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In this summer research project the student will participate in the exploration and analysis of published graded readers used to introduce tamariki/mokopuna to reading in te reo M膩ori in M膩ori-medium education. The summer scholarship project has three key aims and associated outcomes: 
(1) a review of literature about graded readers in Indigenous languages; 
(2) the creation of a corpus of the texts in the readers for analysis;
(3) and preliminary analysis of the corpus.

The supervisors will work with the student to develop a draft report/article and possibly a conference presentation based on this work.

The successful student will bring to the project:
- Fluency in Te reo M膩ori (required)
- Experience of writing a literature review (preferred)
- Some knowledge of children鈥檚 literature and literacy pedagogy, or a background in language teaching/learning (preferred)

This project will be conducted with the guidance of two Waikato doctoral students who are engaged in kaupapa M膩ori research concerning Indigenous children's literature.

Asian communities, encompassing people with whakapapa (genealogy) to East, South, and Southeast Asia, have a long-standing presence in Aotearoa New Zealand dating back to the early nineteenth century. The Asian population is projected to become the largest minority group by 2048. Continued migration from Asia is expected to play a critical role in addressing workforce shortages across sectors such as healthcare, aged care, education, hospitality, and information technology. Yet despite these significant demographic shifts and the substantial socio-economic contributions, there remains no sustained disciplinary space dedicated to the study of Asian diasporic experiences and issues in Aotearoa, comparable to established fields such as Asian American or Asian Australian Studies.

This summer project forms part of a broader initiative to establish a sustained platform for Asian diaspora studies in Aotearoa New Zealand while recognising and building on the existing scholarly contributions of leading Asian scholars. The summer scholar will assist in mapping the genealogy and development of Asian diaspora scholarship in Aotearoa, with particular attention to questions of temporality, place, and relationships with Indigenous peoples. The project builds on a prior scoping review (Aquino et al. 2025) and involves engagement in reciprocal scholarly dialogues with academics working in the field.


Project Tasks
- Review of selected literature on Asian identities, racialisation and transnational Asian diaspora
- Semi-structured interviews with Asian scholars
- Analysing interview data
- Drafting a report 

Student Skills
- BA/BSocSc (Hons) in Social Sciences
- Proven critical thinking and analysis skills
- Proven academic writing skill

Ng膩ti Toa Rangatira are the lead partner in the Tiaki T膩ne project, which seeks to better understand multilayered influences on crime for rangatahi t膩ne M膩ori through an Indigenous lens. Aligned with the kaupapa of creating the conditions that help rangatahi flourish, Ng膩ti Toa Rangatira support a range of creative and cultural opportunities, including activities such as music, visual arts, and animation. This project explores how engagement in arts-based activities may support positive developmental pathways for rangatahi through strengthening wellbeing, identity, belonging, and social connectedness.

While there is likely substantial international literature exploring youth arts engagement and positive development, it is currently unclear whether there is a strong published evidence base examining these issues from M膩ori or broader Indigenous perspectives. This project therefore seeks to explore both what Indigenous scholarship exists, and what insights may cautiously be drawn from western literature where Indigenous evidence is limited or underdeveloped. Particular attention will be paid to whether dominant western understandings align with, overlook, or potentially conflict with Indigenous ways of understanding wellbeing, connectedness, and pathways away from harm.

Under this model, the student will conduct a narrative literature review drawing from scholarly literature, reports, theses, and other relevant materials. A core feature is to imbue the student with the 鈥榯ikanga of good research鈥�, drawn from multidisciplinary best practice. Applicants who have connections to M膩ori and Pacific communities in Porirua are particularly encouraged to apply.

Ng膩ti Toa Rangatira are the lead partner in the Tiaki T膩ne project, which seeks to better understand multilayered influences on crime for rangatahi t膩ne M膩ori through an Indigenous lens. Aligned with the kaupapa of creating the conditions that help rangatahi flourish, Ng膩ti Toa Rangatira support a range of sports programmes. This project explores how engagement in sport and physical activity may support positive developmental pathways for rangatahi through strengthening wellbeing, resilience, belonging, and social connectedness.

While there is likely substantial international literature exploring youth sport participation and positive development, it is currently unclear whether there is a strong published evidence base examining these issues from M膩ori or broader Indigenous perspectives. This project therefore seeks to explore both what Indigenous scholarship exists, and what insights may cautiously be drawn from western literature where Indigenous evidence is limited or underdeveloped. Particular attention will be paid to whether dominant western understandings align with, overlook, or potentially conflict with Indigenous ways of understanding wellbeing, connectedness, and pathways away from harm.

Under this model, the student will conduct a narrative literature review drawing from scholarly literature, reports, theses, and other relevant materials. A core feature is to equip the student with the 鈥榯ikanga of good research鈥�, drawn from multidisciplinary best practice. Applicants who have connections to M膩ori and Pacific communities in Porirua are particularly encouraged to apply.

Research and policy on coastal ecosystems and blue economies have often focused on economic benefits like livelihoods, trade, and food. However, urbanisation, economic activities, and climate change are degrading coastal environments and affecting the health and well-being of people living there. Our ongoing research in and around Tauranga Harbour (funded by the Harbour Research Trust) focuses on how engagements with coastal places through sport and recreation can foster emotional connection to ocean environments, stewardship of coastal places, and the health and well-being of people and communities.

This summer scholarship will contribute to this project鈥檚 focus. Working with the Tauranga City Council Venues and Events team, the student will explore their 鈥楥oastal lifestyle and beach energy鈥� Anchor Events (Tauranga Events Action & Investment Plan) to 鈥渃elebrate and showcase our oceans, beaches and marine environment.鈥� The research will involve analysing event policy documents, mapping consultation processes, conversations with stakeholders, and event observation (e.g., World Triathlon series, Surf Life Saving). Likely focuses are sustainability strategies, resource management, community involvement, access, new recreational or conservation opportunities, how these events support M膩tauranga M膩ori and M膩ori aspirations, and positive change for Bay of Plenty communities. The research project aims to understand how beach-based events can create positive outcomes for both people and the ocean, contributing to healthier people, stronger communities and healthier coastal environments.

Skills required: literature searches, summarising policy documents, word processing skills. This project will provide experience working with a city council team, develop understanding of policy processes, evaluative skills, communication, and independent work.

1. Aim and Expected Outcomes: This project investigates 鈥渄isputed causation鈥� within New Zealand's ACC review and appeals system, examining decision-making patterns, claimant outcomes, and barriers to equitable justice under the Accident Compensation Act 2001. Despite ACC's no-fault statutory basis, claimants must satisfy increasingly technical causation standards (strenuously disputed by ACC) 鈥� these function in practice as structural barriers to ACC cover and entitlements for many, including vulnerable groups experiencing disparities and inequities. The project will help produce a co-authored peer-reviewed publication, generate scoping research for external funding applications, and contribute insights to ACC reform.

2. Key Tasks: The student will conduct a systematic literature review drawing on case law, peer-reviewed scholarship, and ACC/Ministry of Justice data. Tasks included structured analysis of review and appeal decisions involving disputed causation, identifying patterns in outcomes and the role of medical evidence. As well, the student will help arrange stakeholder engagement (ACC, Acclaim Otago, and policy-makers), contribute drafting research and recommendations for a scholarly journal, and produce a public-facing opinion piece for outlets such as The Spinoff or The Conversation.

3. Skills Required and Developed: The successful candidate should be on track to complete a law degree/major, have strong written and analytical skills, and be proficient with legal research (e.g. familiarity with legal databases including LexisNexis and Westlaw. During the project, the student will acquire stronger skills in legal and policy research, case law analysis, research translation, stakeholder engagement, and academic writing for specialist and general audiences.

This project aims to explore how Whiri 鈥� a comprehensive equity-focussed model of health care 鈥� could be applied to the redesign of primary care in Aotearoa NZ. Whiri (developed in 2012) has demonstrated effectiveness, equity, efficiency, and feasibility across multiple community and hospital settings in research and operational initiatives. This project responds to current pressures in primary care (e.g. workforce shortages and proposed annual GP visits) by exploring an alternative to resource鈥慽ntensive, GP鈥慶entred models.

The student will:
- Review and summarise grey and published literature related to GP access, shortages, and primary care reform in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Conduct semi鈥憇tructured interviews with 5鈥�8 subject matter experts to explore views on possibilities for a Whiri鈥慴ased primary care model. Experts that have agreed to be interviewed include the clinical director of a major PHO, and two Whiri clinical leads.
- In partnership with subject matter experts, develop a report that describes a primary care Whiri model, including workforce configuration and co鈥慻overnance arrangements.
- Identify implications for health equity, access, efficiency, and system sustainability through transformation.
- Outline a study to assess feasibility of Whiri primary care - including holistic outcome measures.

The project will contribute practical, policy鈥憆elevant evidence on how primary care systems could be redesigned to achieve greater impact without increasing reliance on an already constrained GP workforce. The student should have an interest in health equity and the ability to undertake qualitative methodologies including semi-structured interviews and document review. The student will be supported to submit a journal article for publication from this project.

The Climate Change Commission is developing a suite of metrics to monitor adaptation progress in Aotearoa New Zealand and inform advice to the Government. A core objective is to move beyond simple hazard exposure analysis by identifying the specific population characteristics that drive social vulnerability. This work will build on previous work regarding coastal flooding, and improve understanding of vulnerability to heat stress. This research will involve working with the Commission and Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research to leverage existing national datasets (such as the Census) and academic literature to identify factors which can influence social vulnerability. These should include socio-economic, demographic and health-related factors encompassing both sensitivity (e.g. age) and adaptive capacity (e.g. quality of housing) aspects of vulnerability.

The proposed research project involves:
Literature Review: Identifying indicators of heat-stress vulnerability relevant to the New Zealand context.
Data Acquisition: Gathering and cleaning available national datasets.
Spatial Analysis: Assessing how these vulnerability characteristics vary at a Territorial Authority level; and potentially identifying high-risk hotspots by overlaying heat hazard modelling
Equity Analysis: Assessing how heat vulnerability may impact M膩ori
Gap Analysis: Identifying limitations in current and future data that may hinder future vulnerability assessments.

Positive transition experiences into university are strongly linked to student success and persistence in higher education. Research from Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally shows that students who feel academically and socially supported during their first year are more likely to remain engaged and complete their studies. However, transition to tertiary education can be challenging as students adapt to new academic expectations, independent learning, and unfamiliar systems.

This research project builds on an existing dataset collected from first-year Bachelor of Teaching students about their transition experiences. The study explores key supports and enablers during the first year, with a focus on identifying academic, social, and institutional supports that contribute to successful adjustment.

The summer scholarship student will assist with analysing qualitative survey and interview data, identifying patterns, and organising themes. Expected outcomes include identifying key transition themes, developing written summaries, and contributing to outputs such as a research poster and potentially a journal article. This project is well suited to students interested in education or educational research.

There is general agreement in research literature about teacher learning that immersive experiences in international contexts has the potential to expand teachers鈥� capacity for reflection, intercultural understanding, and critical thinking about their home contexts. However, for university students in initial teacher education programmes, localised expectations for curriculum exposure and specific types of practical experiences can make traditional study abroad models unrealistic.

The availability of international context-based short programmes and short-term international exchanges for student teachers, specifically, attempts to provide some of the benefits of international immersion to participating student teachers without extending their timelines or compromising the course or practicum requirements of their home programme.

The main researcher for this study is an international academic working in an Aotearoa New Zealand context who has a research interest in teacher learning, particularly in international immersion contexts.

This study explores participants鈥� and facilitators鈥� experiences of these short-term programmes, which may fall into two main categories.

The summer project will focus on only a University-based short programme in which student teachers go to an overseas partner context (university and/or university-affiliated school).

Research Questions:
- How do participants in an international exchange or short programme for student teachers experience their learning while in the programme?
- How do participants explain their motivations and the purposes of participation in the programme?
- After a programme鈥檚 completion, how do participants remember and reflect on their experiences in and alongside the programme?

Te Pua W膩nanga ki te Ao has a legacy of producing and hosting prominent Indigenous scholars whose work influences both local and global stages. As the Faculty continues to expand its research capability and excellence, we are looking for a candidate to continue the projects of previous summer scholars, Molly Huggan and Jess Wharekura, who have conducted a thorough cataloguing of historical and contemporary taonga and published works from the Faculty.

The selected candidate will contribute to the creation of an inventory for both the physical and digital collections of taonga including pukapuka, artworks, and audio-visual materials, ensuring these resources become accessible to our staff and students. The role requires someone with strong organisational skills, the ability to build relationships, and experience in implementation. The selected candidate will also work with the Dean of Faculty to enhance the Faculty's research profile through whakawhanaungatanga, whakawhiti k艒rero, and hui with faculty staff and Te Iho o Te Manawataki.

This is an exciting opportunity for a scholar to learn about research in a Kaupapa M膩ori context while contributing to the revitalisation of Te Pua W膩nanga's research aspirations.

Pacific pedagogies of play emphasise the importance of cultural preservation through storytelling and oral traditions of knowledge-making, holding, and communication. Anecdotally, Indigenous play helps strengthen cultural identity, language, and customs, and has tangible positive benefits for mental and emotional health, as well as identity resilience. However, the extent of empirical evidence supporting this is unknown, and even less is known about the Pacific conceptualisation of play. This gap prompted the call for a summer scholar candidate to undertake a thorough scoping review.


Other than conducting the review, the candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a trial of preliminary-developed Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TTRPGs) grounded in collectivist Oceanian onto-epistemic realities. The game was developed with the hope of creating a fantasy world where Indigenous Oceanian youths across the Pacific can imagine and roleplay new Oceanian pasts and futures that feel familiar and reflect their realities. It aims to contribute to both therapeutic and pedagogical frameworks for teaching Indigenous Oceanian relationalities.

The selected candidate will be part of the Ng膩 Taonga Tuku Iho funded project, which aims to preserve and enhance audio-visual content by assessing the quality of a collection of 180 VHS/Beta videotapes, CDs, and DVDs, and their suitability for digitisation and any required repair. It will employ modern technologies to ensure their preservation, prevent further deterioration, and ensure compatibility with modern devices. Once digitised, and using appropriate cataloguing software, a searchable index and catalogue will be created, with a metadata schema developed and applied to the digitised footage.

The selected candidate will assist with engaging and documenting traditional storytelling, including k艒rero atua and k艒rero tuku iho, by supporting transcription, translation, and the careful interpretation of audio-visual materials. They will also participate in drafting a literature review on using technology to preserve traditional knowledge.

This is an exciting opportunity for a scholar interested in M膩ori ontologies to be part of an Indigenous-led, Kaupapa M膩ori鈥搃nformed project that aims to produce scalable, tikanga-based protocols that other iwi and communities can use to govern their own audio-visual taonga.

The selected candidate will be part of a Health Research Council鈥揻unded project examining mental health service uptake among Rainbow+ (including takat膩pui, MVPFAFF+ and other culturally diverse umbrella terms for LGBTQIA+) young people in Aotearoa. Preliminary analyses for Stage I of the project using IDI data have identified heightened prevalence of anxiety and depression among M膩ori, Pacific, Asian, and migrant young people; however, these groups do not generally access mental health services promptly.

This summer scholarship forms part of Stage II of the project, which seeks to interview priority groups within Rainbow+ communities to identify enablers and barriers to accessing culturally safe mental healthcare in Aotearoa. The selected candidate will be supported by the supervisor and wider research team to conduct interviews, w膩nanga, or talanoa with a small subset of participants, to gain first-hand insights into improving mental health services aligned with the vision of Pae Ora.

This is a valuable opportunity for students seeking training in qualitative narrative and intersectionality-informed analysis. Applicants drawing on Indigenous epistemologies and with creative skills are particularly encouraged to apply.

Project Aim and Research Outcomes
This project examines how wairua (spiritual essence) is understood, expressed, and discerned through sound, silence, and multisensory experience in healthcare environments. Grounded in m膩tauranga M膩ori and contemporary spiritual care scholarship, the research focuses on non鈥慴iomedical perception, including listening to environmental sounds (e.g. wind), waiata, karakia, silence, and intuitive awareness. By foregrounding these modes of listening, the project challenges clinical paradigms that privilege visual and verbal indicators, recognising spiritual and relational dimensions of wellbeing.

The project has two key outcomes:
鈥� Development of a conceptual framework that articulates the 鈥渟ounds of wairua鈥� as indicators of spiritual wellbeing and distress in clinical contexts.
鈥� Production of guidance to support healthcare and spiritual care practitioners to recognise and respond to wairua鈥慽nformed cues in care interactions.

Key Project Tasks
The student will conduct a literature review, contribute to conceptual and thematic analysis, assist with framework development, and support drafting of an analytical report and practice briefing paper.

Student Skills and Learning
Applicants should have reading and writing skills and an interest in M膩ori health or spirituality. Experience with m膩tauranga M膩ori is welcomed but not required. The student will gain experience in kaupapa M膩ori鈥慽nformed research, academic writing, and health research practice.

This 10-week Summer Scholarship internship examines how diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and Te Tiriti o Waitangi are understood and operationalised across higher education systems. This 10-week Summer Scholarship internship examines how policies of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and Te Tiriti o Waitangi are promoted and enabled in tertiary institutions. This project takes an exploratory approach to review public-facing documentation across tertiary institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand, and two international universities with who the research supervisor has a relationship. You will explore how institutions define and embed DEI strategies, while critically engaging with the unique obligations and opportunities presented by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

As an intern, you will:
鈥� Conduct a focused literature review of DEI policies in higher education, including scholarship on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Indigenous equity
鈥� Analyse and review institutional policies and frameworks with particular attention to Tiriti-based commitments and M膩ori advancement
鈥� Provide insights into how the outcomes of the internship particularly for students
鈥� Produce insights highlighting best practices for embedding DEI and Te Tiriti principles into tertiary institutions

This internship offers the opportunity to strengthen your research, critical analysis, and policy evaluation skills while contributing to meaningful, real-world work. Ideal candidates are curious, detail-oriented, and committed to examining the underpinning structures that advance or hinder equity, inclusion, and diversity within higher education systems.

Aim of the Project
This project aims to map and critically analyse father focused and father inclusive support services in Aotearoa New Zealand. It examines how father-inclusive practice is represented across health, social, and community services and identifies key gaps in the evidence that could justify future primary research.

What the Project Involves
This is a desk based research project (no fieldwork). The student will:
鈥� Conduct a mapping exercise and document audit of existing father support services using websites, policy documents, and NGO reports
鈥� Identify target populations, service focus, delivery modes, and claimed outcomes
鈥� Complete a scoping or narrative literature review of academic and grey literature on fathers, parenting support, and paternal wellbeing
鈥� Analyse assumptions and narratives (e.g. 鈥渉ard to reach fathers鈥�, supporter vs caregiver roles)
鈥� Contribute to the development of a realist conceptual framework to explain perceptions of the role of fathers in New Zealand.

Skills
Prerequisites: interest in health or social research; academic reading and writing skills.
Skills gained: documentary analysis, literature searching, literature review, conceptual synthesis, and development of an academic poster for a student symposium. And, a fantastic team to work with.

This 10-week summer research project will investigate psychosocial wellbeing and sleep quality in youth and young adults (12鈥�25 years) with type 2 diabetes, comparing those using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with usual care. The project supports the 糖心TV-led SKYWALKER study, a multi-site secondary care model exploring CGM as a new approach to diabetes management. The aim is to describe patterns in wellbeing, diabetes self-management, and sleep, and explore differences by CGM use.

Key tasks will include collating questionnaire data (DSMQ, EQ-5D, and sleep quality measures), undertaking data entry into secure databases, data cleaning and basic descriptive statistical analyses. The student will also assist with interpretation and reporting.

Students should have an interest in health research, diabetes, or mental wellbeing, and basic skills in Excel or statistical software (e.g., SPSS or R). Attention to detail and the ability to manage confidential data are essential.

The project provides hands-on experience in clinical research, data management, use of validated instruments, quantitative analysis and communicating research findings.

AIM: To use linked national health datasets to describe the prevalence, inequities and patterns of obesity medication use in Aotearoa New Zealand

Summary: Obesity is a major health concern in Aotearoa New Zealand and contributes to a range of long-term conditions. Medications can support weight loss, but little is known about how widely these medicines are used in New Zealand or whether access is equitable. This project will analyse national pharmaceutical dispensing data linked with demographic health information to provide a clear picture of who is receiving obesity medications, including any inequities for access/use by M膩ori / Pacific peoples. We will examine patterns of use over time and assess whether access differs by ethnicity, age, sex, socioeconomic deprivation and geographic location. This research will provide the first population-level overview of obesity medication use in New Zealand and highlight any gaps in access.

Key Tasks: Literature review; data cleaning; analysis of prevalence and trends; reporting results.

Skills Required: Basic epidemiology and statistics; experience with R, Stata or similar (preferred).

Skills Gained: Data analysis, understanding health inequities, and scientific communication.

This summer project will investigate the uptake of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) technologies for people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in primary care following funded availability in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) in October 2024. The project is part of a larger study examining diabetes technology use in NZ. Although all people with T1D should receive specialist secondary care follow-up, CGMs may increasingly be being prescribed in primary care, particularly for individuals with lower engagement in specialist services.

The aim of the project is to identify and characterise people with T1D receiving CGM or AID prescriptions in primary care. Expected outcomes include improved understanding of technology access pathways, identification of gaps in specialist engagement and insights into equity of access following public funding.

Key tasks will include data extraction and cleaning from primary care and/or medication dispensing datasets, descriptive statistical analysis and literature review. The student will contribute to interpretation of findings and preparation of summaries for presentation or publication. Prerequisites include attention to detail, basic spreadsheet or data-handling skills, and an interest in diabetes care or health services research. The student will gain experience in clinical research methods, healthcare data analysis and interdisciplinary diabetes technology research.

The primary aim of the project is to collect and analyse the training and match play characteristics of youth Touch Players using Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. The summer research scholar will undertake a systematic search of published academic and grey literature and assist the supervisors and inform data analysis, and the drafting a manuscript suitable for submission in a peer-reviewed academic journal.

The student will also collaborate with the supervisors on creative dissemination of the data and the research outcomes and may attend and/or present at conferences. Additionally, there is scope for the student to create a series of social media posts to promote the outputs of the summer scholarship.

The student will gain experience in library searching, data analysis, data synthesis, critical appraisal, drafting academic publications and benefit from mentorship by the supervisory team who are experts in Exercise Physiology and Strength & Conditioning (MH) and, sport performance analytics and wearable sport technologies (PM).

Priority will be given to candidates with demonstrable knowledge in the fields of Sport and Exercise Science and associated methodologies and praxes, and/or will have expertise in either the performance and/or coaching of Touch rugby at a national level.

Ideal candidates will be self-motivated and work well in teams. The successful scholar will join a vibrant and active health health research community in the Division of Health.

Autism affects ~1% of the New Zealand population. While social difficulties and anxiety are widely recognised, many autistic people also experience sleep disturbances, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this dysregulation remain poorly understood.  Disrupted sleep   is closely linked to dysfunction in the brain鈥檚 serotonin system.

Our previous work in an animal model of autism   demonstrates that oxytocin, traditionally associated with social bonding, can reduce anxiety-like behaviour.  Because oxytocin can regulate serotonin neurons, we hypothesize that it may fine-tune midbrain serotonin signalling involved in sleep.   This project will involve assessing oxytocin-induced changes in sleep using video tracking in an animal model of autism, alongside measurement of midbrain serotonin neuron activation.  

By investigating interactions between oxytocin, serotonin and sleep, this project may identify a novel pathway relevant to sleep dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders. These preliminary data will also support future in vivo work investigating sleep and anxiety relevant interventions, including rongo膩 r膩kau such as T膩tar膩moa.

We are looking for a highly motivated student with a keen interest in physiology and the brain. Through this project, they will gain skills in animal behaviour, statistical data analysis, immunohistochemistry, and a deep understanding of the neural circuits regulating sleep.

This project aims to identify and characterise a novel drug target in the antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae, contributing to the development of next-generation antimicrobial strategies. Expected outcomes include characterisation of key enzymes important for bacterial survival and understanding the interactions of new chemical compounds that we developing to inhibit these enzymes. 

Students will gain hands on experience in a molecular biology and biochemistry research lab. They will work alongside staff and postgraduate researchers to learn key biochemical techniques such as protein purification, crystallisation and kinetic assays alongside key microbiology skills including working with a bacterial pathogen. 

A background in molecular biology and/or biochemistry and/or microbiology is preferable but not required.

A strong understanding of anatomy underpins learning across biomedical sciences disciplines, yet students often experience difficulties with areas such as anatomical terminology, spatial relationships, and structure鈥揻unction integration. At the same time, generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly being used for revision, explanations, and study support, despite limited evidence regarding their impact on conceptual understanding in anatomy education. This project will explore how biomedical sciences students use AI tools to support anatomy learning and investigate student perceptions of challenging anatomical concepts.  

The project will involve distributing and analysising student surveys which address anatomy learning challenges, confidence levels, study strategies, and patterns of AI tool use. Survey data will be analysed descriptively to identify trends in AI-supported learning behaviours and perceived areas of difficulty, while open-ended responses will be thematically analysed to explore student experiences and perceptions in greater depth. 

A key component of the project will be the development of a small digital resource bank designed to support anatomy learning in biomedical sciences. Resources may include targeted revision materials, misconception-focused learning guides, practice questions, and recommendations for effective and responsible AI-supported study strategies. During the project, the student will gain experience in educational research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, scientific communication, and educational resource development. 

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in Aotearoa New Zealand. M膩ori and Pacific peoples are strongly represented among patients affected by lung cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. TP53, a tumour suppressor genes is frequently mutated in cancer. TP53 mutations occur in approximately 50% of lung cancers, yet there are currently no targeted therapies for these tumours. Our laboratory has identified a subgroup of TP53-mutant lung cancers with high expression of Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1), a protein linked to chromosomal instability, abnormal cell division, and therapy resistance.

This project aims to investigate whether YB-1-overexpressing lung cancer cells show altered responses to inhibitors targeting mitotic adaptation pathways, including MPS1, PLK1, RSK, and Aurora kinase signalling. The student will compare parental and YB-1-overexpressing lung cancer cells using short-term drug response assays (crystal violet staining), long-term clonogenic survival assays, and fluorescence imaging to assess multinucleation, nuclear segmentation, and mitotic abnormalities following treatment.

The project is expected to generate preliminary mechanistic and therapeutic data identifying potential vulnerabilities in aggressive TP53-mutant lung cancers.

The student will gain hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, drug treatments, fluorescence imaging, clonogenic assays, image analysis, and quantitative data interpretation. Students with an interest in cancer biology, cell biology, or biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply.

Nanobodies are a unique type of antibody derived from camelid and shark species with a very small size, making them ideal for certain applications where high stability is required, such as targeting gastrointestinal cytokines. A key challenge in discovering these new variants is searching a vast protein sequence space to find the most optimal protein solutions. The immune system effectively navigates this space, screening upwards of 1E11 nanobody sequences to find binders with high affinity and specificity. Using benign antigens, we can immunize animals to harness the power of the immune system for nanobody discovery.

This project seeks to isolate nanobody binders from an existing immune library created by immunising llamas with synthetic antigens targeting inflammatory disease. We will use bacteriophage to display upwards of 1E7 variants retrieved from B cells obtained from blood. This 鈥榣ibrary鈥� of variants will be screened against a peptide derived from an inflammatory cytokine. After screening, we will use next-generation sequencing technologies to retrieve antibody variants that have been amplified during screening. These sequences will provide the basis for further characterisation of binding efficacy towards the cytokine target. This project, supervised by Dr William Kelton (Te Huataki Waiora School of Health / Te Aka Matuatua School of Science) and Kevin Beijerling, aims to discover a new class of nanobodies specifically for use in gastrointestinal conditions.

As genomics becomes increasingly relevant to healthcare, there is a need to integrate genomic concepts into health professional education in ways that are clinically meaningful and contextually grounded to best equip health professionals to best serve their patients.

This project will develop case-based learning resources that incorporate genomics into authentic health scenarios. Cases will integrate biological, environmental, and social dimensions of health and reflect clinical presentations relevant to Aotearoa. The student will work with staff and practitioners in midwifery, nursing, pharmacy and medicine to identify case topics, then research appropriate content to plan and design their cases. 

They will develop 2鈥�3 case studies including:

鈥� Patient narratives

鈥� Guiding questions and learning activities

鈥� Facilitator notes including systems diagrams

鈥� Each case will incorporate genomic concepts (e.g., genetic risk, epigenetics, precision medicine) alongside systems-level considerations (e.g., environment, access, equity).

The project would suit a student interested in science communication and education design, application of genomics in clinical and community contexts, systems thinking in health and curriculum development. 

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health burden that threatens our ability to treat infectious diseases. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been heralded as an innovative approach for combatting antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. However, one major challenge facing phage therapy is that bacteria possess defense systems that can inhibit phages and reduce treatment success. As a result, there is growing interest in developing inhibitors that target these bacterial defense systems.

This research project will investigate the molecular mechanism of a novel bacterial defense system. This work will use both biochemical and biophysical approaches to characterize the function and regulation of this system. These results will support the future development of inhibitors against this system and help increase the efficacy of phage therapies. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of phage therapy for combatting drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Over the course of this project, you will gain hands-on laboratory experience with a range of biochemical techniques, including protein expression and purification, enzyme activity assays, and protein crystallization. You will also gain skills in experimental design and troubleshooting, data analysis and scientific writing, all while working in a supportive and passionate research group.

This project would be well-suited for students who are enthusiastic about biochemistry. Completion of BIOMO201 or BIOMO301 would be beneficial for applicants.

This project examines the test-retest reproducibility of laboratory-based assessments commonly used to evaluate running biomechanics and neuromuscular fatigue in runners. Reliable measures are essential for monitoring athlete performance, identifying fatigue-related changes, and informing injury prevention or rehabilitation strategies. The project will assess the consistency of outcomes collected using 3D motion capture during running, force plates during countermovement jumps, and force transducers during calf and quadriceps strength assessments.

The expected outcome is a better understanding of which biomechanical and neuromuscular variables can be measured reliably across repeated testing sessions. Findings will help guide future research and applied practice by identifying robust assessment methods for use with runners.

The Summer Scholar will be actively involved in participant recruitment, scheduling, laboratory preparation, data collection, and preliminary data processing. Testing will involve runners completing repeated biomechanical and neuromuscular assessments using state-of-the-art equipment at the Adams Centre for High Performance, including 3D motion capture, instrumented force plates, and force transducers.

Students should have an interest in biomechanics, exercise science, sport science, physiotherapy, or a related field. Attention to detail, good communication skills, and willingness to work with human participants are important. Prior laboratory experience is useful but not essential, as training will be provided.

Child pedestrian accidents are a major but preventable cause of injury and death in New Zealand; however, effective training interventions are limited for typically developing children and non-existent for neurodivergent children, who are especially vulnerable. 

Studies that have examined road-crossing interventions for typically developing children have found that errors are frequent when children are asked to judge whether it is safe to cross in front of moving vehicles in a controlled environment. While typically developing children can learn effectively from errors, neurodivergent children often are overwhelmed by errors, and thus do not learn effectively.

Consequently, interventions that limit the amount and type of errors that are committed by children during learning warrant investigation. This project will develop and test an errorless learning intervention that can be used in a virtual reality (VR) environment to teach safe road-crossing behaviour to typically developing and neurodivergent children.

Student skills
鈥� Strong communication skills when working with neurodivergent children (e.g., autistic children)
鈥� Willingness to learn about VR-based research methods
鈥� Basic data management and analysis skills, or willingness to develop them
鈥� Ability to work responsibly and sensitively with children and families

Student tasks
鈥� Assist with participant recruitment and family communication
鈥� Help set up and run VR-based road-crossing sessions
鈥� Support data collection during experimental sessions
鈥� Assist with data cleaning, coding, and basic analysis
鈥� Design a scientific poster and short report to communicate findings

Thinking about medicine, but unsure if it鈥檚 realistic? This summer studentship explores exactly that question in the context of the 糖心TV鈥檚 proposed New Zealand Graduate Medical School (NZGMS). 

Research from the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand shows that many graduates are strongly drawn to medicine for its mix of meaningful work, intellectual challenge, and alignment with personal values. But just as many are held back by real constraints: cost, debt, lost income, family responsibilities, and uncertainty about how to apply or compete.

This project asks a simple but important question: what shapes whether motivated graduates actually apply?

Using in-depth interviews with a diverse group of graduates鈥攊ncluding M膩ori, Pacific, rural, and first-in-family participants鈥攖he study will explore how people weigh aspiration against practical realities. It looks at when medicine becomes thinkable, what drives interest, what gets in the way, and how access to guidance, networks, and support makes a difference.

Grounded in motivation theory and widening participation research, the project aims to identify barriers that could be changed through better programme design, clearer admissions pathways, and stronger support systems.

If you鈥檙e interested in equity, education, health workforce development, or the future of medical training in New Zealand, this is a chance to contribute to research with real policy relevance.

Structured equation models (SEMs) are widely used in many fields. These models often use computational Bayesian methods to estimate parameters, but these methods can take days to run for mildly complex models. This project aims to evaluate whether faster Bayesian methods can be used for SEM without sacrificing estimation quality. Specifically, the study will assess the performance of Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA) for SEM, compared with current Bayesian approaches. Expected outcomes include a clear understanding of when INLA-based SEM provides reliable parameter estimates and uncertainty quantification, and when more computationally intensive methods remain necessary. 

The student will work with simulated datasets and fit a series of SEMs using different R tools and packages. Key tasks include implementing models in R, comparing parameter estimates and credible intervals, assessing computational efficiency, and conducting a small simulation study across different sample sizes. 

Prerequisites include basic knowledge of regression modelling and introductory statistics, along with some experience in R. Familiarity with SEM is helpful but not required. During the project, the student will develop skills in Bayesian inference, SEM, computational statistics using R, and simulation-based evaluation. The project provides a strong foundation for further study in computational Bayesian statistics and statistical modelling.

Digital technologies such as websites play a key role in how research spaces communicate identity, relationships, and values. However, mainstream web design practices are often grounded in Western paradigms that privilege linear navigation, individualism, and hierarchical structures that may not align with M膩ori worldviews. This project investigates how Kaupapa M膩ori approaches can inform web design and development within an academic research context, using Te Kura Rau Mahara as a situated case study.

The research explores how concepts such as whanaungatanga, whakapapa, man膩kitanga, rangatiratanga, and relationality can shape website structure, navigation, visual language, and content organisation. Particular emphasis is placed on representing relationships between people, research themes, and ideas in ways that move beyond conventional linear hierarchies. The student will undertake a structured research programme including a literature review of Kaupapa M膩ori theory, Indigenous digital design, and culturally grounded human鈥揷omputer interaction, alongside analysis of Indigenous and M膩ori-led digital platforms. The project will develop a set of Kaupapa M膩ori鈥搃nformed web design principles and critically reflect on how these challenge dominant practices.

These principles will be applied to the Te Kura Rau Mahara website as a living demonstration. The resulting design will be evaluated using qualitative and reflective methods aligned with Kaupapa M膩ori approaches, including hui or interviews with staff and students, usability walkthroughs, and reflective comparison with established design conventions.

A honeypot is a security resource that allows researchers to study the behaviour of cyber attackers in a controlled environment. Researchers and practitioners often deploy honeypots to capture and analyse cyber-attacks. An inherent limitation of honeypots is their detectability as skilled attackers can detect the presence of a simulated environment. Recently there has been an increase in usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve honeypot realism. For example, Cowrie honeypot has integrated LLM on the backend where an AI model is used to generate more realistic shell interaction. However, there are several command realism and security concerns with API key usage. This project aims to investigate the effectiveness (increased deception) of AI-enabled honeypots in terms of attacker engagement and data quality compared to traditional honeypots. 

Project Tasks
1- Review traditional and AI honeypots
2- Prepare a honeypot test environment
3- Deploy two versions of Cowrie honeypot; 1) LLM enabled backend and 2) Simulated Shell backend
4- Collect and analyse data
5- Prepare a research poster and report

Research outputs
1- Comparison of attackers鈥� behaviours across the two sets of honeypots
2- Investigation of the measurement aspects such as types of attacks collected on both honeypots
3- Assessment of API cost and security trade-offs in AI-enabled version
4- Preparation of a potential publication (initial draft)

Extension to our previously approved ethics application will be obtained if required. 

Aim (Phase 1): prototype a tablet-based 鈥渓iving portrait鈥� inspired by magical moving pictures 鈥� a stylised character that appears to live inside a framed image. Phase 1 deliberately uses a small, fixed set of interaction states and transitions (idle ambient loop; attend when someone is present; recognise a limited consented gallery; brief cooldown), so behaviour can be implemented and evaluated robustly within ten weeks. Vision is on-device: detection broadly; recognition only for a capped, written-consent gallery; privacy-preserving responses for everyone else.

Expected outcomes: a walk-up demo plus a concise report including the frozen behaviour catalogue, software architecture, safeguards, and evaluation results (e.g. recognition checks on held-out consented photos, simple logged metrics such as state dwell times/transitions, optional short structured feedback).

Key tasks: character bible aligned to the frozen catalogue; implement the finite-state behaviour with bounded animation/dialogue variants per state; implement detection + small-gallery recognition locally; lightweight logging; supervised trials with consent and signage; iterate without expanding the behaviour set mid-project.

Prerequisites: strong programming (e.g. Python), willingness to read HCI and introductory vision material, and careful attention to ethics when cameras are involved. Skills developed: applied computer vision, interaction prototyping, experimental evaluation, and interdisciplinary communication.

Effective long-term planning of community sports infrastructure requires transparent and adaptable forecasting methods to ensure there are enough appropriate venues for multiple key sporting user groups in Tauranga. This project will investigate and develop a demand and supply forecasting model tailored to Tauranga City Council鈥檚 needs. By enhancing accessibility and forecasting capabilities, this project will support evidence-based decision-making and more strategic investment in Tauranga鈥檚 community sports infrastructure. 

In this project, you will build on existing work to create a tool that synthesises historical user data and trends, using existing calculations to allow users to scale and predict where demand is greatest. This will involve a review of forecasting approaches and related planning models to apply best practices in the development of the tool. Additionally, this project will involve becoming familiar with previous work completed by the Council to better understand how the tool will be used and the types of insights it should provide. The resulting tool will prioritise usability and interpretability, and will be able to visualise predicted infrastructure demand and capacity gaps over time to Council. 

"Public Wi-Fi is often described as a foundation for smart city infrastructure, yet research is limited on how people envision using it in real-world interactions. Beyond basic internet access, public Wi-Fi can enable a wide range of human-centred smart city applications, including interactive kiosks and emerging technologies such as service robots operating in public spaces. However, it remains unclear whether communities want this infrastructure, trust it, or understand how it could meaningfully support urban activities.  

This project investigates community attitudes toward publicly available Wi-Fi in the Tauranga Central Business District (CBD). Building on previous smart city co-design research conducted with Tauranga City Council, we aim to explore near future use cases and real-world deployment scenarios. The study will take a mixed methods approach, combining community surveys with short interviews to examine perceived value, concerns (e.g. privacy, surveillance, and security) and willingness to engage with Wi-Fi enabled services. Use case exploration will involve reviewing existing technologies and research in the smart city area to understand the best technologies for adoption in Tauranga. Use cases may include public kiosks, emergency communication, event-based information, service robots, conferences to name a few.  

Rather than treating Wi-Fi as an abstract technical service, this project asks how public connectivity could realistically look, feel and function in urban spaces. The findings will inform both technical and human-centred design considerations for smart city infrastructure, providing empirical grounding for future deployments and contributing to broader discussions in HRI and HCI around public Wi-Fi engagement in public environments.  "

Sleep is essential for all animals, but in group鈥憀iving species, not everyone sleeps the same way. Birds that live together often compete for the best sleeping spots, and dominant individuals may gain safer or more comfortable places to rest. This project investigates how social relationships shape sleep behaviour in zebra finches, a small and highly social songbird. By studying how birds interact, where they choose to sleep, and how group dynamics influence those decisions, we aim to understand whether hierarchy affects access to preferred sleeping sites.

The student will work with zebra finches housed in outdoor aviaries on the Hamilton campus. Tasks include performing behavioural experiments, observing and recording behaviour, and annotating video footage of sleep and social interactions. The role also involves basic husbandry, such as daily check of food and water and keeping aviaries clean to ensure high bird welfare.

This project suits a student interested in animal behaviour and birds. Experience with birds is helpful but not required. By the end, the student will gain skills in behaviour observation, experimental work, video鈥慴ased data collection, bird care, and responsible research with animals.

The lack of podocarp regeneration in most central North Island dense podocarp stands was initially seen as indicating inevitable replacement by broadleaved trees, but palynological studies show podocarps have been continuously dominant at Pureora for the last 1,350 years. How can this evidence of sustained podocarp dominance be reconciled with the current lack of regeneration? One possibility is that central North Island podocarp stands undergo endogenous regeneration cycles, with bursts of regeneration following the collapse of an old podocarp cohort. Another is that these stands are occasionally rejuvenated by disturbances that kill many overstorey trees, and the dramatic impact of cyclone Ita suggests extreme weather events are an obvious contender. 

We have located two old-growth stands at Pureora with an unusual abundance of podocarp saplings and small trees. We aim to determine if this recent wave of regeneration resulted from gradual collapse of old stands, or devastation of the forest by an extreme weather event.

The student will address these two possibilities by (1) mapping forest stand structure, (2) dating growth releases on increment cores from surviving older trees, and (3) measuring the orientations of fallen logs. The student will need plant ID skills, enough upper-body strength for tree-coring, and a love of forest ecology. S/he will learn fieldwork skills, dendrochronological skills, data analytical skills, and science writing skills.

The Te T膩tua o Wairere Fault Zone, beneath the 糖心TV, was discovered only a decade ago, overturning the view that the Hamilton Basin lacks near-surface faulting. Since then, additional faults have been identified along the Waikato River, but their origin, geometry, and activity remain poorly understood.

This project will map faults and rock exposures along the Waikato River鈥攆rom Karapiro Dam to Taupiri鈥攗sing mountain bikes to access key outcrops along river trails. The student will collect structural measurements, document river morphology (e.g., channel changes, terraces), and assess how faulting influences landscape development.

Field data will be analysed using standard structural geology methods (including stereographic projection to visualise structure orientations) and GIS to produce the first integrated tectonic鈥揼eomorphic map of this river reach. This will constrain the stress regime of the Hamilton Basin and improve understanding of fault controls on river behaviour.

Outcomes: A high-quality dataset for submission to the national fault database (Earth Sciences New Zealand) and development into a co-authored publication. Several faults remain undocumented, providing a clear pathway to novel results.

This project suits a student interested in structural or engineering geology. The student will gain skills in field mapping, data analysis, and GIS, with opportunities for publication and contribution to hazard assessment.

Corbicula fluminea, commonly known as the freshwater gold clam, is native to eastern Asia and an invasive species across North and South America, Europe and more recently Australia and New Zealand. Its ability to multiply rapidly and form dense populations of tens of thousands of individuals per m2, can lead to severe biofouling of infrastructure. Corbicula can also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems, e.g., by competing with native species for resources and altering water quality, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem processes through its high filtration capacity. Without intervention, large-scale invasion of corbicula across waterbodies will result in significant restrictions and irreversible economic, social, cultural and ecosystem losses. 

In May 2023, the invasive corbicula was found for the first time in NZ, at several locations in the Waikato River catchment. To halt the spread and prevent the establishment of populations, a suite of novel and conventional strategies is required, specifically targeting the invasive species' most vulnerable life-cycle stages. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combines laboratory and field studies, we will determine the most effective intervention techniques. 

The student will be working with us on innovative low-frequency acoustic control methods starting with laboratory based behavioural assays in attempts to disrupt critical life-stages. The student will also be working with us on assessment of potential off-target impacts. This will focus on the most at-risk native species such as k膩kahi and/or koura. This approach ensures that the implemented control methods are not only effective against corbicula but also protect the native aquatic ecosystem by minimizing adverse impacts.

Student Tasks:
- Running acoustic behavioural response assays (training provided)
- Analysis of behavioural data (training provided)
- Field work and animal collection where needed
- Data entry and organisation
- Create a Student Research Poster

Research outcomes
- Student Research Poster (clause 6 of the Scholarship regulations)
- This work will contribute to an MBIE program and work closely with another science agency (ESNZ)
- First behavioural response to underwater sound data in the gold clam
- Student will gain knowledge on NZ and invasive freshwater invertebrate species ecology and methods used in biosecurity control 

Student Skills
- Background in Marine or Freshwater Biology/Ecology
- Basic knowledge of NZ macroinvertebrates (preferred but training will be received)
- Microscopy
- Interest in research supporting freshwater protection and controlling invasive species 
- Interest in learning how to run acoustic behavioural response assays
- A strong attention to detail and biosecurity measures while working with live invasive animals

Assessment of Applicants:
When considering and ranking candidates for selection for the Summer Research Program we will follow the following rationale:
- Consideration of grades. This is not the primary mechanism for choosing a candidate; however, we find it is often a good place to begin.
- Consideration of the personal statements of the candidates. This often tells us where the students interests and experience lie and how suitable their fit for them on the current program.
- Whether the candidate is interested in post-graduate study (especially in 2 & 3 yr students). This experience with summer research could help the student decide on continuing into post-graduate study, and potentially the area of their research.
- We are very keen to include candidates who may not always be given equal opportunities outside of their regular study.

M膩nuka honey is widely sought for its unique antibacterial properties and is a multi-million-dollar export commodity for NZ. M膩nuka honey contains a wide range of phenolic compounds compared to other floral honeys. These compounds have antioxidant properties. However, there is currently little known about the variation in these compounds across time and geographical region in NZ honey.

Overall aim:
Investigate the phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of New Zealand honeys across geographical regions and time, with a focus on m膩nuka.

Specific objectives:
- Analyse honey from various geographical regions for phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity
- Carry out storage trials to monitor changes in compounds and activity over time
- Determine the relationship of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of honey

Student skills: The student will develop skills in a range of sample preparation methods including liquid extraction, use chromatographic (e.g., HPLC and LCMS) and spectroscopic (UV) techniques, process data and communicate results (written report).

We are looking for a student who is a quick learner with good attention to detail, ability to work independently and carefully in the laboratory to produce reliable results and be able to work with large numbers of samples and large excel sheets of data. The student should be interested in learning both bench chemistry and instrumentation.

This project has the potential to be developed into a research publication and will be used as pilot data for a future funding application.

Metal鈥慴ased drugs are central to cancer treatment, but widely used platinum chemotherapies such as cisplatin often cause severe side effects and lose effectiveness as resistance develops. This project aims to address these limitations by designing and synthesising new chelating ligands and metal complexes that could lead to more selective and less toxic anticancer agents. By exploring how ligand structure influences the biological behaviour of metal complexes, the project will generate insights that support the development of next鈥慻eneration metallodrugs with novel mechanisms of action. The student will design and prepare new chelators, synthesise their corresponding metal complexes, and characterise them using techniques such as NMR, MS, IR and UV鈥揤is spectroscopy. The biological activity of these complexes will then be evaluated using a colorimetric cell鈥憊iability assay in cultured cancer cells. Together, these tasks will build a clear picture of structure鈥揳ctivity relationships and help identify promising candidates for further study.

This is a multidisciplinary project suited to students with interests in chemistry, biochemistry, or biomedical science. Students should be familiar with chemistry laboratory practices and spectroscopy (knowledge of inorganic chemistry is a bonus). Over the course of the project, the student will gain a multidisciplinary skillset, including synthetic chemistry, spectroscopy and analytical methods, cell culture, cell assays, data analysis, and scientific writing. By the end of the project, the student will have experience across both chemical and biological research environments, preparing them well for a wide range of research鈥� and industry鈥慺ocused pathways.

Biodiversity loss is a global challenge, yet we still lack a clear understanding of how it influences ecosystem processes across connected environments. This project explores these cross-boundary effects by focusing on streams and their surrounding riparian zones鈥攖wo intimately linked systems that exchange energy, nutrients, and organisms. For example, forested streams depend on leaf litter from woody vegetation, while emerging aquatic insects provide a key food source for terrestrial predators such as birds and spiders. Studying these interactions offers a unique opportunity to understand how biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning beyond individual habitats.

As a summer student, you will contribute to a Marsden-funded research project investigating how biodiversity shapes ecosystem processes across the stream鈥搑iparian interface. You will help prepare laboratory experiments (e.g., testing effects of difference food sources on fatty acid composition of aquatic insects), assist with field sampling, and further support studies testing different biodiversity treatments. The project also incorporates other innovative tools such as stable isotope biomarkers and DNA-based biodiversity assessments to help map food webs and biodiversity.

This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in ecology, freshwater systems, or environmental science to gain hands-on experience in field, lab, and analytical research. Your work will contribute to advancing knowledge on how biodiversity supports ecosystem resilience, informing conservation and restoration efforts from local stream reaches to wider landscapes.

Aquatic macrophyte harvesting is widely used to manage excessive weed growth in eutrophic lakes, yet the nutrient and carbon dynamics of harvested biomass are often poorly understood. This project will investigate the nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus), carbon, and moisture content of aquatic macrophytes in Lake Rotorua, with a focus on understanding how different dewatering approaches influence nutrient retention and release from harvested biomass. The project will compare natural shoreline dewatering with mechanical compression methods to evaluate their effectiveness for reducing nutrient leakage and improving operational management outcomes.

The project will also assess whether harvested macrophyte biomass has potential for beneficial reuse, such as biogas production, by linking biomass composition to potential energy recovery pathways. The findings will contribute to improving evidence-based management of macrophyte harvesting and help evaluate whether harvested biomass can be treated as a resource within a circular management framework.

The student will participate in field sampling around Lake Rotorua, laboratory analyses of macrophyte biomass and leachate, and data analysis and interpretation. Tasks may include nutrient and carbon analysis, moisture and biomass measurements, experimental dewatering trials, and basic statistical analysis in R or Excel.

The ideal student will have an interest in freshwater ecology, environmental science, biogeochemistry, or lake management. Experience with laboratory work or environmental data analysis is desirable but not essential. The project will provide hands-on experience in field and laboratory methods, environmental data analysis, and applied freshwater management in collaboration with regional stakeholders.

Current forensic investigations often struggle with the "analysis gap", which is the delay between collecting evidence and obtaining laboratory results. This project aims to bridge that gap by developing a bespoke, real-time Forensics Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) system capable of autonomously detecting and classifying body fluids and illicit drugs embedded in complex textiles.

The student will lead the integration of advanced computational methods with HSI hardware to create an intelligent, point-of-use device. Key tasks include:
1. Hardware-Software Integration: Developing autocalibration protocols to ensure spectral integrity across varying lighting conditions.
2. Deep Learning Integration: Integrating the developed MATLAB-based unsupervised feature extraction and supervised classification models into Python.
3. Robust Testing: Validating the system against PHFScience samples which includes patterned and simple fabrics, with forensic evidence.

Student Skills & Learning
Prerequisites: Strong proficiency in Python or MATLAB, a solid foundation in signal/image processing, and an interest in optical sensing or machine learning.

Skills Gained: You will gain hands-on expertise in Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), deep learning deployment for "Physical AI," and the practical application of measurement uncertainty frameworks in a high-stakes forensic context.

This research offers a unique opportunity to develop "game-changing" technology that supports the justice system by providing rapid, non-destructive, and highly reliable evidence directly at the crime scene.

Following a significant landslide at Egret Avenue on the Maungatapu peninsula in Tauranga, the Tauranga City Council (TCC) engaged consultants to complete geotechnical site investigations and geological mapping. Some of these boreholes had piezometers installed to continuously measure groundwater levels over time. TCC now have 18 months or more of groundwater data from these piezometers. This data requires analysis and comparison to rainfall to contribute toward research on the landslide mechanisms in the Bay of Plenty area. 

This project will involve the following key aspects:
鈥� Comparison of the piezometric data with rainfall gauge data 鈥� both visual and statistical analysis will be required 鈥� to determine the effects of rainfall on landslides including potential trigger levels.
鈥� Comparison of landslide and rainfall event around the wider Bay of Plenty with the data collated from Maungatapu / Tauranga area.

Expected Outcomes
鈥� Collation of piezometric data for Maungatapu (and possibly other Tauranga peninsulas) to show the variation over time.
鈥� Analysis of the comparison of piezometric and rainfall data with each other, and with the wider landslide inventory.
鈥� Potential trigger levels for groundwater and rainfall in relation to landslide risk.

Candidate
鈥� Currently completing (3rd or 4th year) a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil or Environmental) with interest in landslide behaviour/dynamics.
鈥� Very high attention to detail and experience with data analysis.
鈥� General understanding of landslides.
鈥� An interest in how collation of landslide data can be used to determine vulnerability and improve resilience.
鈥� Eager to work alongside experienced professionals and contribute to the development of an important tool for Tauranga city.

This project will support the participant-facing, psychology, questionnaire, and study-data components of a human neurotechnology mood study. The study investigates whether non-invasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) affects mood and brain activity measured with electroencephalography (EEG), as part of the Ng膩 Waiata o te Roro research programme developing safe approaches to measuring and modulating brain states.

The student will work alongside Dr Mitchell Head and a Research Assistant with experience running EEG participant trials. The Research Assistant will lead day-to-day trial operations, while the Summer Scholar (you) will support participant experience and subjective-report data collection. 

Student Skills:
- Interest/background in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioural science, health, human performance, or participant-based research. 
- Strong interpersonal communication, attention to detail, and ability to follow approved study protocols are important. 
- Interest in EEG, non-invasive brain stimulation, clinical research, M膩ori health innovation, or neurotechnology is ideal.

Project Tasks:
- Welcoming participants, preparing study materials, supporting the Participant Information Sheet and consent workflow, administering mood questionnaires, recording study timepoints, maintaining participant records, assisting with EEG setup and participant comfort, and helping prepare clean datasets linking subjective mood reports with EEG recordings.

Expected Outcomes:
- Conduct participant-facing workflow for the EEG-TUS mood study, clear documentation for consent, questionnaires, session timing, participant comfort, and data management.
- Summer Research Conference poster

This project will support the technical, EEG hardware, TUS equipment, recording reliability, and session-systems components of a human neurotechnology mood study. The study investigates whether non-invasive transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) affects mood and brain activity measured with electroencephalography (EEG), supporting future development of safe EEG-guided neurotechnology.

The student will work alongside Dr Mitchell Head and a Research Assistant with experience running EEG participant trials. The Research Assistant will lead day-to-day participant sessions, while the Summer Scholar (you) will focus on the technical systems that make the study reliable and repeatable. 

Student Skills:
- Interest in neuroscience technology, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer systems, physiological data collection, or laboratory instrumentation. 
- Confidence working with research equipment, attention to detail, and ability to follow technical protocols are important. 
- Experience with EEG systems, OpenBCI, Lab Streaming Layer, Python, MATLAB, signal processing, oscilloscopes, function generators, or laboratory instrumentation is useful but not required.

Project Tasks:
- EEG headset preparation, electrode placement, signal-quality checks, EEG recording workflows, TUS/sham equipment preparation, session timing logs, equipment checklists, troubleshooting notes, and technical documentation.

Expected Outcomes:
- A repeatable EEG-TUS technical workflow for participant sessions, improved reliability of EEG recording and session delivery, clear documentation for EEG setup, TUS/sham equipment preparation, timing logs, data acquisition, file organisation, and troubleshooting.
- Summer Research Conference poster

We are currently developing a sensor to mimic the high spatial resolution capability of human sense of touch, and this project aims to investigate feasibility of the sensor鈥檚 haptic feedback control to handle multiple objects of varying hardness degrees. The outcomes of this project are an investigation report and physical demonstration of the sensor鈥檚 control capability and limitation described in the investigation report. 

The key project tasks are:
- Understanding the characteristics of the sensor such as acquired information/signals
- Employ and investigate multiple control strategies (such as model predictive control (MPC) and machine learning enabled MPC) using the sensor
- Demonstrate the control strategy capability and limitation and compile the results and discussion into an investigation report. 

Interested student is preferred to have basic electrical circuits and control knowledge. The student will learn fabrication of the sensor and further understanding of control knowledge. This project will bring us a step closer to enable robots to replicate human sense of touch that can handle objects with no damage and without prior knowledge.

The 糖心TV is building New Zealand鈥檚 first steam-generating heat pump, a key technology for decarbonising industrial process heat by producing useful steam from lower-temperature heat sources. By summer 2026/27, the heat pump is expected to enter the testing stage, creating an opportunity for a summer research student to contribute directly to experimental trials and help establish the system as an industry-focused test facility.

The aim of this summer project is to support heat pump testing and investigate control strategies that enable stable, efficient, and responsive steam generation. These may include high-side pressure regulation, matching heat source and sink demands to real factories, and control of the flashing process used to generate steam. The facility will also be used to build industry confidence in the technology by demonstrating system operation, answering practical questions about performance and safety, and running targeted tests requested by companies.

Key tasks will include developing test procedures, operating the heat pump during trials, analysing temperature, pressure, flow, and power data, and comparing system behaviour under different conditions. Expected outcomes of the project include improved understanding of the heat pump鈥檚 dynamic behaviour, comparison of control approaches, and recommendations for future implementation in full-scale industrial systems.

This project would suit a mechanical engineering or chemical and process engineering student with an interest in thermodynamics, heat transfer, process control, or energy systems. The student will gain hands-on experience with heat pump technology, process instrumentation, experimental testing, and operation of a real-world system.

Powder-based manufacturing methods, including metal 3D printing and powder metallurgy, are increasingly used to make complex engineering parts. These processes can produce useful shapes and reduce material waste, but the final metal does not always have the best properties straight after manufacturing. Post-processing treatments can sometimes improve the internal structure of the metal and make it stronger, more reliable, or more suitable for engineering use.

This summer project will explore how selected post-processing treatments change the behaviour of powder-made metals. The student will work with metal samples, examine their microstructure, and carry out practical property testing. The work will include sample preparation, microscopy, density measurement, hardness testing, X-ray diffraction, and tensile testing. The aim is to understand what changes inside the metal after post-processing and how those changes affect performance.

The project will suit a student from mechanical engineering, materials and manufacturing engineering, or a related area. Basic materials knowledge would be useful, but training will be provided for the laboratory methods used in the project. The student will gain hands-on experience in materials processing, microscopy, testing, data analysis, and technical reporting. The outcome will be a useful dataset, with images, results, and analysis that can support future research on lower-cost, reliable, and sustainable metal manufacturing.

Geothermal power stations generate renewable electricity by using heat from underground geothermal reservoirs. However, their performance can change over time because of changes in steam flow, well conditions, equipment efficiency, and ambient cooling conditions. This summer project will develop a digital twin of a geothermal power station using the Ahuora platform.

A digital twin is a computer-based model that represents a real system and can be updated using operating data. In this project, the digital twin will include the main parts of a geothermal power station, such as production wells, separators, turbines, condensers, cooling systems, pumps, and reinjection wells. The model will be used to calculate key performance measures, including steam use, electricity generation, heat losses, turbine performance, and overall plant efficiency.

The project will use available plant data to compare model predictions with real operating conditions. This will help identify where the model is accurate and where improvements are needed. Once developed, the digital twin can be used to test different operating scenarios, such as changes in steam supply, cooling conditions, or equipment performance. It may also be used to explore ways to optimise power generation and reduce energy losses.

The outcome of this project will be a working demonstration of how the Ahuora platform can be used to model and analyse a geothermal power station. The project will help show how digital twins can support better decision-making, improve understanding of plant performance, and contribute to more efficient renewable electricity generation.

This project will explore how simple passive compliant structures can be designed, made, and tested to provide useful mechanical response under controlled loading. Passive compliant structures can bend, store energy, recover, and provide force without motors, batteries, sensors, or complex assemblies. Such structures are useful in future engineering applications where lightweight, low-cost, and mechanically simple support is needed.

The student will build on previous Waikato work on compliant mechanisms by developing and testing simple prototype structures under controlled loading. The work will then extend to designing new concepts, developing benchmark geometries, comparing materials, or assessing prototype manufacturing routes. The focus will be on how structural shape, material choice, and fabrication method affect mechanical response, repeatability, and failure behaviour.

The student will carry out a focused literature scan, prepare or refine CAD models, manufacture small prototypes using suitable methods, develop a simple mechanical testing plan, collect and analyse experimental data, and compare the behaviour of different structures. The expected outcomes are prototype support structures, preliminary mechanical testing data, and practical recommendations for future design development.

This project would suit a mechanical engineering student interested in design, prototyping, compliant mechanisms, additive manufacturing, and experimental testing. The student will gain experience in CAD, prototype fabrication, mechanical testing, data analysis, and research communication.

Productivity challenges impact the ability to scale marine surveying for environmental management (e.g. ship hull pest detection), aquaculture production, and reef restoration. 

An existing modular underwater survey unit has been developed leveraging image capture, image recognition, location sensor fusion and a digital twin for analysing the results. The aim of the project is to expand on this solution by:
- Investigating the optimum configuration for fish sizing (using stereo vision). 
- Creating and evaluating image recognition models for fish identification. 

A willingness to learn image recognition, dashboard creation (in PowerBI.com) and perform hand-on testing is required. Support to learn these tools and processes will be provided.

Cyclists, pedestrians, scooter riders, and other active mode users in Tauranga City are very vulnerable to road crashes and are at high risk of death and serious injury. Crash data from 2019 to 2023 shows that there were 182 deaths and serious injuries on Tauranga roads. During this period, 324 crashes involved active modes (cycling and walking) and children, and 70 (22%) of these resulted in deaths or serious injuries (TCC report*).

This research aims to investigate the common causes of crashes and high-risk locations in Tauranga City for active mode users. The project involves, but is not limited to, a desk review of the past 10 years of crash data, including Police Crash Analysis System (CAS) data and hospitalization data. The student will review crash patterns involving active mode users, analyze and identify high-risk locations, undertake statistical analysis, and produce GIS-based heat maps. The findings will be synthesized into clear outputs that engineers and planners can use to improve infrastructure and create safer roads and paths for all users.

This project is suitable for a 3rd or 4th year Civil Engineering student with an interest in transportation engineering. Prerequisite skills include a basic understanding of road, sidewalk and cycleway design, familiarity with GIS (QGIS or ArcGIS), and comfort working with data. During the project, the student will gain hands-on experience in real-world crash analysis, GIS mapping, data integration, and professional communication while working closely with TCC transport engineers under academic supervision.

*

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia operate in environments characterised by a high prevalence of informal enterprises within their markets (La Porta & Shleifer, 2014). These environments are often dominated by businesses that do not fully comply with statutory obligations, such as paying taxes or adhering to industry regulations (De Soto, 1989). As a result, informal firms can operate with lower production costs, enabling them to offer goods and services at lower prices. This cost advantage poses a significant competitive threat to formal SMEs, which must comply with regulatory requirements and therefore face higher operating costs (McKenzie & Sakho, 2010).

Drawing on the Structure鈥揅onduct鈥揚erformance (SCP) framework and Informal Economy Theory, this study examines how formal firms respond to competition from informal market participants. Specifically, it investigates whether market scope (local versus international orientation) and the presence of quality certification moderate the adverse effects of informal competition on pricing power. To address these research questions, the study utilises firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) and employs robust econometric techniques, including the generalized method of moments (GMM).

Keywords: Informal competition; pricing power; quality certification

STUDENT TASKS
Task 1: Cleaning data and conducting a literature review.  
Task 2: Preparing a poster.

STUDENT SKILLS
Skill 1: Familiarity with quantitative research methods and analysis.
Skill 2: Understanding of the statistical package Stata.

EXPECTED RESEARCH OUTCOMES
A successful student will develop research capability. Journal article to be produced. A poster will be presented at a seminar. 

Are our students dreaming of becoming the next generation of entrepreneurs, or are they perfectly content with the idea of a stable 9-to-5 job?

We don't really know. And neither do most universities, despite the fact that student entrepreneurship has become a topic of growing interest for institutions keen to understand (and support) the entrepreneurial aspirations of their students.

Fortunately, the 糖心TV has been part of the latest Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS). GUESSS is the largest international research project on student entrepreneurship, collecting data from hundreds of thousands of students across more than 50 countries. By being involved in the 2025 round of data collection, we now have access to a rich dataset that has yet to be analysed at the institutional level. 

This summer scholarship project aims to turn that dataset into actionable insights for our university.

The student researcher will be expected to:
鈥� Become familiar with the GUESSS project, its methodology, and the broader literature on student entrepreneurship.
鈥� Analyse the GUESSS dataset for our university, conducting descriptive and inferential statistical analyses (using SPSS or equivalent) and benchmarking our results against national and international GUESSS data.
鈥� Write a polished report tailored to our university's context, suitable for dissemination to internal and external stakeholders.

The main expected output of this project is a publication-ready report that will inform our university's entrepreneurship strategy and support future research initiatives.

Insects use chemicals called cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) to both reduce water loss and communicate with potential mates. That means CHCs are pulled in two directions: protecting the insect from desiccation and sexual communication. We want to understand how the New Zealand giraffe weevil balances these demands, and how that balance might shift as the climate changes. Specifically, the research explores how increasing temperatures may affect the giraffe weevil鈥檚 ability to protect itself from desiccation while retaining sexual communication with conspecifics.

This summer student scholarship will involve identifying sensory structures (sensilla) on giraffe weevil rostra and antenna to determine their function in sexual communication between conspecifics. Knowledge of sensilla distribution and structure will help link specific CHCs to their function in communication. The summer student will have the opportunity to take scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and spend time in the lab identifying sensilla found in these images. There will also be opportunities to assist a PhD student in the field collecting giraffe weevils, and in the lab to help look after the weevils for behavioural experiments. The project would suit someone with a passion for insect behavioural ecology, has good attention to detail and can show initiative in problem-solving.