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Otago Graduate Research School

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Otago Graduate Research School

The official page for Graduate Research School at the University of Otago. Helping graduate students find your place in the world.

The overall objectives of the Graduate Research School is to:

+ Provide leadership in the area of research-only higher degree education (thesis Masters and doctoral degrees)
+ Oversee doctoral and thesis Masters-related matters and advise appropriately
+ Manage and administer the University's doctoral and scholarships programmes, and awards and prizes
+ Facilitate and encourage best practice acro

ss the University
+ Advise on policy matters related to graduate research
+Provide appropriate support and pastoral care for all postgraduate students and their supervisors
+GRS staff are available for private consultation by candidates or staff on matters related to postgraduate research study.

28/08/2026

⌛📚 What can be achieved in 180 seconds? Join us on 1 September at 5.30pm for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Grand Final and see our outstanding graduate researchers take on the challenge of a lifetime: condensing years of inquiry, discovery, and dedication into just three minutes and one slide. The result is an evening of insight, inspiration, and remarkable storytelling.

In the Grand Final we have two candidates from the Humanities Division whānau:
🔹 Krystle Mikaere (Minds) – Te Tumu
Mā wai rā? Who gets to define success?

🔹 Kexin Feng (PhD) - CEDI
Finding Our Way Through Many Firsts

🌟 Research topics span disciplines from across the University, showcasing the remarkable breadth and impact of postgraduate research at Otago.

👏 Come along to support our finalists, celebrate outstanding research, and perhaps discover a new passion or perspective along the way.

We look forward to seeing you there!

26/08/2026

Join us on 1 September at 5.30pm for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Grand Final and discover how our exceptional graduate research candidates transform just three minutes into moments of inspiration, insight, and discovery.

For our Otago Business School whānau, we have two Department of Marketing PhD candidates competing in the Grand Final:
🔹 Carter Roderick
Opposing Social Influences... Whose Recommendation Do You Trust?
🔹 Harsh Kumar Khatwani
When Virtual Reality Meets Your Dinner Plate

🌟 Research topics span disciplines from across the University, showcasing the remarkable breadth and impact of postgraduate research at Otago.

👏 Come along to support our finalists, celebrate outstanding research, and perhaps discover a new passion or perspective along the way.

We look forward to seeing you there!

24/08/2026

What happens when you give some of our brightest graduate researchers just three minutes and one slide to explain years of research?

Join us on 1 September at 5.30pm and find out!
From groundbreaking health discoveries to understanding human behaviour, you'll hear passionate researchers share the stories behind their work, their challenges, and why their research matters.

Expect fascinating ideas, surprising insights, and more than a few moments that will leave you thinking, "Wow, I never knew that!"

🌟 Research topics span disciplines from right across the University, showcasing the incredible breadth of work being undertaken by our postgraduate students.

And for those joining from our northern campuses, be sure to cheer on our northern campus finalists:
🔹 Jenna Gawn (Christchurch Campus)
Developmental Trajectories of Health Behaviours and Mental Health
🔹 Aparna Menon (Wellington Campus)
Optimisation of Stabilised Whole Blood to Facilitate Biomarker Discovery in Human Diseases

👏 Come support our finalists, celebrate great research, and maybe even discover a new passion along the way. See you there!

19/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our doctoral candidates graduating at the 22 August graduation ceremonies! 🎉

As we celebrate the achievements of our newest Otago graduates, the Graduate Research School is also excited to share a small update to one of our most cherished traditions.

For more than 20 years, doctoral candidates submitting their thesis have been presented with a chocolate fish, a uniquely Kiwi way of recognising the dedication, perseverance, resilience, and hard work required to reach this significant milestone. 🍫🐟

This tradition has recently become even more special, with our thesis-submission chocolate fish now proudly supplied by OCHO, Dunedin's award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Renowned for its commitment to ethical sourcing, craftsmanship, and exceptional chocolate made right here in Ōtepoti Dunedin, OCHO is a wonderful local partner. We are delighted to support a business whose values of quality, care, and excellence align so closely with those we celebrate in our doctoral candidates.

Many Otago staff and alumni fondly remember receiving their own chocolate fish, and departments across the University often join friends and whānau in celebrating as candidates ring the bell and mark the culmination of years of research and scholarship.

One of our most recent recipients is Seyedali Poshtmashhadi (Ali) from the Department of Management. Ali recently celebrated the submission of his PhD thesis alongside his primary supervisor, Professor Lincoln Wood, friends, and whānau, marking the occasion in true Otago style by ringing the submission bell and collecting the much-coveted chocolate fish. 🔔🍫🐟

Congratulations, Ali, and congratulations to all of our August graduates. We wish you every success for the next stage of your journey and are proud to celebrate your achievements with you. 👏🎓

14/08/2026

To celebrate Wellbeing Week, the Graduate Research School team took some time out to share good company and good kai. We enjoyed hearty homemade soup and fresh rolls.

As we gathered around the table, we shared some of the simple things we do to help maintain our wellbeing throughout the year:

🌞 Get outside - taking a short break in the sunshine and fresh air can make a real difference, whether it's a quick walk around campus or simply stepping away from the desk for a few minutes.

🐕 Walk the dog - several of us have canine wellbeing coaches at home! Some prefer a morning walk to feel energised and prepare for the day ahead, while others find an end-of-day walk helps create a clear mental boundary between work and home.

🗣️ Find your people - having a trusted friend, colleague, or whānau member to talk things through with can be invaluable, especially on those days when you just need to vent, share a challenge, or gain a different perspective.

😂 Don't underestimate the power of a laugh - A good laugh can be one of the best wellbeing tools around. Our conversation quickly turned to favourite Facebook and social media clips.

While everyone's approach to wellbeing is different, the conversation was a great reminder that small, everyday actions can have a big impact. We hope you can take a little time this Wellbeing Week to do something that helps you recharge, connect, and look after yourself. 😊

07/08/2026

Enjoy this article about the Wellington 3MT heat...

21/07/2026

3MT® is underway for 2026. Yesterday we held the Humanities Heat with Krystle Mikaere taking out the Master's title and Kexin Feng the Doctoral prize. Both women will represent the Humanities in the Grand Final on September 1st.

07/07/2026

Need some motivation writing your thesis? Come along to our writing day on Thursday and get free snacks and moral support! Link in comments

23/06/2026

Calling all PhD and research master's candidates: win $300 talking about your research for 3 minutes! Enter now!

29/05/2026

Yesterday was the first ever 3MK-three minute korero-competition at Otago. Congratulations to Krystle Mikaere who won first place.

Address

University Of Otago, 364 Leith Walk, Dunedin 9016. PO Box 56
Dunedin
9054

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Website

https://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research

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