Seventeen University of Otago academics across a range of departments are to be promoted to full professorships early next year. A further 27 academics will be promoted to associate professorships.
The new University of Otago professors are: Margaret Briggs, (law); Hallie Buckley (anatomy); Anthony Butler (radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch); Neil Carr (tourism); Nicholas Chandler (oral rehabilitation); Gerard Closs (zoology); Alison Cree (zoology); Gregory Dawes (philosophy); Shelley Griffiths (law); Robert Hancox (preventive and social medicine); Janine Hayward (politics); Jing-Bao Nie (Bioethics Centre); Ross Notman (College of Education); Nigel Perry (chemistry); Susan Pullon (primary healthcare and general practice, University of Otago Wellington); John Reynolds (anatomy); Rachael Taylor (medicine).
Associate Prof Briggs researches criminal law and relationship property law, and publishes both nationally and internationally.
At present her research focuses on the boundaries of criminal responsibility.Associate Prof Buckley’s research has focused on the analysis of health and disease in prehistoric skeletal remains.
She has worked closely with Pasifika and iwi groups throughout her career.
Associate Prof Anthony Butler of the University of Otago Department of Radiology in Christchurch researches the interface of medicine and the technical sciences of physics and computing.
He also investigates the use of mobile computing and virtual reality in hospitals.
Associate Prof Neil Carr has worked on raising awareness of the welfare and rights of animals in tourism.
His research has included looking at zoos as places of entertainment and the role of dogs in leisure experiences.
Associate Prof Nicholas Chandler’s research is concerned with diseases of the dental pulp and treatment through root canal fillings.
His current research uses ultrasound to diagnose dental disease.
Associate Prof Gerard Closs is a freshwater ecologist with a specific focus in the conservation of freshwater fish.His studies explore the different challenges faced by different fish species from egg to adult.
Associate Prof Alison Cree is the author of more than 100 scientific journal articles on the survival and reproduction of New Zealand reptiles.
She has served nationally and internationally on herpetological societies and provided advice to conservation groups.
Associate Prof Gregory Dawes explores the impact of history and sciences on religious belief.He suggests there is a conflict between religion and science, caused by differing views on the limits of human knowledge.
Associate Prof Shelley Griffiths researches the taxation and regulation of markets for financial products and the absence of a capital gains tax in New Zealand.
Associate Prof Robert Hancox studies why people develop diseases such as asthma, allergies and chronic lung disease to find better ways to assess and treat the disorders.
Past research includes the long-term effects of television viewing on children’s health and social and educational development.
Associate Prof Janine Hayward has published widely on the politics of the Treaty of Waitangi in relation to treaty settlements, social policy and electoral reform.
She has also collaborated with Canadian colleagues on projects about indigenous-state relations.
Associate Prof Jing-Bao Nie work addresses the ethical and social elements of Chinese views on abortion and birth control Japan’s wartime medical atrocities and HIV cure research.
Associate Prof Ross Notman is the director of the University of Otago’s Centre for Educational Leadership and Administration.
He is the New Zealand director of international research projects on successful school principals and the leadership of high-needs schools.
Associate Prof Nigel Perry investigates compounds that give colour and flavour to foods, scents to flowers and influence the creation of life-saving drugs.
Associate Prof Susan Pullon, of the Department of Primary Healthcare and General Practice at the University of Otago Wellington, researches areas including health professional education, collaborative practice and integrated care and sexual health education.
She is the lead author of the New Zealand Pregnancy Book, into its third edition.
Associate Prof John Reynolds investigates the effect of natural patterns of brain cell activity on normal and disordered brains.
He has looked specifically at Parkinson’s disease and stroke sufferers.
Associate Prof Rachael Taylor’s research aims to discover how best to help people manage their weight and health in a world that makes it difficult to do so.
Her work addresses areas including the relationship between sleep and weight and what weight loss approaches are most successful for different age groups.
Promoted to associate professor: Barry Allan, law; Dr Caroline Beck, zoology; Dr Jonathan Broadbent, oral rehabilitation; Dr Rachel Brown, human nutrition; Dr Alan Carne, biochemistry; Dr Nicolas Cullen, geography; Dr Ivan Diaz-Rainey, accountancy and finance; Dr Elizabeth Dennett, surgery and anaesthesia, University of Otago, Wellington; Dr Anne-Louise Heath, human nutrition; Dr Chris Hepburn, marine science; Rev Dr Christopher Holmes, theology and religion; Dr Rajesh Katare, physiology; Dr Roslyn Kemp, microbiology and immunology; Dr Diane Kenwright, pathology and molecular medicine, University of Otago, Wellington; Dr William Levack, medicine, University of Otago, Wellington; Dr Mark Lokman, zoology; Dr Jevon Longdell, physics; Dr Eileen McKinlay, primary healthcare and general practice, University of Otago, Wellington; Dr Tony Moore, School of Surveying; Dr Neil Pickering, Bioethics Centre; Dr Tony Savarimuthu, information science; Dr Andrew Tawse-Smith, Office of the Dean (dentistry); Dr Tiffany Trotman, languages and cultures; Dr Greg Waite, English and linguistics, Dr Ros Whiting, accountancy and finance; Dr Rachel Zajac, psychology.Promoted to research associate professor: Bridget Robson, Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.margot.taylor@odt.co.nz