Kia ora , 

Welcome to the latest edition of Doctoral News, filled with news, notices, photos, resources, scholarships, and a choice of almost 40 development opportunities, plus the next Doctoral Pizza Lunch.

Looking ahead, it's almost time for one of the most exciting events on the doctoral calendar: the University of Auckland Three Minute Thesis Final on Friday 17 July. We encourage you to book your free audience tickets as soon as possible. Want to know what a 3MT Final is like? View our one-minute promotional video from 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,
Te Kura Akoranga Tohu Paerua | The School of Graduate Studies (SGS)

News

New email addresses are on the way

We have great news for you! From Wednesday 1 July, all doctoral candidates will automatically be given a staff-type email address (firstname.lastname@auckland.ac.nz).

Why the change?

This email format is more professional than the student-type address (userID@aucklanduni.ac.nz). It also gives you access to open access publishing and creates consistency across all faculties and LSRIs.

Next steps

• If you already have a staff-type email, no action is required.
• If you have not previously had a staff-type email, please look out for an email from IT (sent to your student email) with more information.

We strongly encourage you to use your staff email as your primary account. However, if you prefer to keep using a different email address, please set up an auto-forward from your staff email to your preferred account.

As you will have both a staff and student email address, don't forget that some messages may go to the account you use less often. To avoid missing important communications, please set up an auto-forward from any address which you don't access regularly.

July highlights

Keen for some yummy pizza?

Good news: SGS and AUSA's first Doctoral Pizza Lunch was so successful that we've organised another one! Come along and make new friends while enjoying a delicious free meal. The event is open to all doctoral candidates at the University, but make sure you book, as we can't accommodate walk-ins. 24 June: Doctoral Pizza Lunch (City Campus)

Prepare for the new GenAI Guidelines

Are you getting ready to discuss-document-declare? The University's new Generative AI in Doctoral Research Guidelines come into effect on 1 September 2026, and you can prepare now by exploring the following resources:

• Guidelines: Generative AI in Doctoral Research Guidelines
• Resource: Introduction to GenAI in Doctoral Research
• Canvas module: AI Essentials

We also recommend that you sign up for five workshops that will show you how to apply GenAI tools across various research activities:

30 June: Using LLMs to Programmatically Extract and Curate Research Data (Zoom)
1 July: Precision Prompting: Mastering Generative AI for the Research Lifecycle (Zoom)
3 July: AI Tools for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
29 July: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
26 August: Responsible AI in Research (Zoom)

Tips to help you manage conflict

In this webinar, Desiree Dickerson explores how to recognise key triggers for conflict in academic and supervisory relationships, develop tools to approach important discussions, and navigate potential clashes. Desiree is a former neuroscience postdoctoral researcher and clinical psychologist who has turned her attention to supporting positive change to habits, behaviors and thought patterns in those striving to perform well under pressure. 
15 July: Drama-Free Doctorates: Managing Conflict with Desiree Dickerson (Zoom)

Research Communication focus

How to write for Newsroom, with Margo White

Join Margo White, the University's Research Editor, for a practical workshop on writing for Newsroom. Margo will walk you through what it takes to translate your doctoral research into a compelling article for a general audience. You'll learn how to pitch your work, find the right angle, and write in a way that keeps non-specialist readers engaged. She will also explain how she works with researchers through the editing and shaping process. 
6 July: Writing for Newsroom: Write about Research for a General Reader (City Campus)

Research communication workshops

29 June: Research Collaboration and Reproducibility with Google Colab (Zoom)
30 June: Design 101: Presentations, Posters, and Powerpoints for Researchers (Zoom)
30 June: Digital Storytelling with KnightLab (Zoom)
30 June: Publish Smarter: Choosing Where to Publish (Zoom)
1 July: Precision Prompting: Mastering Generative AI for the Research Lifecycle (Zoom)
1 July: Visual Abstracts Create an Attention Hook to your Published Article (Zoom)
2 July: When Science Meets Headlines: Media Engagement for Research Impact (Zoom)
3 July: Language Enrichment for Doctoral Candidates (City Campus)
3 July: Maximising Research Impact with Wikipedia (Zoom)
6 July: Writing for Newsroom: Write about research for a general reader (City Campus)
7 July: Societal Impact Event Series: Public & Media Pathways to Impact (City Campus)
15 July: Impact Is an Entrepreneurial Process: Why Communication Is Discovery, Not Just Dissemination (Zoom)
15-16 July: Media SAVVY for Māori Researchers: Science Media Centre (Auckland)
17 July: University of Auckland 3MT Final (City Campus)
20 July: Tips on Communicating your Research: Science Media Centre (Zoom)

More what's on

Candidature Essentials

13 July: Arts & Ed Doctoral Drop-In, 10am, 201-826/830 (City Campus) - no rsvp needed
7 August: Word Thesis Formatting (Zoom)

Research Environment

8 July: UAHPEC Ethics Zone – Drop‑in Sessions for Postgrad Students (Zoom)
22 July: UAHPEC Ethics Zone – Drop‑in Sessions for Postgrad Students (Zoom)

Research Knowledge and Skills

26 June: Academic Skills: Time Management (Zoom)
29 June to 3 July: Research Bazaar Aotearoa (Zoom)
30 June: Using LLMs to Programmatically Extract and Curate Research Data (Zoom)
1 July: Academic Skills: Time Management (Zoom)
1 July: Literature Review: Organising and Writing (Zoom)
3 July: AI Tools for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
9 July: Building a Strong Foundation in REDCap (Zoom)
22 July: Managing Research Data (Zoom)
29 July: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
30 July: Writing a Data Management Plan ​​​(Zoom)

Collaboration and Leadership

24 June: Doctoral Pizza Lunch (City Campus)
15 July: Drama-Free Doctorates: Managing Conflict with Desiree Dickerson (Zoom)

Career Development

29 June: Postgrad Bootcamp Part 1: Develop Your Career Direction (City Campus)
1 July: Postgrad Bootcamp Part 2: Increase Your Exposure to Career Opportunities and Learn to Market Yourself to Them (City Campus)
6 July: Build your Network and Level Up your LinkedIn (City Campus)
7 July: Job Search Basics and Design your Career (City Campus)
9 July: Elevate your CV - Peer Review and Sharpen your Interview Skills (City Campus)
15-17 July: Research to Start-up Bootcamp (City Campus)

Scene around at 3MT

Hanyi Xu (accounting), Liz Yingxue Zhao (marketing), Kiki Zhang (property) and Vickie Mingxia Ma (marketing) took part in the Business & Economics 3MT Faculty Heat on Monday 8 June. Congratulations to Vickie, who won the heat. You can learn more about their three-minute presentations in Four PhDs, four big questions, three minutes each.

The FMHS 3MT Faculty Heat took place at Grafton Campus on Thursday 18 June. Well done to Nikki Singh (winner) and Alice Minhinnick (runner-up).

The Science 3MT Faculty Heat was held on Wednesday 10 June. Congratulations to Emma McGuigan (winner) and Jozie Sharpe (runner-up).

The Arts & Education 3MT Faculty Heat was held on Tuesday 9 June, with a record 19 entrants. Well done to Helen Zipei Liu (winner) and Nicholas Ringwood (runner-up).

Notices

Turn your research into real-world impact

Applications have opened for Semester Two's Research to Innovation Hatchery, a 12-week programme designed to help you turn your research into real-world impact through innovation and entrepreneurship. You’ll learn to identify, test and validate pathways for innovation, bridging the gap between academic research and practical application. The programme takes place from Monday 17 August to Tuesday 10 November, on City Campus. Applications close on Friday 10 July. Learn more.

Is your research about ageing?

If your research is on older people, ageing, or the life course, even if it is just a small part of your research, you're invited to join the NZ Association of Gerontology Early Career Researcher and Student Group, which unites researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to advance the study of ageing. Read more about NZAG.

Candidates in the spotlight

Kenya Kavanagh-Vincent | Science

Kenya, whose name honours the country where her parents married, is part of the Doctor of Clinical Psychology programme. Her research focuses on the experiences of Caribbean people in NZ – a small community whose stories are often absent from academic and social discourse. Learn more in Research explores Caribbean experience in Aotearoa.

Luis Medrano Gomez | Engineering & Design

Luis, pictured here with his mum, Luisa, graduated last month with a PhD from the School of Architecture and Planning. His research explored how retrofitted social housing can better support people’s needs and behaviours to improve warmth and energy efficiency. 
Read more in The long goodbye: PhD honours sister’s 14-year battle with cancer.

Scene around on campus

Mixed Methods Research Forum

Last month's Mixed Methods Research Forum brought together a large interdisciplinary community to explore how qualitative and quantitative research can work together. The forum was initiated by doctoral candidates Siwei Sun, Chenyu Ni, and Cheng Pang, and supported by SGS's Creating Connections Grant. If you have an idea for a cross-faculty doctoral event, we invite you to apply for a Creating Connections Grant.

Scholarships

Engineering

Colombo Plan Scholarship in Engineering: $3,000 to assist an international student who is a citizen of a Colombo Plan member country with a contribution towards tuition fees in Engineering. Closes: Thursday 25 June. Apply here.

Medical

Elizabeth Ewing Memorial Scholarship in Adolescent and Young Adult Health: $5,000 to support a NZ Citizen or Permanent Resident enrolled full-time or part-time in postgraduate research on adolescent and young adult health. Closes: Thursday 2 July. Apply here.

Edna and Denis Moloney Scholarship: To assist sub-doctoral postgraduate or doctoral students undertaking research in a medical field. Closes: Thursday 2 July. Apply here.

Women

Kate Edger Foundation Dame Dorothy Winstone Doctoral Completion Awards: Up to $16,000 each to support women doctoral students to make substantial progress towards completion of a PhD or named Doctorate. Closes: Tuesday 14 July. Apply here.

Fulbright Awards

Fulbright offers awards for NZ graduate students to undertake postgraduate study or research at US institutions in any field. Closes: Saturday 1 August. Apply here.