Halo olgeta ,

Welcome to the latest edition of Doctoral News, and happy Papua Niugini Tok Pisin Wik - Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week. 

Our special focus on Doctoral Careers is in full swing! Whether you want to begin exploring career possibilities, discover new options and resources, or access targeted support to progress specific career goals, you will find a wide variety of workshops and resources to support your goals throughout September and October.

We'd also like to remind you that entries for the Research Showcase close on 20 September, and we encourage you to consider submitting an academic poster and/or research image. In this edition of Doctoral News, you will find plenty of inspiration to get involved, including stories from doctoral candidates who participated last year.

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

Cristal Salatas shares her Research Showcase experience

Liggins PhD candidate Cristal Salatas is researching factors that influence preterm births in New Zealand. She took out the top Research Image prize in the Research Showcase in 2025, despite having initial doubts about her image. Her winning image is now the logo of her startup, where she is commercialising her research. Read Cristal's story.

Want to enter the Research Showcase this year? Enter your academic poster and/or research image by Sunday 20 September. Learn more.

GenAI Guidelines now live

The new Generative Artificial Intelligence in Doctoral Research Guidelines took effect as of 1 September 2026. Please make sure you're up-to-date by exploring the following resources: 

• Guidelines: Generative AI in Doctoral Research Guidelines
• Canvas module: AI Essentials
• Resources: Introduction to GenAI in Doctoral Research 
  (discussion guides, example usage logs, declaration forms, and more)

Opportunities

New Doctoral Career Series

Join the doctoral specialists within the Career Development Service (CDES) for a new series of workshops designed to help you explore available career pathways, develop your career direction, build networks, and prepare for the job market. This series will give you the tools and confidence to transfer the knowledge, skills and passion you’re developing through your doctorate into your future career. 
21 September: Career Direction and Personal Clarity (City Campus)
28 September: Exploring Career Pathways (City Campus)
5 October: Networking and Professional Visibility (City Campus)
12 October: Preparing for the Job Market (City Campus)

Elevate your online presentation skills 

Presenting your research online requires more than simply moving an in-person presentation to a virtual platform. Run by guest speaker Hugh Kearns, this workshop explores strategies for engaging online audiences, delivering with confidence, handling questions effectively, and making the most of virtual presentation tools. 
23 September: Elevate Your Online Presentation Skills with Hugh Kearns (Zoom)

Culture, power and cultural safety in research 

Deepen your understanding of Treaty-referenced research practice in this interactive workshop. Using practical tools and guided discussion, participants will explore power, positionality, cultural safety, and accountability, and develop meaningful actions to apply within their own research and mahi.  
1 October: Hui ako 3: Treaty-Referenced Relationships: Culture, Power and Cultural Safety in Research (Zoom).

Valuing Good Research Practice

The credibility of research is fundamental to advancing knowledge and maintaining public trust. In this online workshop, Dr Elizabeth Visser, the University’s Research Integrity Officer, will explore the current research landscape and the challenges that can affect research quality and trustworthiness 
30 September: Valuing Good Research Practice Part 1: Basics and More (Zoom).

What's on

Career development

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

19 October: Fundamentals of Project Management for Research Projects (Zoom)
Ongoing: English Language Learning Groups (City Campus)
Ongoing: Writing in English Workshops (City Campus)

Research environment

On-demand course: Academic and Research Integrity
On-demand: He Korowai Mātauranga

Research knowledge and skills

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)
21 October: Responsible AI in Research (Zoom)
27 October: AI for Literature Reviews (Zoom)

Communication, influence and impact

23 September: Elevate Your Online Presentation Skills with Hugh Kearns (Zoom)
23 September: Presenting your Research (Grafton Campus)

Notices

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week takes place during 14-20 September. It is a chance to celebrate, learn and connect through te reo Māori. Head along to ReoSpace for four days of activities, waiata, games and fun. Read more.

Postgraduate Energy Research Symposium

In just a few days the Energy Research Consortium is hosting the inaugural Postgraduate Energy Research Symposium, featuring the latest student research in energy futures and an expert panel featuring the Prime Minister's Science Advisor Dr John Roche, Energy & Climate Communicator Eloise Gibson and Sustainability & Strategy Analyst Esther Evening. Register now.

Postgraduate research ethics drop-ins

Do you have any research ethics questions? You’re welcome to come to a drop‑in sessions for postgraduate students. These sessions are open to all University of Auckland postgraduate students, with a particular focus on those in Education, Psychology, and Engineering who may require additional guidance with ethics applications. Read more.

Graduate in the spotlight

Dr Alison Talmage | Arts and Education

Dr Alison Talmage was featured in the Brainwaves series for her doctoral research on therapeutic choirs and their benefits for people living with neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and dementia. Her work explores how group singing can support communication, wellbeing, and social connection, and has contributed to the development of community-based therapeutic choirs across Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn more: Why singing in a therapeutic choir can help people with brain conditions.

Candidates in the spotlight: Research Showcase edition

Chenyu Ni | Arts and Education

Chenyu Ni examines how everyday online interactions help shape communities and collective identities. At the 2025 Research Showcase, she used the unlikely example of cat photos to demonstrate how social media can foster cross-cultural connection, winning the People's Choice Award for her engaging research poster. Read more.

Martin Cheng | Science

Martin Cheng is researching ways to improve the welfare, quality, and shelf life of New Zealand's green-lipped mussels. He entered the Research Showcase Academic Poster category in 2025 to share his research with a wider audience and hone his research communication skills. Read more.

Scholarships

 Maanu Paul Scholarship 2026

The Maanu Paul Scholarship 2026 is designed to support doctoral research that advances kaupapa Māori knowledge and practice. A scholarship pool of $50,000 is available for eligible doctoral candidates with whakapapa connections to the iwi of Mataatua within Te Moana-nui-a-Toi. Research areas include kai sovereignty and security, whenua and environmental stewardship, moana and marine resources, rongoā Māori, and research that contributes positively to the health and wellbeing of Māori communities. Applications will remain open until awarded. Learn more and apply.

Optometry Scholarship 

HC Russell Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship: A scholarship of up to $12,000 for full-time or part-time PhD study in Optometry by a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Closing date: 1 October. Apply here.

Aerospace Engineering/Space Sciences Fellowship

Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship: Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences are eligible.. Closing date: 15 November. Apply here.