University Research Medals awarded to eight exceptional researchers

The University’s Research Medals honour exceptional accomplishments in research, as well as research mentorship and leadership.

Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes, who chairs the selection committee on behalf of the University Research Committee, says these eight recipients have each made significant contributions across their respective fields of research.

"Our research medals recognise work that delivers real-world impact nationally and globally. The excellent nominations we received this year again demonstrate how Massey University researchers continue to produce world-class research that make a difference to the communities we serve. Congratulations to each of this year’s recipients—you represent the very best of our university."

Early Career Research Medal Winner - Ms Gwen Isaac

Ms Gwen Isaac is a Senior Lecturer in Te Rewa o Puanga School of Music and Screen Arts from  Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts. Since joining School of Design Te Rewa o Puanga in 2018, Gwen has built a distinguished research career. Ms Isaac produces documentary films that address societal issues and advance gender equity for women. Her creative work explores themes of social class, ableism, and how limited social and cultural circumstances affect mental wellbeing. Women’s stories have been traditionally underserved in cinema; Gwen’s work actively shifts this by centralising women as subjects in her projects. Her work is widely used as an exemplar in university curricula both internationally (Delaware University, USA) and nationally at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University, Waikato University, and the University of Auckland. Gwen is well respected by her colleagues which is testament to her collegial nature and research excellence.

Early Career Research Medal Winner – Dr Kealagh Robinson

Dr Kealagh Robinson's research addresses one of the most urgent challenges in mental health—reducing self-injury and suicide—through a rigorous and multifaceted approach. By uncovering the role of emotion dysregulation, designing targeted interventions for youth, and advancing research practices, her psychological research contributes solutions that are both theoretically robust and lifesaving. Her suicide prevention programme has achieved a remarkable 41.7 per cent reduction in suicidal behaviour among at-risk youth, and her expertise has informed government policy, World Health Organisation initiatives, and wider public discourse.

Dr Robinson is a Principal Investigator on a Marsden Fund Fast Start grant and has demonstrated exceptional ability to attract research investment. She has published 42 peer-reviewed papers, and almost a third of her papers published since 2020 rank among the top 10 per cent most cited worldwide, confirming her international standing and the global relevance of her work.

Individual Research Medal - Professor Mohan Dutta 

Professor Mohan Dutta is a multiple award-winning academic involved in extensive international collaborations focused on research that drives transformative social impact.

His work as Dean’s Chair and Professor of Communication and Director of the Centre for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE) has resulted in community-led solutions across 17 countries and more than 100 projects set up to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The community-led research collaborations he has built have shaped a wide array of community development projects, including community-owned food systems, hospitals, Indigenous cultural resources, educational infrastructures, systems for clean drinking water and community- and worker-owned advocacy and activist campaigns.

Professor Dutta has published ten books and 182 journal articles, with 36 per cent of his publications ranking among the top 10 per cent cited globally. His awards include the NCA’s 2025 Carol Arnold Distinguished Lecture, 2024 Global Communication Award, 2023 Gerald M Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship, 2021 Distinguished Scholar and ICA’s 2020 Fellow.

Individual Research Medal - Professor Steve Flint

Professor Steve Flint's impressive research record over his career in microbiology demonstrates the highest levels of excellence and impact nationally and internationally. Professor Flint leads a successful food safety and microbiology team commended for their ground-breaking work on research into the composition of microbial biofilms, which impacts the food safety, clinical, environmental, and veterinary fields. The team’s work is further defined by very impressive research outputs.

As a Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology, Professor Flint demonstrates strong publication metrics, and a commitment to applied research which addresses real-world problems; in particular, food production and health impacts. He maintains ongoing engagement with industry and is committed to developing researchers into industry-focused networks. Professor Flint's international collaboratiors include many of the highest globally recognised researchers and institutions in his field.

Supervisor Research Medal - Professor Cathryn Conlon 

Professor Cathryn Conlon is a nutrition and health researcher within the School of Sport Exercise and Nutrition recognised for having a profoundly positive influence on her students’ careers. Her supervision has substantially contributed to the School’s research profile and enhanced the College of Health’s reputation for producing skilled graduates ready for academia, research and professional practice.

Professor Conlon’s achievements include supervising 80 postgraduate students, with a 100 per cent completion rate and timely completions across Master's of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. She has secured more than $5 million in funding from prestigious bodies, consistently including students in grants and projects. Notably, 75 per cent of MSc theses she supervised were awarded an A grade, and all PhD completions were supported by Massey or external scholarships.

Professor Conlon has authored 100 peer-reviewed publications, with 60 per cent co-authored by students. Her students’ research has influenced national clinical guidelines, advanced Massey’s research strategy, addressed inequities in Māori and Pacific health as well as global nutrition challenges.

Teams Research Medal - The Healthy Active Learning Evaluation Team, led by Professor Ajmol Ali 

Professor Ajmol Ali's extensive research on physical activity, nutrition and wellbeing in children; involvement in nationwide projects and transdisciplinary networks laid the foundation for this team project. A competitive grant of $1.4 million was secured to conduct a comprehensive process and impact evaluation of a national initiative implemented in 40 per cent of New Zealand kura, aimed at improving student wellbeing over a six-year period. The team delivered four excellent evaluation reports for three government agencies covering sport, health and education. The team, which included three PhD students and seven Master’s completions, has produced eight research publications with two papers accepted pending corrections (and with several in preparation).  The team’s research is highly impactful, resulting in changes to Government policy around physical activity and nutrition environment in New Zealand schools, and because of its size and scope also attracted interest from overseas governments.

Exceptional Research Citizenship Whaowhia Ngā kete o Te Wānanga Research Medal - Associate Professor Emma Hudson-Doyle

Over the past 15 years, Associate Professor Emma Hudson-Doyle has built a reputation as a trusted and reliable advisor through relationship building and sustained guidance to the National Emergency Management Agency, Earth Science New Zealand, GeoNet, the Ministry for Business Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE), Department of Conservation, MetService, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). She has supported crisis communications in numerous responses from the Canterbury Earthquakes through to recent volcanic unrest, shaping policy to reduce disaster risk.

Her ability to bridge the science-to-policy gap is recognised through her secondment as Principal Advisor to the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, and her roles on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Earthquake and Volcanic Science Advisory Panels and the World Meterological Organisation’s  World Weather Research Programme Sub-Seasonal Applications for Agriculture and Environment Steering Group (2024–2029). She has secured major competitive funding, including co-leading an MBIE Endeavour programme, generating evidence to advance communication practice while also supporting colleagues and early career researchers.

Exceptional Research Citizenship Whaowhia Ngā kete o Te Wānanga Research Medal -Distinguished Professor David Johnston

The late Distinguished Professor David Johnston was an exceptional scholar who embodied the qualities of critic and conscience of society, providing regular expert commentary and calls for action in emergency preparedness and natural hazard reductions.

As Director of the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR) within the School of Psychology, Distinguished Professor Johnston consistently communicated the importance of human preparedness, well before scientists fully realised the need to go beyond understandings of disasters in terms of the physical world. Extensive research into human experiences of coping with, adapting to and enduring trauma resulting from natural disasters, provided Distinguished Professor Johnston with evidence to inform, persuade, and advocate action amongst scientists, agencies, politicians and communities, both nationally and internationally. His impact has been maintained over decades, not only in research but in policy and practice from small, localised communities through to government agencies in Aotearoa and globally.

Before he died suddenly in January 2025, Distinguished Professor Johnston made an exceptional contribution in educating and activating public interest in the issues of knowledge and preparedness for emergencies and reduction of harm from natural hazards.