Department of Psychology, University of Otago

25/08/2026

Catch up with Dr Jack Scott (a postdoc in the Human Affective and Motivational Neuroscience Lab), who is using AI and non-invasive measurements of brain activity to figure out how well ADHD medication is working.

Jack Scott from Otago University is combining the use of artificial intelligence with non-invasive measurements of brain activity.

25/08/2026

The 3Minute Thesis finals are on Tuesday, 1 September at 5:30pm
(St David’s Lecture Theatre)! Jenna Gawn and Jim Davies (both supervised in Psychology) are in the running as finalists in the PhD category!

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!

21/08/2026

Kia ora e te whānau!

Congratulations to all our students graduating this May - we can’t wait to see where the next chapter in your journey takes you 🎓

If your whānau are unable to attend the ceremony this Saturday they can access the live stream here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/events/livestreaming-of-the-graduation-ceremonies

20/08/2026

The Department of Psychology are proud to support this year's Aurora Energy Science and Technology Fair, hosted last week at Tūhura Otago Museum. Our judges were very impressed by the high levels of curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking on display at this year's fair 🏆💙💛

We would like to congratulate the following winners of the 2026 University of Otago Department of Psychology Award:

Ash Boraman-Ritchie (Year 7, Dunedin North Intermediate)
Charlie Dickson (Year 7, Dunedin North Intermediate)
Lachy Harem (Year 7, Balmacewen Intermediate)
Daniel Morgan (Year 8, Dunedin North Intermediate)
Scarlett Lane (Year 8, Dunedin North Intermediate)
Emma Li (Year 8, Columba College)
Isa Roulston (Year 8, Outram School)
Daniel Koh (Year 9, John McGlashan College)
Freda Clark (Year 9, St Hilda's Collegiate School)
Eva McLean (Year 10, Otago Girls High School)

20/08/2026

Ka mau te wehi Ashlee! Can't wait to see you graduate this Saturday, what a way to start the part of your career!

🎉 Huge congratulations to Ashlee Berryman, who graduates this Saturday with a PhD in Neuroscience! Ka rawe! 👩‍🎓

🌼 Ashlee is on a mission to stop endometriosis pain, and a Neurological Foundation of New Zealand fellowship of $232,198 will help her get there 🙌

❤️‍🩹 With at least 120,000 New Zealanders suffering from endometriosis, one of several conditions that can cause painful me**es, it’s no wonder that menstrual periods were once known as ‘the curse’. But it’s a curse that Ashlee is hoping to break.

“I always wanted to do something in women’s health, and I wanted to do something with women and chronic pain,” Ashlee says.

🫶 Ashlee says she’s working towards better care, understanding and health outcomes for endometriosis sufferers.

“I just want women to be able to flourish at all ages and life stages.”

💐 Kia mau te wehi, Ashlee – we wish you all the very best for graduation day, and with your ongoing research.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/about/news/newsroom/breaking-the-curse-of-endometriosis-pain

Department of Psychology, University of Otago

20/08/2026

Need a quick cognitive boost? Time to scale the stairs!

🙌 Tautoko Professor Liana Machado, of the Department of Psychology, who's discovered a fast and easy technique for improving cognition – climbing the stairs.

🚶‍♀Published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, a University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study found six one-minute bouts of stair climbing improved people’s cognitive health.

🧠 Lead author Liana says many people strive to improve their cognition, so having a simple way to do so was highly beneficial.

“Effective cognition is something that we all rely on throughout our day,” she says.

“Whether you are trying to navigate a busy intersection without incident or engage in complex dynamic thinking at work, the effectiveness of our cognitive functioning can make a big difference.”

🫶 Ka pai, Liana – we'll see you in the stairwell!

https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/stair-climbing-enhances-brain-health-research

Department of Psychology, University of Otago

04/08/2026

Kia ora koutou - alongside the Southern Series Iwi United Engaged are joining us for a seminar, “Making Room For Everyone : Culturally Effective Engagement & Cultural Confidence”.

This seminar is next week, in person and available on Zoom (via the usual seminar link):
⏰ 12:00pm - 1:00pm
📆 Monday, 10th August 2026
🏢 William James Building, Seminar Room 1.03

27/07/2026

Congratulations Dr Bruce Mockett! Bruce has been awarded $299,320 in our latest funding round 😊

Could a promising gene therapy slow or prevent frontotemporal dementia? Dr Bruce Mockett from the University of Otago aims to discover the answer. He has been awarded $299,320 in our latest funding round – congratulations, Bruce!

Read more https://bit.ly/Grants2026a

27/07/2026

Ka rawe Dr Ashlee Berryman! Dr Ashlee (who completed a PhD with Professor Liana Machado Lab) has been awarded a $232,198 First Fellowship to investigate how endometriosis-related pain affects thinking and memory, and how that pain could be managed. Congratulations Ashlee!

Warm congratulations to Dr Ashlee Berryman from the University of Otago. She has been awarded a $232,198 First Fellowship to investigate how endometriosis-related pain affects thinking and memory, and how that pain could be managed.

Read more https://bit.ly/Grants2026a

19/07/2026

UPDATE: Kia ora Koutou - the Postgraduate Info Evening is now on the 13th 😊

Kia ora koutou - our annual information events for Postgrad and our Professional Psychology Programmes are coming up! If you are unable to make it in person the events will be recorded, however, we strongly recommend attending in person (it gives you a chance to ask your questions, and connect with other students/staff).

Postgraduate Information Evening: 13th August 6-7:30pm
Professional Psychology Programmes Info Evening: 19th 6-7:30pm
Both in Archway 2.