Kia ora , and welcome to the latest edition of Doctoral News.

In today's newsletter we launch our focus on doctoral careers, which will take place throughout September and October. We encourage you to make the most of the many opportunities available, because it's never too early to start thinking about life after the doctorate. 

Read on to learn more, plus discover more news, notices, scholarships, and resources for every stage of your doctoral journey. 

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

News

Doctoral Careers Focus

Whether you have your sights set on a specific pathway toward academia, industry, entrepreneurship or public good, or you’re not yet sure and want to start exploring career possibilities, we have a wide range of workshops, programmes, and resources to support you. With over 20 online and in-person events scheduled, there’s something for everyone during our special focus on doctoral careers during September and October. Learn more.

Fulbright award takes doctoral researcher to Stanford

Nikki Singh will take pioneering research into autoimmune disease, identity and lived experience to Stanford University after receiving a prestigious Fulbright award. At Stanford, Nikki will advance research exploring how autoimmune disease affects identity, relationships and daily life for young adults in Aotearoa. Read more: Fulbright award takes doctoral researcher to Stanford. Read more: Fulbright award takes doctoral researcher to Stanford.

Opportunities

Career Direction and Personal Clarity

Take time to reflect on what you want from your career and what matters to you. This workshop will help you explore your motivations, strengths, values and aspirations, giving you a clearer foundation to consider your future career direction and the types of work that may suit you. 
21 September: Doctoral Career Series: Career Direction and Personal Clarity (City Campus).

Exploring Career Pathways

Broaden your understanding of the career pathways available to you, both within and beyond academia. Explore potential career options that align with your skills, interests and goals and learn practical ways to research different pathways and identify opportunities to explore further. Featuring guest speaker, John Hunt, PhD, this workshop will support you to research career pathways and understand how different roles connect to your skills.
28 September: Doctoral Career Series: Exploring Career Pathways (City Campus).

Start planning for the Research Showcase

Win great prizes and get your research noticed by entering the 2026 School of Graduate Studies Research Showcase. Design a poster or research image that communicates your research and its impact to a general audience, and submit it by Sunday 20 September. Learn more about the Research Showcase.

What's on

Career development

2 September: How to Write a Narrative CV (Zoom)
21 September: NEW!  Doctoral Career Series: Career Direction and Personal Clarity (City Campus)
28 September: NEW! Doctoral Career Series: Exploring Career Pathways with guest speaker, John Hunt, PhD (City Campus)
2 October: Academic Career Perspectives: Introduction to academia and getting a job (Zoom)
5 October: NEW! Doctoral Career Series: Networking and Professional Visibility (City Campus)
9 October: Academic Career Perspectives: Research and Publishing (Zoom)
12 October: NEW! Doctoral Career Series: Preparing for the Job Market (City Campus)
16 October: Academic Career Perspectives: Service (Zoom)
20 October: Doctoral Morning Tea: Career Lounge (City Campus)
23 October: Academic Career Perspectives: Teaching (Zoom)
29 October: Researcher Skills and Career Planning for Academia and Beyond (Zoom)

Candidature essentials

25 August: Motivation and Procrastination, with Desiree Dickerson (Zoom)
Ongoing: English Language Learning Groups (City Campus)
Ongoing: Writing in English Workshops (City Campus)

Research environment

25 August: Hui ako 1: Making Sense of the Treaty: Foundations for Research Practice (Zoom)
3 September: Hui ako 2: Putting the Treaty into Practice in a Research Context (Zoom)
On-demand course: Academic and Research Integrity
On-demand: He Korowai Mātauranga

Research knowledge and skills

26 August: Responsible AI in Research (Zoom)
15 September: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)
15-16 September: Data Analysis and Visualisation in R (Zoom)
22-23 September: Programming with Python (Zoom)
24 September: Managing Research Data (Zoom)
6 October: Embedding Large Language Models (LLMs) into Qualitative Research Workflows (Zoom)
8 October: Writing a data management plan (Zoom)
Ongoing: Research Ethics Advice – Drop‑in Sessions for Postgraduate Students

Communication, influence and impact

7 September: Literature Review: Organising and Writing (City Campus)
23 September: Elevate Your Online Presentation Skills with Hugh Kearns (Zoom)
23 September: Presenting your Research (Grafton Campus)

Collaboration and leadership

26 August: NEW! Doctoral Ideation and Collaboration Workshop: Developing an idea into a collaborative research proposal (City Campus)

Notices

Apply for a Fulbright Scholarship

Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards provide an opportunity for New Zealand academics to lecture and/or conduct research at US institutions. Awards valued at up to US$37,500 are granted each year, towards three to five months of lecturing and/or research. Applications close on Tuesday 1 October. Find out more and book a one-on-one call.

2027 AUSA Elections

Would you like to have your say in the AUSA Elections? You can vote for your AUSA representatives between 24 and 28 August. Your elected representatives will speak on your behalf in key University committees, ensuring your needs, ideas, and concerns are heard where decisions are made. Starting this year, postgraduate students have the exclusive power to choose your postgraduate representatives in AUSA. Find out more at AUSA Elections.

Candidate in the spotlight

Ronald Chau  | Science

Ronald Chau's doctoral research explores the experiences of adolescents and young adults living with palliative care needs. He is calling on young people living with life-limiting health conditions to help shape a better understanding of what it means to navigate serious illness during adolescence and early adulthood.

Read more in: Young voices sought for pioneering palliative care research.

Scene around

Around 70 attendees came together at the PhD Social Mixer with the Newmarket Innovation Precinct earlier this month. It was great to see so many PhD students coming together with the NIP community, meeting new people and enjoying the afternoon.

Scholarships

Physical Sciences and Engineering Scholarship

RHT Bates Postgraduate Scholarship: An Award of $6,000 for a PhD in the Physical Sciences and Engineering. Preference will be given to those whose research aims to apply information/image processing to studies in medicine, the physical sciences, astronomy or engineering. Closing date: 31 August. Apply here.

Medical Scholarship 

Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust PhD Research Travel Award: An Award to support a final year PhD student, who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, with the costs of travel for research in a medical-related field. Closing date: Thursday 27 August. Apply here.

Performing Arts Scholarship

FAME Emerging Practitioner Award: A $10,000 Scholarship to support a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in a performing arts field. Closing date: Wednesday 16 September. Apply here.