Overview
The College of Sciences – Te Wāhanga Pūtaiao is research-led. We provide transformative learning experiences to prepare our students for success in their chosen field and deliver globally relevant solutions to fundamental and applied scientific challenges.
We offer world-leading and unique programmes across our specialities. Our agriculture programme is number one in New Zealand according to global rankings, and our veterinary school ranks in the top 20 in the world.
At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practices.
How we fit
Our college is home to six interconnected schools and multiple research centres.
School of Agriculture & Environment
Examining interconnections between primary industries such as farming and forestry and our unique environments.

School of Built Environment
Industry-relevant teaching and research in construction, lighting, quantity surveying and sustainable buildings.

School of Food and Advanced Technology
Food science and engineering specialties to support New Zealand's export-driven growth.

School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
Maths, statistics and computing with a future focus and strong industry connections.

School of Natural Sciences
Teaching and research across the biological and physical sciences – including biology, chemistry, ecology and physics.

School of Veterinary Science
Ranked highly in the top vet schools in the world and internationally accredited.

Study with us
Fuel your passion for the sciences and build a great career. Our study options include:
- agriculture
- construction
- engineering
- materials science
- smart IT systems
- veterinary science
- wildlife ecology and more.
Who we are
Our people make us who we are. Meet senior leaders in the College of Sciences.

Professor Raymond Geor
Raymond Geor is a veterinary and agricultural science specialist with expertise in equine medicine, nutrition and sport science. After graduating from Massey with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 1983, he moved to Australia then the US for further study. He spent 30 years in academic roles in North America before returning to lead our College of Sciences in 2015.

Professor Paul Kenyon
Paul Kenyon's expertise is sheep husbandry. He undertakes a range of research at both the basic science and applied level. Paul has strong links with the sheep industry in New Zealand.

Professor Monty Sutrisna
Monty Sutrisna is Professor of Construction and Project Management, with practical experience as a leader in the construction industry in the UK, Australia and Indonesia. Monty champions close collaboration between academia and industry. Research interests include construction IT and artificial intelligence, construction contracts, and productivity.

Professor Julian Heyes
Julian Heyes is a professor of post-harvest technology, the science behind our global trade in fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. With a background in cell physiology, Julian's research focuses on growing the horticulture sector by connecting science to novel, high-value niche products.

Professor Chris Scogings
Chris Scogings' research focuses on agent-based modelling, including new algorithms to enhance performance. A dedicated teacher, Chris has received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2006) and Albany Lecturer of the Year (2005 and 2013). Chris has strong links to the local software industry.

Professor Jamie Quinton
Jamie Quinton's research interests include nanotechnology, physics and materials engineering – and he holds two patents. He joined Massey in 2022 after 18 years at Flinders University in Adelaide, where he won awards for lecturer of the year and a national teaching citation. Jamie is a Fellow of the Australian Institutes of Physics and a member of the British Institute of Physics.

Professor Jon Huxley
Jon Huxley joined Massey in May 2018 having previously worked in two UK vet schools. His clinical and research expertise is in dairy cow population health, particularly lameness and the impact of the housed environment on animal health and welfare.

Associate Professor Liz Norman
A trained veterinarian with a doctorate in education, Liz Norman's research focuses on the experiences and wellbeing of veterinary students. She has won teaching awards from Massey and Ako Aotearoa Academy of Tertiary Teaching Excellence.

Professor Jonathan Procter
Jonathan Procter manages Massey’s Volcanic Risk Solutions research group. Jonathan contributes to national and international research into volcanic hazards, hazard detection and simulation, and community resilience to natural and environmental hazards.

Professor Peter Lockhart
Peter Lockhart has worked closely with Pacific nations since 2004. His experience includes being the instigator of the UNESCO UNITWIN Network to create opportunities for Pacific students, and co-supervision of several Pacific students.

Professor Suzanne Wilkinson
Suzanne Wilkinson focuses on construction management and civil engineering. Suzanne's research interests include construction climate mitigation, construction innovation, disaster management, resilience, and smart cities.

Professor Simon Hall
Simon Hall's expertise is in chemistry. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he was a founding principal investigator in the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
Research
Massey demands excellence in our sciences-related research. The College of Sciences brings together experts from several disciplines to further knowledge and make a difference in New Zealand and the world.
Our researchers win grants and other funding from prestigious sources such as the Royal Society of New Zealand's Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau.
Consultancy
We often carry out research for partners outside Massey or collaborate with partners on certain topics or as part of long-term relationships. Our consultancy draws on expertise from within the College and around the university, offering fresh thinking.
Research projects
Explore a selection of research projects recently awarded grants from the Marsden Fund Te Pūtea Rangahau.
Greening economics as an engine for sustainable solutions to climate change
Human nutrition depends on agricultural production, which in turn relies on soils, climate, agricultural inputs, and farmers’ decisions. While increasingly more studies recognise the stochastic impacts of weather on desirable farm outputs, little is known about their impacts on undesirable outputs, such as leaching and emissions.
This project identifies the impacts on New Zealand farm outputs (desirable and undesirable) of:
- inputs
- soils
- weather, and
- climate change.
It also designs future policies capable of reducing farm negative externalities, while boosting sustainable agricultural productivity and profitability.
Modern analysis and geometry
This project addresses central areas in nonlinear analysis and low-dimensional topology and geometry. Using new developments in modern geometric function theory, we attack important and longstanding problems.
Building on our earlier work developing new approaches to higher regularity for distributional equations, super-regularity and studies of the degenerate Ahlfors-Hopf equation, we construct a variational Teichmuller theory for Riemann surfaces linking the classical and harmonic approaches. The partial differential equations will uncover new structure equations for moduli spaces linking these previous important but disparate approaches.
Does intra-nuclear aggregation of HDAC4 promote neuronal dysfunction?
Abnormal accumulation of HDAC4 protein in the nuclei of nerve cells has been implicated in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
In our Drosophila (fruit fly) model system, excess levels of HDAC4 also impair neuronal development and memory. This HDAC4 accumulation in nuclei results in the formation of protein aggregates, but it is unknown how they contribute to disease.
We will determine the protein composition of the aggregates and will investigate their role in neuronal dysfunction in our Drosophila model.
Identifying mechanisms that drive cultural evolution of song in natural songbird
Our research involves large-scale field experiments that quantify song diversity, social networks, and individual bird movements across fragmented landscapes. We will use three iconic NZ native birds, tui, korimako and tieke, to understand the roles of:
- social learning mechanisms (cultural transmission pathways)
- patterns of animal dispersal on the cultural evolution of song in wild bird populations.
Research teams
Examples of how Massey's staff and research students create and share new knowledge.
Artificial intelligence for automating responses to cybersecurity threats
AI can be a powerful tool to combat emerging cyber threats. Massey's Cybersecurity Lab works with Data61 (CSIRO, Australia) and top trans-Tasman universities to develop AI solutions.
These use the latest in machine learning and deep learning techniques to detect, classify, and respond rapidly against network intrusions and malware attacks.
MAF Digital Lab

A research centre applying advanced technology to the primary production, agricultural and food supply chain. We unite and leverage Massey’s diverse capability in precision agriculture, primary production science, horticulture supply chains, sensor technology, robotics, AI and data science.
mEpiLab
Massey's Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Laboratory (mEpiLab) focuses on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. We develop and apply new techniques to inform decision-making and improve the health of all New Zealanders.
Productivity in built environments
Research themes include digitisation, health and safety, off-site construction, and project management.
Research includes the flagship five-year programme Creating Capacity and Capability for the New Zealand Construction Sector. The aim is to boost:
- investor confidence in delivery
- stability of construction companies and resource planning
- confidence for people seeking training and education to work in construction.
Research centres
Our research centres seek innovative solutions to contemporary issues. Explore some examples.

Volcanic Risk Solutions
During volcanic events, we provide rapid scientific information to local governments, businesses and farms. We also develop scientific advances in volcanology within practical risk-management strategies for New Zealand and Southwest Pacific communities, business enterprises and government agencies.

New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS)
The institute aspires to be one of the world's leading centres in curiosity-driven fundamental research. We encourage and support academic scholarship at the highest level – the original, often speculative, critical thinking that produces major advances in knowledge, characterised by interdisciplinary clusters of elite scholars.
Rankings

QS Ranking - Veterinary Science
The Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as 29th in the world for veterinary science.

QS Ranking - Agriculture and Forestry
Massey is world-ranked and New Zealand’s No 1 university in agriculture according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings.

QS Ranking - Environmental Sciences
Massey University’s environmental sciences programme is ranked in the top 350 in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

QS Ranking - Biological Sciences
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 450 universities in the world for biological sciences.
Services and clinics
Massey clinics offer services for the public, as well as research or training for staff, students and business.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital's clinics
Our expert staff diagnose and treat many animal species, including:
- cats, dogs and other pets
- horses
- livestock and lifestyle animals such as alpaca and poultry
- native birds and reptiles.
We're open to the public and offer hands-on experience for veterinary students.

Food Innovation for business development
FoodPilot's Food Innovation offers advice, consultancy or commissioned research in any area of food science, food technology or the business of food. With extensive food industry experience, we can help with everything from brainstorming concepts to small production trials.

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

Photometric Laboratory
This state-of-the-art lighting laboratory includes specialist equipment to measure:
- colour rending and colour temperature
- dominant wavelength
- luminosity
- power, and more.

Massey Genome Service
Our lab provides sequencing services to New Zealand researchers and students, including:
- analysis of genomic DNA
- genotyping
- RNA and ABI sequencing.
Location: Manawatū campus

Manawatū Microscopy and Imaging Centre
The centre is available for use by organisations such as researchers, Crown Research Institutes, other teaching institutions, hospitals and commercial clients.
We have a team of specialists and offer:
- transmitted light and fluorescence microscopy
- electron microscopy
- image analysis.

Animal genetic services
Massey University’s InfogeneNZ offers the most comprehensive range of DNA-based genetic testing for animals in New Zealand.
Donate to the College of Sciences
We welcome your support in raising money to enable excellence in scholarship, teaching and research in the College of Sciences.
Scholarships and financial support
Massey offers students a range of awards, grants and scholarships to:
- help with fees and living expenses
- support academic and research excellence.
Contact the College of Sciences
College of Sciences – Auckland campus
- Location
Use our Auckland campus maps or find us on Google Maps.
College of Sciences – Manawatū campus
- Location
Use our Manawatū campus maps or find us on Google Maps.