Kia ora , 

Welcome to the third edition of Doctoral News for 2026, filled with news, workshops, notices, opportunities, and resources for every stage of your doctoral journey.

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

News

ABI's Andreia reaches 3MT Finals

Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) held their annual Research Forum last week. One of the highlights was the inspirational Three Minute Thesis (3MT) heat, where 23 doctoral candidates shared their research in just 180 seconds each in front of a packed auditorium.

Congratulations to the winner, Andreia Valente, who has qualified to take part in the University of Auckland 3MT Finals in July.

Pictured above at the ABI prizegiving are Merryn Tawhai (Director of ABI), Ho-Fung Chan (Senior Research Fellow), Tharanga Don (Research Fellow), Beatrice Ghitti (Research Fellow), Andreia Valente (3MT winner), Robin Milward Cooney (3MT runner-up), Sara Chami (3MT people’s choice) and Riku Otono (3MT people’s choice). Tamil Selvan Gunasekaran (not pictured) was also a runner-up.

Entries for all other 3MT faculty heats will open in March – watch this space!

Doctoral drop-in sessions

You're invited to come along and meet SGS's doctoral candidature advisers. This is a great opportunity to ask them any questions you may have. 

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences | doctoral drop-in session
Thursday 26 February
11am-1pm in Room 505-110B (Grafton Campus)
Book by emailing Alina Meador. 

Faculty of Arts and Education | doctoral drop-in session
Thursday 19 March
10am to 11am in Rooms 201-826 and 830 (City Campus)
No need to book; just come along.

Upcoming highlights

Development opportunities

Tues 3 March: Intro to AI-Assisted Workflows for Qualitative Analyses (online). Book here.

Thu 5 March: Managing Research Data (online). Book here.

Fri 6 March: Literature Review: Organising and Writing (City Campus). Book here.

Tues 10 March: Publishing your Research (online). Book here.

Tue 17 March: Writing a Data Management Plan (online). Book here.

Wed 11 March: Programming with Python (online). Book here.

Wed 18 March: Presenting your Research (online). Book here.

Wed 18 March: AI for Literature Reviews (online). Book here.

Fri 27 March: Introductory Good Clinical Practice Training (Grafton Campus). Book here.

Mon 30 March: Abstract Writing (City Campus). Book here.

Scene around

Mae Raab (Rainbow Support Adviser), Artie Ho (Queer Rights Officer for the Auckland University Students' Association), and doctoral candidate Xavier Walsh attended our most recent doctoral morning tea, which celebrated Pride Month. Keep an eye on our what's on web page for details of more doctoral morning teas and other events. 

Notices

Learn to navigate the research space

You are invited to join the newly launched Good Research Practice Matters Viva Community. This is a great way to learn how to navigate the complex research world by sharing information and tips about good research practice and research integrity. 

"Trust is the currency of science and integrity keeps it from crashing," says the University's Research Integrity Officer, Elizabeth Visser. "Research integrity and good research practice are vital to earn and maintain trust in scientific findings." Join the community.

Turn your research into real world impact

There's still time to apply for the annual Research to Innovation Hatchery, which bridges the gap between research and practical application. This 12-week programme can help you turn your research into real world impact through innovation and entrepreneurship. Applications close on Friday 6 March. Apply here.

Good news for open access publishing

The University’s open access publishing agreements have all been renewed for 2026, with significant improvements to coverage across major publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor & Francis, Wylie, and others. The agreements are expected to substantially increase the University’s open access output by helping researchers publish journal articles open access without paying article processing charges, or at a discounted rate. Learn more about the publishing agreements.

Want to inspire the next generation?

The University is looking for session facilitators, panel members, and keynote speakers to help inspire the next generation at Catalyst, a two‑day event in July for 300 high‑achieving Year 12 students which showcases the University’s research. Learn more about Catalyst.

Thesis submission reminder

Every doctoral thesis needs to adhere to the University's thesis submission guidelines. Theses that do not follow the guidelines get returned to the candidate for amendment, which leads to delays in examination and may result in additional enrolment fees. If you're getting ready to submit, please ensure you adhere to all guidelines, particularly regarding thesis length, inclusion of published work (statement of contribution, co-authorship, etc.), formatting and copyright. To learn more, read the Doctoral Thesis Policy and Procedures.

Candidate in the spotlight

Esmeralda Lo Tam | FMHS

When Esmeralda Lo Tam from Sāmoa received a corneal transplant at the age of 29, it inspired her to change careers. Now she's a doctoral candidate in the Department of Ophthalmology at FMHS, and the surgeon who performed her transplant, Prof Charles McGhee, is her supervisor. Esmeralda's research focuses on the prevalence of eye disease in Pacific communities, and their inequitable access to eye care. She also helps to screen vision and eye heath in young people. "Advocating for eye health and helping others get the care they need before it is too late has given me a great purpose," she says. Read more about Esmeralda's story.