Biological Sciences PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in New Zealand

Determine the efficacy of growth hormone receptor antagonism in hepatocellular carcinoma spheroid culture models

Supervisors: Dr Y Wang, Dr J Perry

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive and difficult to treat cancer with poor survival rates and limited systemic treatment options for advanced-stage disease. Read more

28 February 2025 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Use of a novel conjugation approach to generate a long-acting growth hormone receptor antagonist

Supervisors: Dr Y Wang, Dr J Perry

Targeting the growth hormone (GH) signalling pathway could be an effective therapeutic approach for certain types of cancer. However, a lack of access to therapeutics that target GH or the GH receptor has hindered preclinical studies in this field. Read more

30 August 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Neonatal hypoglycaemia guidelines

4 July 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Neonatal hypoglycaemia is the most common metabolic disturbance in newborns and a preventable cause of irreversible brain injury. Read more

Supervisor: Dr L Lin

Predicting Early Development in Moderate to Late Preterm Babies

Supervisor: Prof J Harding

Over 80% of preterm babies are born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Low Glucose Levels in Babies

Supervisor: Prof J Harding

We know that low glucose levels in newborn babies can lead to brain injury, but we do not know how low these levels need to be for how long in which babies, and whether other factors also influence whether brain injury occurs. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Otago Department of Pathology

Cancer Epigenetics project

Broad Project Summary: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epigenetic changes are now recognised as a hallmark feature of cancer, but our understanding of factors that are responsible for tumour spread still remains limited. Read more

Supervisor: Assoc Prof A Chatterjee

Year round applications PhD Research Project Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

Charting new neuronal survival pathways in Parkinson’s disease

Supervisors: Dr S Hughes, Dr IB Basik

The Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory is interested in uncovering the unknown molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in the development of Parkinson’s disease and Batten disease. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Lincoln University (New Zealand) Department of Soil & Physical Sciences

The effects of climate change on nutrient and trace element dynamics in freshwater environments

Rapidly increasing temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO. 2. ) levels are adding substantial pressure to global freshwater systems, especially those that are already suffering degradation. Read more

Supervisor: Dr N. Lehto

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Genetic causes of novel neurodevelopmental disorders

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Novel disease genes in brain development and decline

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Exploring a novel neurodevelopmental disease gene using a zebrafish model

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Otago Microbiology & Immunology

Identify novel approaches to combat multi drug resistant pathogens

Our research is focused on recalcitrant ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andEnterobacter species) pathogens; especially hard-to-treat clinical isolates involved in multidrug resistance, biofilm infections and persistence. Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Pletzer

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Protecting Mum: how hormones act on neural circuitry to regulate postpartum mood and behaviour

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Mammals give birth to dependent offspring and significant parental involvement is required to ensure offspring survive. During pregnancy and in the early postpartum period, hormones act on neural circuitry to bring about key changes in a mother's mood and behaviour. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Brown

Role of RyR2 posttranslational modification in arrhythmias

Supervisor: Assoc Prof P Jones

Cardiac arrhythmias remain the leading cause of death in patients with heart disease. An important trigger for arrhythmias is the inappropriate opening of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2). Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Sex differences in epicardial fat modulation of cardiac function

Supervisor: Assoc Prof R Lamberts

This project will aim to determine whether structural and physiological properties of epicardial adipose tissue are responsible for the sex differences in human myocardial function and cardiac arrhythmogenicity. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Oxytocin neuron activity in lactation

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Pulsatile secretion of the hormone, oxytocin, is essential for milk delivery during suckling and its secretion from the posterior pituitary gland is triggered by coordinated bursts of action potentials across the population of oxytocin neurons. Read more

Supervisor: Prof C Brown

Understanding the underlying pathological mechanisms to find a cure for Batten disease

Supervisors: Dr S Hughes, Dr IB Basik

The Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory is interested in the molecular and cellular basis of neurodegenerative disease, particularly how lysosome dysfunction influences the development of Batten disease and Parkinson’s disease. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)