| Specific areas of staff and postgraduate research are: |
| Biochemistry and Cell Biology, e.g., proteases and their inhibitors, the relationship between enzyme activity, pH, temperature and tenderness, The effect of stress on the enzymes and meat quality, how and why changes in processing conditions alter meat quality. Contact Group(s): Cell Biology. |
| Biotechnology, e.g., micropropagation, pathogen elimination, germplasm storage, production of haploid plants, somatic cell genetics and genetic engineering; molecular plant breeding, selection of traits for improved plant cultivars. Contact Group(s): Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty; Cell Biology. |
|
Ecology and Wildlife Management, e.g., plant and animal conservation; native ecosystems ecology; tree rings and climate change; biology and ecology of rare and endangered species; off-shore island ecology; species endemism and biodiversity. Contact Group(s): Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty; Cell Biology. |
| Entomology, e.g., taxonomy and systematics; insect pest management; biological control; invasive species; insect diversity and conservation; ecotoxicology. Contact Group(s): Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty; Cell Biology. |
| Evolution, e.g., co-evolution of hosts and parasites; speciation rates of mainland and off-shore island flora and fauna; phylogenetic relationships in various taxa. Contact Group(s): Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty;. |
| Human Movement and Sports Science, e.g., human movement & sports science- simulated altitude training, exercise and health relationships, physical activity and fitness levels of New Zealanders, and sports performance research. Contact Group(s): Social Science, Parks, Recreation and Tourism. |
| Microbiology, e.g., movement of bacteria through soil and in groundwater, diffuse microbial pollution, biological control of nematodes in animals; plant pathology, microbial biocontrol agents, soil microbial community structure and function; environmental tracking of microbes. Contact Group(s):Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty; Cell Biology; Soil and Physical Sciences. |
| Molecular Biology, e.g., molecular systematics/taxonomy, molecular plant pathology; DNA diagnostic tools, gene isolation, characterisation and expression. Contact Group(s): Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty; Cell Biology. |
| Plant Physiology, e.g., environmental impact on fruit crop development and yield; uv-b radiation effects on plant cell function; the physiological basis of mineral nutrition. Contact Group(s): Agriculture; Cell Biology. |
| Soil Science, e.g., nutrient cycling, transformations and bioavailability, heavy metal availability and toxicity, soil patterns and variability, landscape history and soil resource evaluation, forest soil processes, soil water relationships, soil quality and sustainability, leaching losses from soils, gaseous emissions from soils, climate change, plants and crops, organic waste application to soils; structure and function of soil microbial communities. Contact Group(s): Soil and Physical Sciences. |
| Toxicology, e.g., biochemical toxicology (p450 enzymes, xenobiotic metabolism, biomarkers); veterinary toxicology (mineral toxicities, chelation therapy, sporidesmin toxicity); environmental toxicology (heavy metal and stormwater pollution, endocrine disruptor chemicals); toxicopathology, toxicokinetics and risk assessment (earthworm neurotoxicology, 1080 toxicity). Contact Group(s): Cell Biology. |
| Water Quantity and Quality, e.g., groundwater quality and quantity, irrigation engineering, sustainable water management, waste disposal and pollution. Contact Group(s): Soil and Physical Sciences; Natural Resources Engineering. |