Department of Anatomy, University of Otago

Meet our Postgrads: Andy Stewart
Andy says that embarking on postgraduate study was the natural step for him to take after he completed a Bachelor of Science degree where he was drawn to neuroendocrinology – the study of how the nervous and endocrine systems interact to control bodily functions.

Andy is now in the third year of his PhD studies. His research looks at investigating the mechanisms involved in attenuating fever during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, elevated temperatures in an expectant mother can increase the risk of complications and disability. Mothers therefore develop mechanisms during pregnancy which help to keep temperatures low. One mechanism that has been observed in several species is that fever responses resulting from infections are suppressed. This likely safeguards the foetus from harmful temperatures but may do so at the detriment of the mother’s health, as fever is a beneficial component for fighting infection. Andy’s project aims to investigate the mechanisms that lead to the attenuation of fever during pregnancy in mice, focussing on the role of hormones like prolactin acting within the brain.

Andy hopes to make a tangible contribution to people’s lives, especially with female-focused research, an area he notes has traditionally been underrepresented across many fields of research. He aims to continue researching and teaching in the future.

Outside of Uni, Andy enjoys hanging out with his friends, watching movies and travelling.

Meet our Postgrads: Nigani Willie

Nigani is in the second year of a PhD in Anatomy. A desire to learn more about how genetics tells the story of his ancestors and the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Pacific was his inspiration to pursue postgraduate research.

Using biochemical, anthropometric, and whole-genome sequencing data from diverse PNG populations, Nigani’s research examines host genetic variation and its interaction with environmental and historical factors.

More specifically, he is investigating the genetic and evolutionary origins of hyperuricaemia, gout, and metabolic diseases in PNG, and exploring how long-term exposure to malaria may have driven adaptive changes in human populations, particularly in uric acid metabolism, that were once protective but now contribute to disease risk.

By integrating epidemiology, genomics, and anthropology, Nigani aims to create a better understanding of disease patterns in PNG and Pacific populations.

Nigani grew up in Kirakira village in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. His long-term goal is to contribute to medical research in his home country and around the Pacific and to continue to be an active researcher in his field.

Outside of Uni Nigani enjoys playing the guitar, singing traditional songs from his village, hiking (which he says he hasn’t managed to do much of yet in Aotearoa), fishing, playing chess, and reading random stuff online!

Anatomy proudly got behind Pink Shirt Day, coming together to support anti-bullying awareness with a shared morning tea and some fantastic pink attire – joined by professional and academic staff, including our own Head of Department!

Meet the postgrads: Soheil Mehrdadi

Soheil is currently a doctoral researcher working on a multidisciplinary project titled “Oral Formulation & Delivery of Peptide & Protein Biopharmaceuticals for Fertility Control of Pests”. With an undergraduate in veterinary medicine, a postgraduate master’s degree in pharmaceutical biotechnology and a research fellowship in “drug formulation & delivery” and “nanomedicine” Soheil’s current PhD project is bridging his previous studies revolving around veterinary pharmaceutics & pharmacology, veterinary clinical studies, veterinary neuroendocrinology, translational biomedical research, One Health and animal welfare.

His research focuses on both novel peptide & protein biopharmaceuticals (drug discovery) and novel nanotechnology delivery methods (drug delivery) to develop oral “slow-released” formulations as a biological means for fertility control in pests and wildlife with no adverse effects on the general health of the target animals, cohabiting animal species and the environment. While so far numerous compounds and parenteral delivery methods are introduced, none has been able to successfully address the issue with pests dispersed across a wide terrain area. An oral formulation is the only practical way to achieve this goal. However, there are challenges for developing such oral formulation.

His project has major implications under “One Health” approach as pests damage the agriculture and veterinary sector; they harbour and spread highly contagious zoonotic diseases such as Tuberculosis and emerging microorganisms with antimicrobial resistance; they damage the ecosystem, fauna and flora; and they endanger the native wildlife especially flightless birds among all.

Soheil’ long-term goal is to follow a career in R&D sector in veterinary research enterprises, animal health pharma and biotech companies.

Loving the nature Soheil enjoys surfing, tramping, and wandering and being a wanderlust.

Rashini Fernando

Rashini is a PhD student in the Department of Anatomy. Her research project focuses on understanding oligo/anovulation in polycystic o***y syndrome (PCOS), a common condition that affects women’s fertility worldwide.

She completed her undergraduate studies with Honours in her home country of Sri Lanka and says she always had the long-term goal of becoming a research professor so when the opportunity to undertake a PhD at Otago presented itself, it felt like a significant step towards building the skills and knowledge she would need for her chosen career path.

Her research centres on how hormone imbalances disrupt the normal growth and maturation of ovarian follicles by looking at how changes in hormone levels alter follicle development and lead to the build-up of immature follicles in the o***y. She is particularly focused on how surgical treatments, such as ovarian drilling, restores ovulation, with the aim of uncovering the biological mechanisms behind their success and improving future therapies.

Rashini’s future plans include working in academia as a lecturer, supporting and mentoring students while continuing to conduct research in her chosen field of reproductive biology.

Outside of Uni Rashini enjoys playing squash and travelling. She especially enjoys exploring new and beautiful places around the world.

Meet the Postgrads 2026

Leilani Kwan-Him

When she was young Leilani would often look at her mum’s University of Otago Honours degree hanging on the wall at home. She knew how proud her mum was of the achievement, and Leilani thought how cool it would be to complete her own Honours degree at the same university.

Fast forward a few years and Leilani is now undertaking her own fourth-year Neuroscience Honours research project in the Department of Anatomy.

She says she is excited to be a postgraduate student, experiencing Uni from a different viewpoint. “Postgrad is where you get to be involved in new research which could contribute to something big and could actually have a real impact on people. It’s quite special really.”

Her area of research is neuroendocrinology. “There is an existing molecule which has been shown by Otago researchers to decrease anxiety-like behaviours by blocking activation of RFRP neurons when administered into the mouse brain. My project will test whether newly synthesised variations of this molecule can cross the blood brain barrier, and if so, how effective it may be in reducing stress/anxiety-like behaviour in animal models.”

Outside of Uni Leilani plays netball, reads mystery/thriller novels, enjoys baking and karaoke.

Meet the Postgrads: Luke Bialostocki

Luke is in the second year of a PhD which he is intercalating with his undergraduate medical studies. It was his desire to develop research skills so he would be able to answer patients’ questions that spurred him on to combine his medical studies with a research degree.

His research focuses on treating people who show neuropathic pain symptoms, but they have chronic musculoskeletal conditions instead.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is defined as pain due to damage or lesion of the somatosensory system, yet chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as knee osteoarthritis can present with similar symptoms of NP in the absence of a verifiable lesion, producing multiple NP phenotypes. It is understood that both NP phenotypes have altered brain activity. Luke’s research goal is to understand the brain changes seen in these phenotypes, and assess the feasibility of the use of Neurofeedback, a non-invasive form of neuromodulation, in the treatment of symptoms for chronic musculoskeletal conditions with NP-like qualities.

Long-term, Luke’s goal is to have graduated medical school, with a PhD, and be specialising in neurosurgery.

Outside of Uni he loves being active, whether that is running, playing football or procrastinating writing his PhD in the winter by snowboarding.

We are proud to be ranked #36 in the world for Anatomy and Physiology in the latest QS World University Rankings!

Congratulations to the staff and tauira who contributed to subjects in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences being ranked in the top 50 globally 🌏

Released today, the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 places anatomy and physiology 36th in the world and first in Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿

The University of Otago as a whole maintains its position as one of New Zealand’s top two-ranked universities with eight subjects in the top 100 globally 😎

Other achievements include ranking 22nd in sports-related subjects, and 50th in both dentistry and hospitality and leisure management.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/otago-subjects-among-the-best-in-the-world

Meet the Postgrads

William Parton

Will is an undergraduate medical student and a PhD student in the Department of Anatomy. He is undertaking the intercalated MBChB-PhD programme at Otago. Originally from Auckland, he has been studying in Dunedin for the past five years.

He says he decided to interrupt his medical studies to undertake a research degree in the department because he was drawn to the great supervisory staff and researchers in the Department of Anatomy. Long-term, he wants to be in a position to be able to improve the care of his patients.

His research project investigates brain changes in people with chronic knee pain and explores brainwave training as a possible new treatment for people with this condition.

Will plans to pursue a career as a clinician-researcher in a surgical speciality training programme. He has a desire to continue research to not only help individual patients but also help reduce the burden health conditions have on communities in New Zealand.

Outside of Uni Will loves serving at his church, playing music, running, and going to the gym.

Introducing our Postgrads: Esmé Hewitt

Esmé is one of our BSc(Honours) students specialising in Forensic Analytical Sciences. Last year she had an opportunity to undertake an internship in the W.D. Trotter Anatomy Museum which she found to be incredibly interesting and rewarding. She is now continuing this research into an Honours research year.

The Anatomy Museum houses human skeletal remains whose presence was often built on unethical histories and includes a number of individuals thought to be originally from South Asia. Internationally there are significant discussions surrounding the ethical practices involving these types of legacy collections. Her research project hopes to restore a sense of humanity to some of the articulated skeletons in the museum by telling their stories through bioarchaeological and forensic anthropological techniques.

Esmé hopes her research will contribute to the important ethical conversations in biological and forensic anthropology. Long term, she hopes she will continue to be working in a position where she can challenge and apply her understanding of ethics.

Esmé comes from the beautiful Hanmer Springs. She enjoys dancing (hip hop is her main dance style) and says that choreographing and teaching is her outlet outside of her studies. She can often be found at an Otago Dance Association class or in the OUSA dance rooms.