Find Academic Supervisors

Professor Michael Hamlin serves as a full Professor in the Department of Tourism, Sport & Society at Lincoln University, New Zealand, where he directs the Sport and Exercise Science Laboratory and chairs the Environment, Society and Design Research Committee. His academic leadership spans over two decades with continuous appointments since 1999. Hamlin specializes in exercise physiology with world-renowned expertise in altitude/hypoxic training applications. His interdisciplinary research bridges elite athletic performance (including work with British & Irish Lions rugby and Olympic triathletes) and health outcomes for sedentary populations and chronic disease patients. Key research domains include concussion mechanisms in rugby, blood flow restriction training, and physiological adaptations to hypoxic environments. His work directly informs altitude training guidelines for elite sporting organizations globally. As a triple Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, European College of Sport Science, and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand, Hamlin maintains significant editorial roles including Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. His research impact extends through media engagement with major publications and broadcasts, plus strategic partnerships with High Performance Sport New Zealand and national sporting bodies. Current projects examine hypoxic basketball training, concussion biomechanics, and protein supplementation effects on aging populations. Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine Fellow of the European College of Sport Science Fellow of Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand Hamlin actively supervises PhD candidates investigating blood flow restriction, rugby head impacts, and pediatric physical activity while maintaining robust industry partnerships including the Asia Pacific Football Academy development. His leadership in negotiating the Athlete Friendly Tertiary Network memorandum demonstrates commitment to balancing elite athletic and academic development. Current research directions focus on hypoxic conditioning mechanisms, rugby safety innovations, and translational applications of exercise physiology across the human performance spectrum.

• Exercise Physiology
• Altitude/Hypoxic Training
• Sports Medicine
• +7 more

Louise Palmer is a Senior Lecturer in Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury's School of Fine Arts, Faculty of Arts, where she has been employed since January 17, 2005. As a New Zealand artist based in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), she actively exhibits and curates in New Zealand and Australia. Her research explores intersections of sculptural conventions with personal narratives, employing casting and site-specificity to examine contemporary sculpture's role in redefining meanings of everyday objects and places. Education: BFA, University of Canterbury, Christchurch (1993-1996) MVA, University of Sydney, Australia (2001-2002) Research Focus: Palmer's interdisciplinary practice bridges sculpture, feminist art histories, and expanded drawing methodologies. Her work investigates: Material transformations of personal residues Artist-curator dual roles in exhibition-making Feminist reinterpretations of place and objecthood Drawing as critical research tool Intergenerational dialogues in art practice Awards: Grace Butler Memorial Foundation Award (2021) Advising: Supervises 16+ research students in MFA and postgraduate programs, with projects spanning feminist art, materiality studies, and digital-aesthetic intersections. Current supervisions include 'Cycles of Negentropy' (Waterson) and 'Interventions in Catholic Materiality' (van der Linden). Professional Service: SoFA Gallery Committee Member (2006-present) Art Acquisitions Committee, University of Canterbury (2000-2005) Board Director, Peloton Gallery Sydney (2000-2005) Editor, 'All Over the Show' (2000-2005)

• Contemporary visual arts
• Sculpture (historical and contemporary)
• Site and place based practice
• +4 more

Phillip Borell serves as Senior Lecturer Above the Bar at the University of Canterbury's Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies since 2012, with teaching and research activities dating back to 2008. His academic journey includes an MA with Distinction (2013) and PhD (2022) from the University of Canterbury. His research centers on Polynesian Masculinities, Polynesian Identities, Māori sporting practices, and Indigenous Methodologies. Borell critically examines dated narratives of Polynesian masculinity while advocating for sport as a platform for decolonial practice. His work bridges indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary social issues, particularly through the lens of rugby league as both cultural practice and political space. Publication trends reveal a consistent focus on indigenous experiences in sports, evolving toward broader applications of decolonial frameworks. Recent works explore cultural names in professional sports (2024), family roles in athlete success (2025), and indigenous sustainability concepts (2024), demonstrating increasing interdisciplinary reach while maintaining core commitments to Māori and Pasifika perspectives. University of Canterbury Teaching Medal (2023) Early Career Research Award College of Arts (2015) Borell actively supervises graduate research with 10 documented supervisees, including Karirā Allen's work on Māori/Pacific tertiary success and Aramoana Mohi's mokoia taiaha wānanga study. He holds the Whanau Tupato Waipiro grant (2024-2025) addressing alcohol-related harm reduction among Māori whānau. His professional engagement includes membership on the Human Research Ethics Committee since 2022 and extensive conference organization through the Māori Association of Social Sciences. Through the Māui Lab initiative referenced in his 2017 lecture 'Whāia te ngākau œ Māui,' Borell develops collaborative spaces for indigenous knowledge application. His rugby league background as player, fan, and Canterbury Premier League trainer informs his community-engaged research approach.

• Polynesian Masculinities
• Polynesian Identities
• Māori sporting practices
• +5 more

Rosie Ibbotson is a Senior Lecturer in Art History at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Arts, where she has been appointed since February 2013. She holds a doctorate on the transnational Arts and Crafts Movement and completed postdoctoral research at the Yale Center for British Art. Her current affiliations include leadership in the Australian Research Council grant 'Extinction imaginaries: Mapping affective visual cultures in Australasia' (2023-2026). Her research explores the intersections of visual culture and environmental transformation, with foci including: 19th-century colonial aesthetics and the Anthropocene Material ecologies of extinction and de-extinction Arts and Crafts Movement historiography Decolonial approaches to museum practices Environmental violence in visual representation Her scholarly publications consistently engage with colonial visual epistemologies, environmental humanities, and material culture studies, with recent work examining archival representations of extinction, settler terraforming, and the ecopolitics of scale across 73+ outputs. She actively supervises graduate researchers, including current projects on: Museum activism and unsanctioned interventions Children in rural British landscape painting Arts and Crafts dress reform movements Christian design doctrines Albatroess in cultural practice

• Art History
• Environmental Change
• Visual Culture
• +5 more

Dr. Soo J. Ryu is a Lecturer at the School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University in New Zealand, where she also serves as an Outreach Coordinator. She is an early career researcher specializing in integrating marine ecologies into the design and planning of coastal cities, with a focus on addressing challenges of unsustainable development and climate change, particularly sea-level rise and storm surge. Dr. Ryu holds a PhD in Urban Landscapes from Aarhus School of Architecture (2019-2023), an MSc in Urban, Energy & Environmental Planning from Aalborg University (2017-2019), an MArch in Sustainability from Victoria University of Wellington (2009-2010), and a BArch (Hons) from the University of Auckland (2003-2008). Her educational background reflects her deep commitment to sustainability and landscape architecture. Her research centers on urban seascaping - an interdisciplinary approach that bridges environmental science, architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. Dr. Ryu investigates how coastal cities can better integrate with marine ecosystems through nature-based solutions, emphasizing more-than-human perspectives and rethinking the boundary between city and sea. Her work has developed design principles that stress the importance of seaweed and other marine elements as catalysts for urban shoreline transformation. Her research directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15. Dr. Ryu's publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from theoretical explorations of coastal ecologies to practical applications of marine nature-based solutions. A unifying theme across her work is the concept of 'urban seascaping' - how cities can live not just by the sea but with the sea. Her research increasingly incorporates indigenous knowledge, particularly te ao Māori worldview (ki uta ki tai - from mountains to the sea), and explores innovative technologies like extended reality for public engagement with marine environments. New Zealand Institute of Architects: Post Earthquake Pavilion Competition for the Canterbury branch (NZD $10,000), 2012 Aalborg University Case Competition 2019 - 1st Prize Benson & Cooper Design for Sustainability Award Dr. Ryu actively supervises students and collaborates on research projects. She teaches courses including Innovative Design (LASC 316), Landscape Analysis, Planning and Design (LASC 215), and serves as an Examiner for Sustainable Design and Planning (LASC 322). She has participated in significant research collaborations, including the Realdania-funded project 'Danske byers tilpasning til havvandsstigning – nye løsningsrum' and served as a Consulting Researcher for the Venice Biennale 2023 Danish pavilion ('Critical Imaginaries'). Dr. Ryu also provides technical expertise to municipalities like Vejle in Denmark for coastal adaptation projects. Dr. Ryu is a member of research networks focused on coastal adaptation, including Research Lab 1: Transformation at the Aarhus School of Architecture. She collaborates with indigenous knowledge holders (kaitiaki) to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary design approaches. Her current work explores how extended reality technologies can facilitate more interactive and immersive public engagement with marine environments, addressing the challenge of making inaccessible underwater ecosystems visible and understandable to urban populations.

• Urban Seascaping
• Marine Ecology
• Coastal Urbanism
• +7 more

Stuart M. Charters serves as Associate Professor of Applied Computing and Programme Director for the Master of Applied Computing at Lincoln University, New Zealand, where he leads the Computational Agroecology theme within the Centre of Excellence for Designing Future Productive Landscapes. He earned both his BSc(Hons.) and PhD in Computer Science from Durham University, UK, establishing his foundational expertise in computational methodologies. His research focuses on Computational Agroecology —applying computing to agricultural ecosystems— Visualisation techniques for complex data representation, and Evidence-based Software Engineering to optimize development practices, reflecting an interdisciplinary bridge between technology and environmental systems. His 2025 publication on digital tools for land use planning demonstrates consistent scholarly output at the intersection of computer science, urban development, and sustainable land management, particularly addressing New Zealand's challenges with urban expansion on productive soils. As Programme Director, Charters oversees graduate education in applied computing while leading collaborative research through the Computational Agroecology theme, indicating active mentorship and academic leadership responsibilities. The Computational Agroecology initiative within the Centre of Excellence represents his primary research infrastructure, focusing on computational solutions for sustainable agricultural landscapes and land-use conflicts.

• Computational Agroecology
• Visualisation
• Evidence-based Software Engineering

Bronwyn Wood is an Associate Professor at the School of Education , Victoria University of Wellington. She specializes in education policy , citizenship education , and youth sociology , with a focus on social sciences education and youth politics . Her work examines democratic education in superdiverse schools, ethical challenges in participatory research, and resistance to neoliberalism in teacher education. Current Projects: Civic potential of climate mobility (2022–2024, HUMANE-CLIMATE), Critical Times: Producing the global graduate in a pandemic (2021–2024). Grants: Half-truths, lies, and hoaxes (2024–2026, Victoria University of Wellington), Social Sciences assessment programme (2023–2026, University of Otago). Scientific Awards : Royal Society Te Aparangi Early Career Research Excellence Award (2019) Early Career Excellence Award (2016) Postgraduate Student Essay competition winner (2010) Teaching : Courses include Education Policy and Practice (2024–2025), Youth, Society and Education , and Contemporary Education Policy . Supervises research on topics like single mothers’ navigation of education systems and climate policy in local communities .

• Education policy
• Citizenship education
• Youth sociology
• +5 more

Associate Professor Wayne Rumbles serves as Senior Research Officer at the University of Waikato's Faculty of Law (Te Piringa), where he has held academic positions for 22 years including Dean of Law (2015-2020) and current leadership of the Technology in Legal Education New Zealand (TeLENZ) project. His career spans community law practice, a decade at Te Matahauariki Research Institute, and extensive administrative roles within the law faculty. His educational foundation includes: BA, University of Waikato LLB, University of Waikato LLM (Distinction), University of Waikato Rumbles' research interrogates cyber law's evolution in virtual environments , with particular emphasis on cybercrime narratives, Maori experiences in criminal justice systems, and digital privacy frameworks. His scholarship reveals how legal systems grapple with technological disruption through three interconnected lenses: jurisdictional challenges in digital spaces , algorithmic accountability , and indigenous perspectives on digital sovereignty . This work bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical applications in cybersecurity education and virtual property rights. Analysis of his 46 publications shows dominant themes in cybercrime (35%), indigenous legal issues (25%), and legal education technology (20%), with recent work increasingly addressing ethical frameworks for AI systems and virtual asset governance. His monograph Cultural Cyborgs: Life at the Interface (2011) established foundational concepts for understanding digital identity formation within legal contexts. As principal investigator for the NZ Law Foundation-funded TeLENZ project, Rumbles coordinates technology integration across all six New Zealand law schools. He actively supervises graduate research in cyber law and indigenous justice topics while contributing to national legal discourse through media commentary and advisory roles for legal tech initiatives. Rumbles leads the Technology in Legal Education New Zealand consortium, developing shared digital resources including virtual courtroom simulations, blockchain evidence modules, and cross-institutional cybersecurity case studies designed to prepare law students for technology-driven legal practice environments.

• Cyber Law
• Cybercrime
• Criminal Law
• +7 more

Chern Li Liew is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Management at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, an MSc in Information Science from Loughborough University, UK, and a BA First-Class (Honours) from the University of Brighton, UK. Her professional background includes diverse experience in auditing & consulting with PricewaterhouseCoopers, education counseling with the British Council, and information management at Telekom Malaysia. PhD: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore MSc: Loughborough University, United Kingdom BA First-Class (Honours): University of Brighton, United Kingdom Professor Liew's research centers on human-centred digital innovation, information sciences, and sociocultural and community informatics, with cultural heritage as her core expertise. She investigates how digital technologies impact documentary heritage care and use, and how GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, museums) innovation contributes to cultural and social cohesion. Her work increasingly emphasizes Indigenous knowledge stewardship, ethical digital practices, and community-centered approaches to cultural heritage. Her recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward ethical frameworks for Indigenous knowledge management, dialogic engagement with communities, and the role of cultural heritage institutions in promoting social cohesion. She employs interdisciplinary methodologies that bridge information science with cultural studies, anthropology, and community informatics, focusing particularly on Māori contexts in Aotearoa New Zealand while drawing global implications. First Place Winner of the Best Short Paper Award at the 86th ASIS&T Annual Meeting (2023) Invited and Featured at the Royal Society Te Apārangi 2023 Ada Lovelace Day Celebration Member of the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library Professor Liew supervises four PhD students researching library design, LGBTQ+ collecting practices, digital information literacy, and community archives. She leads two major research projects: 'Towards Socioculturally Responsible and Inclusive Stewardship of Digital Indigenous Knowledge Collections' (Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund, 2022-2026) and 'Futuring Dialogic Cultural Heritage' (Victoria University Strategic Research Grant, 2023-2026). She serves on multiple international committees including the International Digital Library Federation Cultural Inclusion Working Group and the European Open Science Cloud FAIR-IMPACT Group. As a Member of the Guardians Kaitiaki of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Professor Liew advises the Ministry of Internal Affairs on documentary heritage collections and taonga. Her scholarly activities reflect deep engagement with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in cultural heritage institutions, emphasizing community co-creation and ethical digital stewardship.

• Social studies of information and communications technology
• human-centred digital innovation
• sociocultural and community informatics
• +6 more

John Chrisstoffels serves as Associate Professor in Digital Screen within the Faculty of Arts at University of Canterbury, a position held continuously since 2005. His institutional profile includes an ORCID identifier (0000-0002-5680-9090) and office location in Otakaro Room 215, with active supervision of graduate research students. His educational background comprises: Doctor of Fine Arts (DocFA) from University of Auckland (2012-2019) MFA with distinction from University of Canterbury (2005-2006) BA in Religious Studies from University of Canterbury (1985-1988) With over 35 years as a filmmaker and musician, Chrisstoffels' research centers on 'time-based' art forms. His primary interests include film theory, international and New Zealand film history, all aspects of film production (directing/producing), and emerging technologies. He examines the material properties of film media, as demonstrated in his 2017 response to Nova Paul's Surplus Reality where he analyzed chemical/optical artifacts in 16mm film versus digital cinematography, connecting these to Michel Foucault's theories of representation. His professional activities reveal significant industry engagement through memberships in Screen Canterbury (2000-2005) and Technicians Guild of New Zealand (1990-2015), plus service as a Creative New Zealand panelist and committee member for film organizations. The publication record spanning 2017-2024 shows consistent output across documentary, experimental film, and curatorial projects, with thematic focus on New Zealand cultural identity, environmental issues, and technical aspects of film media. As a registered supervisor, he has guided 21 graduate students through MFA, BFA(Hons), and SCUL601 programs between 2008-2019, including Daniel Sheridan ( Mama , 2019), Ian Spilman (Documentary, 2018), and Nathan Pohio (MFA, 2009-2011). His teaching extends to guest lectures on story development and pepeha (Māori oral tradition).

• Film Theory
• History of Film
• Documentary Filmmaking
• +3 more

Dr. Zita Joyce is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Arts, where she has held her position since September 2008. Her academic work focuses on the intersections between media technologies and social practice, with particular expertise in broadcasting, social media, and creative uses of technology in visual and sound arts. Education: PhD, University of Auckland (2004-2007) Her research explores creative applications of media technologies, especially in visual and sound arts, experimental music, radio spectrum conceptualization, and disaster recovery for creative communities. Joyce has produced significant scholarship on post-earthquake media recovery in Christchurch, examining how communities used radio and digital platforms during crisis and recovery periods. Her work often engages with Indigenous perspectives on media space and spectrum allocation. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on media-technology intersections within disaster contexts, Indigenous perspectives on spectrum, and experimental sound practices. Her work spans academic journals, edited volumes, and creative projects, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement across media studies, geography, and cultural studies. As a supervisor, Joyce has guided numerous graduate students through Master's and Doctoral research on topics including climate adaptation, neurodivergence in social media, and disaster communication. Her professional activities include editorial roles for Writing Around Sound , MEDIANZ , and Fibreculture Journal , along with leadership positions in the Aotearoa Digital Arts Network and Audio Foundation. Her institutional impact includes work supporting New Zealand musicians and research on Radio Spectrum in relation to Waitangi claims. Joyce maintains an active presence in both academic and creative media communities through her research, teaching, and organizational leadership.

• Media Technologies
• Social Media
• Broadcasting
• +7 more

Daniele Abreu e Lima is a Lecturer at the Wellington School of Architecture, Victoria University of Wellington. He holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Sao Paulo (USP) and is currently pursuing his PhD at VUW. With academic positions spanning Brazil and New Zealand since 2001, his career bridges architectural practice, education, and cultural engagement. PhD (ongoing) – Victoria University of Wellington Master Degree – University of Sao Paulo Architect and Urban Planner – Federal University of Pernambuco Research centers on modern architecture's adaptation to climate and culture, particularly in Brazil and New Zealand. His work explores: Regional modernism Climate-responsive design Cinema-architecture intersections Architectural identity in peripheral countries Scientific contributions include founding the New Zealand DoCoMoMo chapter and analyzing 20th-century architectural impacts through publications and exhibitions. His teaching includes courses like Architecture Design Integration Capstone and Human Environmental Science. Supervised 12+ Master's theses 48 Hours film fest collaborations Active in Latin American cultural initiatives

• Modern Architecture
• Interdisciplinary Design Representation
• Cultural Adaptation of Modernism
• +2 more

Associate Professor Tham Piumsomboon is a prominent researcher at the University of Canterbury's School of Product Design within the Faculty of Engineering. With a PhD in Computer Science from the same institution, their work bridges gaming, human-computer interaction, and immersive VR/MR/AR technologies to enhance user experiences and redefine lifestyle interactions. As founder of the QUADRIC Research Group, they lead initiatives addressing Aotearoa's agricultural, mental health, and sustainability challenges through intuitive intelligent user interfaces. Research focuses on the intersection of human qualia and technological design, emphasizing experiential learning, cognitive modeling, and ethical AI alignment. Key research thrusts include 'Agents' (AI autonomy levels), 'Humans' (IUIs for XR collaboration), 'Augment' (enhancing human perception), and 'Aotearoa' (local solution development). Their publications reveal strong trends in spatial interaction techniques, remote collaboration frameworks, and mental health applications of XR technologies. ACM CHI 2018 Best Paper Award for 'Pinpointing' research New and Emerging Researcher Award 2022 Extensive editorial service for IEEE TVCG, ACM SIGGRAPH, and UIST conferences As principal investigator for three major grants including 'Tōku Hoa: A Personalized Agent for Mental Health' (MBIE, 2022-2025) and 'Navigating Well-being' (Child Well-being Research Institute, 2024), they direct significant research funding toward mental health and agricultural technology. They supervise over 15 graduate students across diverse XR projects from locomotion techniques to therapeutic applications. The QUADRIC Research Group serves as their primary laboratory environment, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between computer science, design, and clinical domains.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Virtual Reality
• Augmented Reality
• +5 more