The State Administration of Market Regulation has kicked off investigations into the Alibaba Group, laying claim that the company has been involved in monopolistic conduct such as 'forced exclusivity' by requiring e-commerce merchants to pick only one platform as their exclusive distribution channel, according to the South China Morning Post. Ethan Hawke as Reverend Toller and Amanda Seyfried as Mary in First Reformed. Contributed by Jonathan Stevenson / Like an opaque work of conceptual art, writer-director Paul Schrader’s First Reformed is a high-risk venture, laden with the potential for artistic failure and embarrassment.

Explore the following cases.

Miss Hamilton teachers a multi-age class of active children.

Bird Bonanza

Miss Hamilton enjoys partnering with the school library media specialist, Ms. Anderson. Using a theme that acrosses grade and content areas, they've established a full-year project on birding. Using the resources at The Great Backyard Bird Count as a starting place, they began exploring the many possible connections.

As the project gained attention within the school, an older student approached Miss Hamilton about becoming involved in the project. Isabella's interest in birds and bird feathers combined with Miss Hamilton's commitment to multi-age teaching was a great combination. Isabella become the project director and a mentor for younger children.

Explore Ms. Anderson's involvement as an instructional specialist.

Explore Isabella's investigation for more detail.

Mr. Samuels views the media center as the hub of school activities.

Primary Source Materials

Mr. Samuels promotes the use of primary source materials. From maps and documents to historical photos and journals, he encourages students to explore a variety of materials.

Explore Kristen's investigation for more detail.

Video Collection

A survey of students and parents indicated an overwhelming interest in educational and informational DVDs. As a result, Mr. Samuels has been seeking video-based materials that he thinks will draw students into exploration of other materials directly related to class content. Rather than competing with video stores, he strives to complement the materials in his collection.

Explore Kristen's investigation for more detail.

Butterfly Garden Club

With the help of the local Garden Club, a group of students developed a butterfly garden outside the library media center.

Explore Samantha's investigation for more detail.

Cultural Connections

The middle school has a diverse population and works closely with the local community on cultural activities.

Explore Megan's investigation for more detail.

Mr. Campbell is known as the goofy teacher. He seems to be excited about everything that has to do with nature and outdoors.

Mr. Campbell encourages interested in geology through the use of his large rock collection and connection with the local geology society. In addition, he sponsors regular field trips as part of a rockhound club. Recently while working with Mr. Samuel, the media specialists, he received a grant involving GPS devices and GIS software for use in a local geology project.

Explore Nathan's investigation for more detail.

When Ashley shared her interest in growing tomatoes for the 4-H fair, Mr. Campbell suggested talking to Mrs. Collins at the local farmer's market about growing techniques.

Explore Ashley's investigation for more detail.

While serving on a school-wide planning committee, Mr. Campbell suggested getting students involved in building disaster planning.

Explore Brandon's investigation for more detail.

Ms. Anderson enjoys her position as a teacher librarian and instructional specialist. She views her library as only a part of the schoolwide learning laboratory that she's coordinating. Her library learning laboratory includes books, computers, and other traditional materials, but it's also the focus of science experiments and daily video programs.

A Center for Community Involvement

Ms. Anderson feels that developing collaborations throughout the school and community is essential to a building an active learning laboratory. She encourages community members and groups to use the library as a place to meet and share ideas. She uses these face-to-face gatherings to involve students. For example, community members have agreed to be judges for the annual art competition. Each year the art teacher, media specialist, and a member of the city council get together to discuss an focus for the year that can be connected to local events. In the past, students have worked to design costumes for the historical pageant, a pumpkin festival logo, pioneer toy replicas, a city mural, and local landscapes projects. Student artwork is displayed in the media center as well as in the hallway showcases.

Explore Katie's investigation for more detail.

Ms. Anderson encourages her students to use a wide variety of tools for information access and communication. When Isaac expressed an interest in conducting an interview for his oral history project, she encouraged him to use videotape in the process. Isaac's success with the video equipment made Ms. Anderson consider the development of a larger community oral history project. With Isaac's project as an example, they presented their idea to the senior center and soon had volunteers who wanted to share their life stories.

Explore Isaac's investigation for more detail.

A Beehive of Activity

Her library is a beehive of activity... literally. As part of a science partnership, the library media center has acquired a wonderful science materials collection (i.e., books, videos, software, maps, games) and also maintains a collection of scientific artifacts, a snake, and a beehive housed in the nature area just outside the center. These resources are maintained by a group of children called the Critter Wranglers along with a group of parent volunteers including a professional bee keeper.

The purpose of the Critter Wranglers was two-fold. First, to provide an organized method of caring for the creatures and artifacts. Second, to address the learning needs of a group of at-risk students. Working as a team, the teachers and media specialist identified specific activities to address commonly identified information literacy and content area standards deficiencies. These concrete, context-based review activities were connected to caring for these small creatures.

In addition to the snake project, they're also involved in the The Great Backyard Bird Count project.

Explore Taylor's investigation for more detail.

Explore Ms. Hamilton's involvement as an instructional specialist.

A Shared Commitment

Ms. Anderson spends much of her time exploring ways to partner with teachers on activities that will stimulate a love of learning in children. She explores connections between standards, textbooks, and the materials available inside and outside her center.

Many of her projects are small and ongoing such as the Super Science Center that contains the basics needed for students to run their own science experiments including chart paper, clipboards, post-it notes, laptop with probes, and marked materials cartons. Located near the non-fiction science book collection and close to a sink, the materials in this area are constantly updated and rotated with the interests of children and teachers. For example, Jasmine after reading a book about bubbles and creating a creating an empty chart on a clipboard, she's ready to conduct a bubble experiment on the mat near the sink.

Explore Jasmine's investigation for more detail.

The media specialist along with the third and fourth grade teachers have been working on a program to promote student interests related to classroom content. When a student expresses an interest, the teacher gives the child an 'Information Investigator Badge' noting the topic the student is seeking. The child then works with the media specialist to find books and other materials that might trigger an expanded interest.

Explore Maya's investigation for more detail.

Open Access

Ms. Anderson has invested in laptop computers for her media center. Students can check these out from the front desk allowing them to take computers to any area of the center where they may be needed. Jacob is a very active, intelligent student who needs a challenge but sometimes has a hard time focusing his efforts. Ms. Anderson has found that he's much more productive when he can take a laptop and find a quiet place in the corner of the center to work.

Explore Jacob's investigation for more detail.

Explore Hannah's investigation for more detail.

Explore Alyssa's investigation for more detail.

Reading Connections

Throughout the school, an emphasis has been placed on the importance of reading. Ms. Anderson is committed to finding ways to stimulate the reading interests of all students. In addition to focusing on content areas standards connections, she's also exploring ways to encourage even the most reluctant reader. From Captain Underpants to Harry Potter, Ms. Anderson seeks out popular titles that will be appealing to even the pickiest reader. Through these free reading activities, she's found a growing interest in book clubs and reading programs such as voting for their favorite Hoosier book nominee. They're even decorating the ceiling of the media center with book characters tiles created by students.

Explore Vanessa's investigation for more detail.

She's also working hard to keep new readers coming back. For example, she encouraged students to find a series of books they might like to read. Ryan is reading the Scientists in the Field Series.

Explore Ryan's investigation for more detail.

Communicator's Castle

Ms. Anderson feels that it's important to promote a connection between reading, writing, and information inquiry. She also wants to stimulate a love of all forms of communication such as written, visual, audio, and video. Her Communicator's Castle is designed to facilitate all forms of communication. This area is filled with resources to support reading, communicating, and thinking. For example, Haley loves to read and write. She calls herself the Queen of the Communicator's Castle because every free moment she spends exploring the books and activities in the castle. Alyssa is planning a puppet show called 'Fish are friends'. She's decorating the puppet show area like a coral reef.

Explore Haley's investigation for more detail.

Explore Zach's investigation for more detail.

Explore Alyssa's investigation for more detail.

Differentiation

Teachers are increasingly seeking ways to meet the varied learning styles of children.

Explore Isabella's investigation for more detail.

While working with a number of different teachers, Ms. Anderson has found a growing interest in high-quality instructional audio materials. She's begun investigating the different types of audio books and which might best meet the needs of her diverse students population.

Explore Michael's investigation for more detail.

A Guide on the Side

Ms. Anderson feels one of her most important roles is as a guide for student information inquiry. When she sees a student bound into the library bursting with enthusiasm, her goal is to do whatever she can to promote and extend this positive momentum. When she's not able to provide the necessary resources, she goes out of her way to help the child locate materials at another library or provide a suggestion. In the same way when a child enters the library with a long face or bewildered look, she considers all the ways that she can help that student through the confusion or frustration of that phase of inquiry.

Explore Christopher's investigation for more detail.

Mr. Washington has transformed his traditional high school library into an exciting, popular learning laboratory. Whether hanging out at a table in the library's 'coffee shop' or working with a small group in a laptop learning cluster, the library is the center of the school learning activities. After school the 'coffee shop' is often scheduled for poetry slams, bluegrass jams, and music listening clubs.

Senior Projects

Mr. Washington is well-known for his innovative approach to senior projects. His goal is to help students identify meaningful, relevant projects that will have a real impact on the life of the student and maybe even the community.

Explore Eric's investigation for more detail.

Information Interns

Seeking ways to involve more students in cross-curricular projects, Mr. Washington developed an Information Intern program. Selected students team with teachers and the media specialist to develop videos, websites, instructional materials, and other useful products. Students are able to gain course credit and often incorporate their projects into their emerging portfolios.

Explore Alano's investigation for more detail.

Laptop Learning Clusters

While analyzing use data and observing center traffic patterns, Mr. Washington noticed that many students came to the center in small groups to work on projects. As a result, Mr. Washington redesigned areas to promote small group laptop use.

Explore Sabrina's investigation for more detail.

Popular Materials

Mr. Washington seeks materials that promote a wide range of reading and viewing experiences. In addition, he works with teachers to promote activities that connect to leisure reading and viewing opportunities.

Explore Dylan's investigation for more detail.

The high school science department and Mr. Washington are partnering on a project to promote reading in the sciences. Each science course is incorporating a fiction or non-fiction flexible reading requirement. Some courses are requiring that students read articles from popular magazines such as Scientific American, while others are allowing students to select a book connected to some aspect of the course content.

Explore Jamal's investigation for more detail.

Electronic Resources

Mr. Washington works with a group of high school students to explore ways to best help students access electronic resources inside and outside school. He also explores ways to help students organize and publish their work online.

Explore Cody's investigation for more detail.

Community Connections

Bringing in outside speakers and resources draw a variety of students into the center. For example, Mr. Washington regularly sponsors health care fairs focusing on topics such as weight control and diabetes.

Explore Miranda's investigation for more detail.

Mr. Harrington is fascinated by World History. He's constantly seeking new ways to excite students about the past. He spends summers traveling around the world exploring interesting cultures and histories. In the fall, he returns with a box full of interesting artifacts from the places he's explored.

As chair of the Social Studies department, Mr. Harringston seeks ways to draw students into global exploration.

Explore Dylan's investigation for more detail.

Research expertise

Bioactives

Consumer interest in improving health and performance with foods containing bioactive ingredients is growing. Our research demonstrates the health benefits of bioactive ingredients (eg, antioxidants and probiotics) and foods (eg, milk, fermented products, fruits, beverages) in both animal models and in humans as well as investigating their mechanisms of action. We examine the bioactive effects on immune function, resistance to infection, blood pressure, diabetes, prediabetes, cognitive function, sports performance and other health measures.

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Dietetics and clinical nutrition

We conduct research in a variety of settings including hospitals, residential care and the wider community. Research Dietitians must be able to measure food and nutrient intake with precision in order to evaluate how health and risk for disease are influenced by diet. We use different nutrition assessment methods to better understand the impact of diseases and to design interventions that enhance length and quality of life. We explore eating behaviours and food and nutrient intakes to develop national and international guidelines for nutrition and dietetic practice.####Contact

Human lifecycle nutrition

The unique nutritional demands at each stage of the lifecycle is the focus of this field of research in the nutritional sciences. Massey University researchers study nutrition of infants, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, adults of all sizes and older people. Researchers also carry out community-based studies to identify at-risk populations and to develop novel intervention strategies.

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Human nutrition and bone and joint health

Dietary factors, such as dairy foods and micronutrients or lipids can affect bone health and joint cartilage. Our staff use a range of research technologies to determine the effect of dietary factors on bone health and cartilage degradation.

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Milk quality and composition

A cross-disciplinary team of Massey scientists is researching milk quality, composition and health benefits for humans.

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Nutrient metabolism and metabolic health

Implicit in the goal of achieving optimal health and wellbeing is an understanding of how our bodies absorb and metabolise nutrients from our diets. We use human, animal and cell studies to investigate the physiological response to dietary modifications and to understand underlying mechanisms that lead to good health outcomes. We are particularly interested in new pathway to obesity prevention and metabolic health. We explore dietary approaches for the prevention of common diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

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Nutrition and physical activity

We focus on the nutritional requirements of physical activity and sport training. We evaluate the effects of diet modification or supplementation strategies on the performance of the physically active recreational athlete and the elite athlete. Our researchers also explore the relationship between diet, physical activity, the living environment, metabolic health and rehabilitation outcomes in diseases such as type-2 diabetes and vitamin deficiency.

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Public health nutrition

Promoting and maintaining the nutritional health of populations is fundamental for the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of communities. We seek to understand the complex relationship between diet, the food environment and determinants of health to plan, implement and evaluate nutrition promotion strategies that reduce inequity in health outcomes, and improve population health status. Our researchers apply skills in dietary assessment and surveillance, food systems analysis and development to support improved population health and wellbeing.

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Study

Find programmes with a research element, including the PhD.

Search for an expert

Search our staff database for an expert or area of expertise.

Research projects

A good gut feeling for overall health

The diversity of the bacteria in our gut could be a vital marker for our overall health. Massey researchers want to test whether taste perception, dietary intake, eating behaviour, sleep and physical activity influence and modify the gut microbiome and how it impacts health, such as metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Cultural factors key to health of older Māori

Findings from a study by Massey University and the University of Auckland suggests more focus in the health sector is needed to foster culturally appropriate food practices for older Māori that may lead to fewer hospitalisations and lower mortality rates.

Dairy shown to improve bone health of Kiwi children

Massey University research shows children drinking milk at school have greater increases in the size and strength of their bones, compared to children who are not involved in the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme.

Does a sweet tooth affect sugar intake?

Our research identifying a link between taste perception and total calorie intake and processed food consumption supports the scientific evidence for an urgent need for food reformulation to improve health outcomes.

High risk of malnutrition in older people

A study led by Professor Carol Wham from the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition aimed to investigate malnutrition risk in older adults at the point of hospital admission. Almost 75 per cent of older adults involved in the study were found to be at risk of malnourishment, or were malnourished, when they were admitted to hospital.

Keeping pre-school kids moving

Obesity rates in children world-wide are burgeoning, and those attending childcare are more at risk. Massey University student, Jeanette Rapson, hopes to discover information that may help design interventions offering simple, practical and relevant tips for early childhood education (ECE) teachers about nutrition and physical activity for pre-schoolers. The research is being supervised by Dr Ajmol Ali from the School of Sport and Exercise and Associate Professor Cathryn Conlon from the School of Food and Nutrition.

Taurine supplements may improve performance recovery

A recent Massey University study looked at post-exercise taurine supplementation in humans, its effect on muscle damage markers, and subsequent performance recovery. The Effect of Taurine on the Recovery from Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Males was co-authored by Yanita McLeay, Professor Steve Stannard and Dr Matthew Barnes from Massey’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition.

The MINI Study - Mother and Infant Nutrition Investigation

After the birth of their baby, most women continue to see their health care professionals. However, the focus is often on the infant’s health. Only limited attention is given to the mother’s health. This study monitored the mothers’ health by assessing her nutrient status, thyroid function and mental health. The three nutrients studied were iodine, selenium, and iron.

The impact of ingesting multiple carbohydrates during long-distance triathlon performance

Triathletes must rely on ingesting carbohydrates while exercising to maintain the carbohydrate-energy required for intense efforts. Choosing the correct blend and form (liquid or solid) of carbohydrate for their bodies can be the difference between minutes or seconds off their times.

Veges don’t make the cut in school kitchens

Dietetic masters students on a public health nutrition placement with the Heart Foundation and vegetables.co.nz conducted a survey which examined how intermediate school children are currently taught cooking skills. Nearly 120 schools throughout New Zealand participated. Overall, the findings indicate there are opportunities to better support children with key skills in food preparation.

Vitamin D supplements and psoriasis

A new study indicates some people with psoriasis might see an improvement in their symptoms from taking a vitamin D supplement, particularly in the colder months. Dr Michelle Ingram conducted the research as part of her PhD in Nutritional Science. The study was funded by a Lottery Health Research grant and supervised by Associate Professor Pamela von Hurst from the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition.

Student research

Bolaji Lilian Ilesanmi-Oyelere's research project looks into the relationship between New Zealand diets, bone health and the gut microbiome. She believes that the dairy industries, the scientific community and women in general will benefit from the outcomes of this research. Her project is supervised by Professor Marlena Kruger, Professor Jane Coad and Professor Nicole Roy.

Dushanka Hettige's research study investigated the prevalence of malnutrition and associated risk factors among older adults (aged 64 to 84 years) newly admitted to residential care facilities across the Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB) region. Her study found that nearly half the participants were malnourished, and over a third were at risk of dysphagia. It highlighted the importance of malnutrition and dysphagia screening among older adults upon admission to residential care.

Taste preferences start to develop early in life and can influence food choices in the future. PhD candidate and registered dietitian, Jeanette Rapson is investigating how exposing babies to a variety of fruit and vegetables when they first move to solids, could help form better eating habits in the future. Visit https://www.vegesfirststudy.co.nz/

PhD student Katie Schraders is investigating the long-term effects of coeliac disease. Her thesis is being supervised by Professor Marlena Kruger.

Internationally, eating behaviour has been linked with an optimal and adverse body composition in women. However, no study to date has examined eating behaviour in female New Zealand ethnic groups. Katrina's thesis investigated eating behaviours as predictors of different body composition factors and dietary intake, in New Zealand European (NZE), Māori and Pacific women, aged 16-45 years, participating in the women’s EXPLORE study.

Beetroot juice contains nitrate and has the potential to improve cognition, mood and cardiovascular function. Luke Stanaway's PhD examines the effects of a single dose and prolonged intake of nitrate supplementation, of beetroot juice, on cognition, mood and cardiovascular responses in younger (18-30 years) and older adults (50-70 years). His project is supervised by Associate Professor Ajmol Ali, Associate Professor Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick and Associate Professor Rachel Page.

Moniek's master's thesis research was carried out in Bangladesh in collaboration with World Vision New Zealand and World Vision Bangladesh. She spent two months in Bangladesh investigating the eating habits, superstitions and taboos of pregnant woman living in rural Bangladesh. Moniek believes the cross between nutrition and development studies is perfect. Coming into the development field with a strong technical skill, such as nutrition, can be a huge benefit.

Rebecca Tennent's research thesis investigates the impact our genes have on how we respond to caffeine, and how this influences our consumption of caffeinated products. Using saliva samples, she analyses three genes known to be involved, and aligns this genetic data with a questionnaire completed by participants. This information will help us better understand this emerging area of nutrition.

Umani Shanika Walallawita’s PhD project compares the bioavailability and health benefits of heritage golden-orange tomatoes to conventional red tomatoes on protecting against bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Her project is supervised by Professor Julian Heyes, Professor Marlena Kruger, Dr Fran Wolber and Dr Ayelet Ziv-Gal, and is supported by the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust and a Massey University College of Health doctoral scholarship.

Janice Lim's PhD project investigates the hypoglycaemic potential of several plant extracts easily accessible in New Zealand that may help in improving blood glucose homeostasis, particularly in people diagnosed with prediabetes. She also studies the underlying mechanism of action of plant extracts in improving blood glucose response. Her project is supervised by Associate Professor Rachel Page.

PhD project ideas

If you are looking to enrol in a PhD, here are project topics our academic staff could potentially supervise.

Nutrition and Dietetics

For this project, you will undertake a needs assessment and develop interventions to assess the effectiveness of food based, supplement and dining room interventions against nutritional, health and social (QOL) outcome measures among older adults in aged residential care.

Facilities

BodPod

The BodPod is an advanced piece of equipment that accurately, easily and reliably measures body composition and then body fat using an air displacement method. Massey University has the only two BodPods in New Zealand. We also have a PeaPod for infants.

Community Involvementms. Schrader's Teaching Portfolio Assessment

DXA machine

The DXA (Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) uses two low-dose x-rays that read bone mass and soft tissue simultaneously. It is connected to specialised computer software that is able to reconstruct an image of underlying tissues, bone, fat and fat free body mass.

This technology is the gold standard for assessment of body composition as well as bone density.

Fit3D

The Fit3D body composition scanner is the latest in body composition measurement.

Human nutrition and dietetics facilities

The Human Nutrition and Research Unit has excellent facilities for nutritional assessment and running clinical studies. Our facilities span multiple disciplines in the field, including human studies, animal studies, molecular and cellular biology, microbiology and biochemistry, and rheology.

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Community Involvementms. Schrader's Teaching Portfolios

Nutrition Laboratory

The Nutrition Laboratory specialises in analysis of food, plant and animal products. Their facilities enable nutritional testing of food products including for shelf life, food safety, product formulation and labelling.

Awards and recognition

Massey University graduate Dushanka Hettige has been awarded the 2018 Bernice Kelly Award from Dietitians NZ for the most improved full-time dietetic student, from either Massey University, University of Otago or University of Auckland.

The prestigious Dietitians NZ Award of Excellence has been awarded to Professor Carol Wham from Massey University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition in the category of Outstanding Achievement in Dietetics.

Dr Jamie de Seymour has been awarded nearly $100,000 from the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and exposure to environmental pollutants during pregnancy, and the infant’s brain development at 12 months of age.

Associate Professor David Rowlands from the School of Sport and Exercise was honoured as the winner of the 2017 Gatorade Sport Science Institute (GSSI) - American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Sport Nutrition Award for his study entitled, Multiple-Transportable Carbohydrate Effect on Long-Distance Triathlon Performance.

Events

Nutrition Symposia

The Nutrition Symposia gives health professionals and others working the fields of nutrition, food and wellness, accessible and useful information from nutrition research findings.

Participate in research studies

Beetroot juice and exercise recovery study

Seeking healthy, non-smoking, active males, aged between 18 and 45 who don't perform regular leg resistance/strength exercise

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a prior dose of beetroot juice on muscle soreness, inflammation and strength recovery following a single-leg protocol of intense muscle contractions.

Close to the Bone Study

You will need to be a female who is healthy OR medically diagnosed with coeliac disease, who has consumed a strict gluten free diet for a year or more OR medically diagnosed with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, who has consumed a strict gluten free diet for a year or more AND be between 18-40 AND live in the Palmerston North or Wellington region

This study aims to investigate the links between bone health and lifestyle factors, specifically the gluten free diet consumed by people with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

The Caffeine Study

Seeking healthy males, 18 to 55 years old, non-smokers, who consume caffeine at least once a week and can complete a 40km cycle-based time trial in less than 90mins.

While we know caffeine generally has a performance enhancing effect, it is usually different for most people. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how key genes affect responses to caffeine ingestion and how it impacts on endurance performance.

Community Involvementms. Schrader's Teaching Portfolio Allocation

Departments and staff

Find out more about the departments and staff involved in human nutrition research at Massey.

Meet our students

With its caring lecturers who want you to succeed, varied practical placements and industry contacts, I would certainly recommend choosing Massey. The variety of placements made me realise how many career opportunities there are for dietitians, giving me a taste of what it’s like to work in different fields.

If you are interested in learning about utilising nutritional science to improve one’s wellbeing, this is the degree for you!

I chose Massey University due its known leadership in the area of food and nutrition. I am particularly interested in how nutrition can be utilised for health and wellbeing during infancy and older age. This is due to the vulnerability of these age groups to nutrition-related diseases.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time studying at Massey and have been extremely fortunate to have been taught and supervised by some of the leading lecturers in the field of physical education and coaching.

I would recommend studying at Massey University due to the high level of support, guidance and valuable expertise from staff from both the academic and practical placement setting. I am now in a career where I feel I am making a true difference to the nutrition and health of the community.

Studying these subjects (Physiology and Human Nutrition) has given me the opportunity to meet and be taught by some of the most inspiring and intelligent people I have ever (and possibly will ever) meet. The teaching staff on the Palmerston North campus are wonderful and caring.

Overall, Massey was an excellent gateway for me landing my role at Nestle and I think the strong workforce connections Massey disposes to its students, in all areas of nutrition and dietetics, is an appealing point of difference compared to other universities.

Studying is commonly seen as a chore and nobody like chores, but at Massey they go the extra step to help create an enjoyable, family-like environment. Just like any family you have ups and downs but when all is said and done, they are there for you.

The highlight of my career is working as the Health and Nutrition Manager for World Vision in the Nepal earthquake response. The work was so fast-paced and dynamic. The team I had the pleasure to work with was incredible. I got to trek into health facilities in extremely remote areas of Nepal with views people would pay thousands of dollars for.

I am interested in discovering a simple way to cure or prevent diseases, especially the chronic diseases we are facing nowadays. Nutrition is one of the possible approaches—it could bring benefits to all people.

Massey University ensures you don’t get lost in the crowd, with staff who see you as more than just a number. The area of nutrition and dietetics is constantly evolving, it’s great having a variety of guest lecturers to share their knowledge and experience. Balanced with practical exposure, Massey helps you feel ready for the next step after graduation.

I totally enjoy my PhD research topic as it is something very relevant to human health and wellness, and I hope I will be able to make some progress in the field of diabetes treatment during the course of my study by implementing nutrition in the diet.

Research centres

Centre for Metabolic Health Research

The Centre for Metabolic Health Research facilitates interdisciplinary research in metabolic health, with key aspects being the prevention of metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the maintenance of mobility and functionality throughout the lifecycle.

Nutrition and Dietetic Centre

The Nutrition and Dietetic Centre combines the clinical, nutritional and research expertise of Massey dietitians and nutritionists with the enthusiasm and creativity of our dietetics students. The Centre is based on the Auckland campus.

Vitamin D Research Centre

The Vitamin D Research Centre works to improve the status of population groups who are demonstrably at risk of vitamin D deficiency and the associated negative health consequences.

You may also be interested in

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