There are a variety of possible projects for students seeking to do post-graduate research. Browse the various labs and research projects and directly approach any staff members whose research interests match your own.
Previous and current students have had backgrounds in psychology, speech language therapy, engineering, medicine, physics, maths, and molecular biology.
Note that students at all levels from Australia, France and Germany are entitled to the same level of government support as New Zealand students. The New Zealand government has also just broadened the support available to PhD candidates from a range of other countries.
Summer Studentships
These provide the opportunity for students to gain experience in research by taking part in a focussed, 10 week project over the summer break. They are available from the University of Otago, Christchurch (see here for details) and from the University of Canterbury.Masters Study
Opportunities are available to study for:-
Research-only degrees such as the MSc, MSLT, or MA (University of Canterbury). The minimum requirement is an Honours degree or equivalent.
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Papers-plus-thesis degrees include the MSc (Hons), MA (Hons) (University of Canterbury), and MHealthSci (University of Otago). The minimum requirement is a Bachelors degree.
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The BMedSc (University of Otago) is a research-only degree for medical students. It involves produing a thesis at a similar level to an MSc thesis.
PhD Study
The minimum requirement is a good Honours degree or equivalent. New Zealand PhDs are research-only and do not include papers.A number of projects are available, or you may have your own area of interest. Contact possible supervisors directly to discuss opportunities.
Recently introduced changes by the New Zealand government mean that international PhD candidates pay the same level of fees as domestic students, are eligible to apply for scholarships, and have access to support such as free schooling for their dependent children.
Scholarships
General
Good places to start are the university scholarship offices: Also look at these government or charitable sources:- Tertiary Education Commission
- Health Research Council
- Lotteries Health Research
- Neurological Foundation
Van der Veer MRI Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually by the Institute to a top student who will be engaged in an MRI-based PhD project. See here for details.Van Der Veer Institute Doctoral Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually by the University of Canterbury to an outstanding student who will be engaged in a project at the Institute. See here for details.Van der Veer scholarships in motor control and cognition in Parkinson's disease
Prof. Tim Anderson has a number of top-up scholarships available to candidates who are able to secure University of Otago Scholarships (which provide base funding of $20,000 tax free p.a.)One scholarship to the value of $10,000 p.a and two to the value of $8000 p.a. are available to candidates interested in undertaking any of the following PhD projects:
- Saccadic eye movements in Parkinson's disease - functional MRI studies
- Adaptation of human saccadic eye movements - functional MRI studies
- Cognitive impairment, eye movements and structural MRI in Parkinson's disease.
- Progression in Parkinson's disease: evidence from serial eye movement assessment
- Freezing and falling in Parkinson's disease - who, why and what to do?
Supervisors: Prof Tim Anderson and Dr Michael MacAskill
Interested applicants should apply by emailing Tim Anderson at: tim.anderson@chmeds.ac.nz