Biological Sciences

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Matthew Howse

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Francesca Strano

Adjunct staff—Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

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Prof Richard Beasley

Medicine
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

Adjunct staff—Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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Prof Mike Berridge

Cancer Cell Biology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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Dr Olivier Gasser

Translational Immunology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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Prof Ian Hermans

Deputy Director of Research
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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Prof Graham Le Gros

Director of Research
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

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Prof Franca Ronchese

Immune Cell Biology
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

Emeritus Professors

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Charles Daugherty

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences

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Phil Garnock-Jones

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences

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Prof Ken Ryan

Emeritus Professor
School of Biological Sciences