Otago Graduate Research School

A message from our Awesome Administrator Susan Craig:

After over 17 years in my role at the Graduate Research School I will be finishing work on Friday the 27th of September.
It has been a genuine joy to have met so many incredible graduate research candidates over the years.
I’ve loved seeing you at functions and workshops. But perhaps most special of all, it has been so wonderful to give you your chocolate fish when you hand in your theses.
I wish all of Otago’s graduate research candidates and associated staff all the very best for the future - it’s been a blast!

Here is a wee article that was written about my working journey for the Otago Bulletin:

Sad to leave a ‘really special part’ of the University | University of Otago Susan Craig has been part of the Graduate Research School (GRS) – in its various forms – for over 17 years.

We are pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the Graduate Research Candidate Mentoring / Development sessions with the Dean and Deputy Dean of the Graduate Research School.
To find out more about these sessions and to book a slot please visit this webpage:

Graduate Research Candidate Mentoring/Development | University of Otago These confidential, one-on-one meetings will provide candidates with the opportunity to discuss academic performance, research productivity, and related challenges such as time management, procrastination, imposter syndrome, and expectations of graduate study.

Tēnā koutou katoa

We are very sad to announce that our Graduate Wellbeing Coach, Nikki Fahey, is leaving the University. Her last day is this Thursday, 29th August. Nikki has made an invaluable contribution to our student body and the wider university community. Her bright, energetic, and supportive approach to student wellbeing will be greatly missed. I know you will join us in wishing Nikki all the best in her next great adventure.

The Graduate Research School is currently reviewing the Graduate Wellbeing Coach role. As a temporary measure, we will be offering Graduate Research Candidate Mentoring/Development sessions for the remainder of the year. These confidential, one-on-one meetings will provide candidates with the opportunity to discuss academic performance, research productivity, and related challenges such as time management, procrastination, imposter syndrome, and expectations of graduate study with the Dean or Deputy Dean. More details about these drop-in sessions will be shared next week via email, on our website and on the GRS page.

If you are experiencing mental health and wellbeing distress, please contact Student Health: https://www.otago.ac.nz/studenthealth/services-we-provide/mental-health-and-wellbeing

Ngā mihi nui,
The Graduate Research School whānau

Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, Services, Student Health | University of Otago About the Student Health Service mental health support process

We're only 3 weeks away from the Otago Grand Final of the 2024 3MT® Competition.
We have 8 wonderful competitors ready to take to the stage on August 15th at 5pm in the College of Education Auditorium along with an expert panel of judges.
Please come and join us and show our candidates your support.
They'll be battling it out for some great prizes and the chance to compete internationally.
Please register your intention to attend, either in person or via the livestream here:
https://events.otago.ac.nz/three-minute-thesis-2024/registration/Site/Register
And click on this link to the programme to see who will be competing:
https://events.otago.ac.nz/three-minute-thesis-2024

2024 Three Minute Thesis - Registration Te Rā | Date: Thursday 15 August 2024Te Wā | Time: 5:00–6:30pmTe Wāhi | Venue: College of Education Auditorium, 145 Union Street East, Dunedin North or via livestream

Hey Postgrads and staff! Please check out my nervous system regulation workshops and for all students my handstand workshop with Unipol!

Winter Wellbeing – OUSA Support Hub Winter Wellbeing Week long events 50% off Sauna visits Clubs and Socs Free hot drinks at Student Support Centre 10am – 12pm Free fitness classes and intro at Unipol Monday 22nd July Kia Ora Peace Garden Clean up 10am – 12pm – register here Plant Based Cooking Class 6pm – 7.30pm – register ...

Kia ora team, if you’re a human who finds gyms an overstimulating or overwhelming place (like me!) the crew at Unipol have been doing some amazing mahi to create a quieter, calmer, cosier, low stimulus space!
The lights will be off (not like in this pic) between 10 - 4pm.
There will be a settling in period to see what works and what doesn’t. I’m going to head down tomorrow to check the space out.

Thank you to the crew Unipol Recreation, University of Otago for your commitment to supporting neurodiversity and inclusion. 💪🏼♾️

Kia ora Ōtepoti based crew!

Here are two practical, fun, nervous system regulating workshops you might be interested in.

1. In collaboration with OUSA - Otago University Students' Association Student Support Team, I am hosting two Nervous System Regulation workshops during Winter Wellbeing Week, 21-26th July. Thanks to Sophie Penn for organising with me!

2. Christine from Unipol Recreation, University of Otago and I have been planning a fun handstand workshop.
I am an adult gymnast and coach at St Bernadette's Gymnastics Club and I have roped in my friends/ coaches to host a play session on Sunday 28th of July at 5:30-6:30pm. You do not need to have handstanding experience or you could be an expert. All welcome to come play.
Updated poster will follow!

3. We will be having a BBQ with Campus Watch during the same week so you can come down for some kai, date and time TBC but watch this space!

Handstand pic taken last night at St B’s Coaches adult gym session.

Today was the final heat in this year's 3MT® competition where we enjoyed 6 presentations from the Division of Sciences at University of Otago .

Judging today were Professor Zhiyi Huang, Associate Professor Katherine Black and Professor Ceridwen Fraser.

We were thrilled of the standard of today's competitors. The judges had such a tough job splitting hairs over who our winners were that they decided to break the rules and award two runner up certificates for our doctoral and masters candidates.

Today's doctoral winner, taking away a $300 research grant and a place in the grand final on August 15th was Tawfique Rahman from Geography.

Our masters winner was Briar Mills from Human Nutrition.

Doctoral runners up were Saskia Foreman and Amber Lim.
Masters runners up were Aimee Bartlett and Lily Heidmann.

Well done everyone!

The Division of Commerce came out in force today to support the two doctoral candidates competing in the 2024 3MT® heat with over 50 people in the audience.

It was great to have Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Commerce, Professor Maree Thyne with us to speak to the crowd and hand out the certificates.

Today's very able judging panel comprised Professor Paul Hansen, Professor Neill Carr and Professor Lisa McNeil.

Arung Mayapada won today's event with her presentation entitled "Do UK Charities Perform Better with Women Trustees?". Arung is studying in the Department of Accountancy and Finance and wins a $300 research grant as well as the chance to compete in the grand final on August 15th.

Our runner up today was Holly Bates Williams from the Department of Marketing who's topic was "Wildlife Tourism Today: Bridging the Gap Between Social Media and Reality".

Today the Graduate Research School hosted the 2024 3MT® divisional heat for Health Sciences.

We are pleased to announce that our masters winner is Tandia Gooch from the Department of Physiology. Our doctoral runner up is Sara Crellin from the Department of Psychological Medicine and our doctoral winner is Jia Yap from the Department of Medicine.

Tandia and Jia both receive a $300 research grant and will advance to the Grand Final being held on August 15th.

The judges deliberation took some time today which is testament to the very high quality of the presentations.

Thank you to Professor Patricia Priest, Professor Tim Stokes and Associate Professor Ailsa McGregor for sitting on today's judging panel.

The heat for the Division of Humanities, University of Otago in the 2024 3MT® competition was held today, July 2nd and we were thrilled at the high standard of our five doctoral contestants.

The winner of today's heat was Patrick Mazzocco from the Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC). Patrick took away a $300 research grant and will progress to the grant final on August 15th.

Due to the high standard today it was decided to award two runners up certificates. The recipients were Kulani Wijayabahu from the Department of Politics and Shannon McNatty from the College of Education.

Our judges today were Associate Professor Frances Steel and Professor Ruth Fitzgerald. Thank you to all involved!

There's still time to get your entry in for this year's 3MT®! Don't miss out.

If you're interested in finding out about a great fixed-term, part-time intern role for a Dunedin based doctoral candidate on offer from the Graduate Research School, please click on this link!

Graduate Researcher Development Intern Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

Kia ora Postgraduate whānau! If you’ve never heard of The Bowling Club - Dunedin you need to know about them! The wonderful crew there offer nourishing, well frankly amazing food for very little! They cater for many don’t keeps the cost down but they need the numbers to sustain the model.

Check them out! Also take note of when they have an abundance and they’re offering frozen meals for free.

Kia ora Postgrads! There’s still time to register for this one hour online Wellbeing and Skills Lounge on Imposter Syndrome in the University environment.
The session is confidential and you can participate as little or as much as you like!

https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/27154/subject/graduate-well-being

corpapp.otago.ac.nz

Kia ora Postgrads! A message from Hanna and the Society of Postgraduate Students Otago:

We have our next imposter hour coming up on Friday May 10th, starting at 3pm in Otago Room 2 of the OUSA clubs n' socs building.

Imposter hour is our monthly event that offers a space to connect and speak openly about the highs and lows of postgraduate study. It is an opportunity to develop shared knowledge, and discuss experiences, strengths, and difficulties with peers. These sessions will be structured but flexible and you have the opportunity to contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable with! These sessions are facilitated by Meg Spriggs - a former academic, lived-experience advocate, and trained Intentional Peer Supporter.

If you would like to know more about what I'm trying to do with Imposter Hour, you can read the Uni article written about it
https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/postgrads-dont-be-lonely
Or reach out to me privately at [email protected] - I'm more than happy to chat over a coffee :))

Tell your peers and hope to see you there!

Hanna and the team at SPS ❤

Next week, we are starting the Monday mingle, which will be hosted on the first Monday of every month 🙌 All students are welcome to come chill, connect and enjoy the hot drinks and bikkies provided ☕🍪 Can't wait to see you there

📆 Monday, 6th of May
📍 Otago Room, OUSA Clubs & Socs Building
⏰ 1 - 2pm

Kia ora ADHD Postgraduate whaanau! The recent ADHD Zoom coffee check in was so lovely I have booked in two more, details below, please share far and wide! Open to any postgrad who suspects they may have ADHD or has a diagnosis!

Will soon book in an on campus one in Ōtepoti too.
https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/subject/graduate-well-being/

Kia ora e te fellow ADHDers! Nikki Fahey, Graduate Wellbeing Coach from GRS here.

I am hosting two ADHD/ Aroreretini coffee catch ups this month, one in Dunedin 10:30am Tuesday 16th April and the other via zoom at 10:30 on Friday the 19th of April.

If you are a current postgrad at Otago with ADHD/ Aroreretini or suspect you do you are invited to this casual catch up!

I will be hosting, I have ADHD myself and love these catchups, it feels like I am in the room with everyone speaking the same language, it's magical. I wont lie, doign graduate studies/ research with ADHD isnt easy so come along meet others who might just get it, share tips, organise writing sessions and body doubling and have a laugh. Dunedin location with be named when a reminder goes out the day before.

Colleagues please share!
Please use this link to register: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/subject/graduate-well-being/

Kia ora Otago Postgrads, you are invited to attend this ZOOM based Matariki Restart workshop on the 4th of July 2024. With the rising of Matariki in the skies the Māori New Year is a good time to energise your studies.
This workshop is open to all postgarduates, not just research candidates.
Register here:
https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/18116/subject/student-workshop/

Kia ora Postgraduates! Nikki and Rachel here from GRS, here are some of some upcoming Wellbeing and Performance Skills Zoom based sessions you might be interested in. Register here: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/subject/graduate-well-being/

Kia ora Otago whānau, Nikki, Graduate Wellbeing Coach here. Did you know that it is the worldwide Neurodiversity Celebration week?
As someone late diagnosed with ADHD this is a event close to my heart. I used to have some pretty stereotyped ideas about different neurodivergence's and wasn't really aware that women or AFAB folks could have ADHD! Understanding more about how my brain works has been a game changer for me! Its not easy to manage and learning how to work with it has been helpful, as well as having those around me who understand it.
Even if you are not neurodivergent, I guarantee you some of your friends, family and colleagues are so please check it out regardless!

Neurodiversity Celebration Week Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to bring about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance, equality and inclusion in schools and workplaces.

Kia ora e te Otago PhD candidates! Are you in the middle stages of your PhD and wondering how you can boost your wellbeing, manage your time or be more productive? I am putting on a stand alone zoom workshop as I was unable to provide it during the recent GRS workshop programme. If you are keen register below and let your middle stage colleagues know!

https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/grs/course/28474/subject/graduate-well-being/

Don’t forgot..every Friday upstairs at The Staff Club 🥳🍷🍺

Here's a great chance to our graduate research candidates to get out of your offices and labs and enjoy some social down-time with friends and colleagues.

Starting this Friday March 1st 😀

We are thrilled to announce that two Otago PhD candidates took out prizes in the 2023 Matariki 3MT competition!

Well done to Tyla Alexander who took out 1st place and Hwei Min Ng who was voted the People's Choice.

This is a big competition across all the Matariki Universities so we are thrilled with Tyla and Hwei's success!

Matariki 2023 3MT Winners Announced! - Matariki Network Students from six Matariki partners submitted entries in the 2023 Matariki 3MT competition. It was a very close competition, with the judges in agreement that the entries were impressive – making for a difficult task in determining the winners! The winners for the 2023 Matariki 3MT are as follo...

It was wonderful to host, with OUSA, the 2023 Supervisor of the Year Awards on Thursday, October 19th. Here's all you need to know about the finalists and winners.

OUSA Supervisor of the Year 2023 | University of Otago Associate Professor Julia Albrecht, of the Department of Tourism, has won the Otago University Students’ Association Supervisor of the Year Award for 2023, with one of her nominees describing her as ‘positive, empowering, motivational’.

A reminder!
Entries are rolling in for the 2023 3MT® (Three Minute Thesis) Competition.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to share your research with others in the University Community.
Visit our 3MT® website to find out more information on how to enter the 3MT® and the dates of our competitions.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/postgraduate/threeminutethesis.html

Mōrena! Last week my wonderful colleagues Bronwen Stephens and Diane Ruwhiu (Ngāpuhi) attended the ACGR in Sydney and immersed themselves in what’s happening in the Graduate Research School space over in Australia. Looking forward to hearing all about it and the ideas shared!