School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences Staff
Head of School
Head of School - Food Technology & Natural Sciences - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Staff
Purchasing Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Assistant - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Technician - PC1 and PC2 Lab Compliance and Management - School of Agriculture and Environment
Associate Professor Phil Battley
Associate Professor in Zoology and Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am interested in ornithology in general, but specifically in bird migration, particularly shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. This work principally involves remote tracking of Bar-tailed Godwits and Red Knots from New Zealand. I am also the Subject Lead for Zoology.
Cetacean Research Officer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am a postdoctoral researcher within the Cetacean Ecology Research Group. My main research interests are marine mammal biology, ecology, and conservation. Specific interests include investigations on stranded and by-caught cetaceans; particularly in regard to life history, feeding ecology, and pollutants.
Professor in Computational Biology and Genomics - School of Veterinary Science
Professor in Genomics and Computational Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Assistant (Synthetic Chemistry) - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Louise Brough
Associate Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Tutor in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Alistair Carr
Associate Professor in Dairy Technology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Wildlife Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am a wildlife biologist with broad interests including animal behavior, parasite-host interactions, anatomy, morphology, sensory biology, and conservation. My research is on island species, particularly birds, but also introduced mammals and charismatic land snails. I have a passion for solving conservation problems, making new biological findings, and working with technology.
Associate Professor in Food Process Engineering - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Junior Research Officer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Chemistry Lecturer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Food Science - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor Cleland is Professor of Process Engineering in the School of Engineering & Advanced Technology. His research interests include industrial refrigeration, energy efficiency and food processing. He is an Honorary Member of the International Institute of Refrigeration and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning and Heating, and a Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers, Engineers NZ, the Institute of Refrigerating, Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers of NZ and the NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology. He is a Board member of the MacDiarmid Institute and the NZ Robotics Charitable Trust.
Senior Technician - Mechanical Workshop - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research and Teaching Laboratories Safety Operations Coordinator - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Postdoctoral Fellow - Immunodiagnostics - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Zoology and Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Engineering Services Manager - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Food Technology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Research Officer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Dr Amanda is a sensory scientist (and wine Sommelier) with expertise in different foods and beverages. Amanda received her PhD from University of Padua, where she investigated chemical and sensory aspects of verjuice. She continued her Postdoc study at University of Bolzano, where she worked on the application of high-resolution analytical techniques for the analysis of wines and distillates in relationship with sensory profile. She has a multi-disciplinary background in food chemistry and sensory analysis. Amanda acts as supervisor and co-supervisor of PhD, Master and Undergraduate students, with a supportive, positive and leadership style.
Senior Research Officer in Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I manage the Massey bioNMR facility. My area of expertise is the application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to chemical and biological problems. These include the study of protein, carbohydrate and RNA/DNA structure and dynamics as well as the structure determination of small organic molecules. I have experience with NMR-based metabolomics, which we can offer as a service, using our 700 MHz spectrometer (the most powerful in NZ). I also use NMR to study molecules and (liquid crystal) molecular systems under non quiescent conditions such as high pressure and under shear (rheo-NMR).
Professor in Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Helen Fitzsimons
Senior Lecturer in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am a molecular biologist with a background in genetics and neuroscience. My research focuses on investigating molecular and epigenetic mechanisms important for neuronal development and memory formation, and how their disruption contributes to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive deficits. I specialise in Drosophila neurogenetics, epigenetics, molecular biology, gene therapy, and neurological disease modelling, integrating advanced genetic and biochemical approaches to dissect the pathways that regulate brain function and disease. My teaching contributions include DNA structure and function, gene expression & regulation, and developmental genetics within the BSc program.
Professor of Food Safety and Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I came to Massey University after 20 years with Fonterra (New Zealand’s largest dairy manufacturer) as a food microbiologist. There I learned much about New Zealand's leading food industry, participating in problem solving and evaluating rapid methods for microbial analysis covering aspects of food safety and food spoilage. I have developed specialist research interests in biofilms, (which I studied for my PhD), spore formation, alternative methods for cleaning, sanitation and new processing technologies. I really enjoy teaching along with my passion for science.
I receifved the New Zealand Orator award for services to microbiology in 2021.
Senior Technician - Science - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
General and enviromental microbiology researcher and PI with independent research programme in microbial ecology, metagenomics, host-microbial interactions and bacteriophage-related technologies.
Associate Professor Gillian Gibb
Associate Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am interested in the molecular evolution of birds and animals. My research interests include New Zealand birds, island avian assemblages, the impact of the KT boundary on avian evolution, mitochondrial genome assembly, gene order, long branch attraction, phylogenetics and systematics.
I completed my PhD with Professor David Penny in 2010, and since then have undertaken postdoctoral positions at the Australian National University in Canberra, and the University of Montpellier in France. My previous research has revolved around mitochondrial genomes and phylogenetics of birds, marsupials and Xenarthrans (armadillos, anteaters and sloths).
Academic Director - Singapore/Professor in Food Biopolymers - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Packaging Technology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am a research officer and Lecturer in Packaging Technology. My two primary research interests are in food packaging and food oral processing. My research is mostly applied with some theoretical elements, the application of mathematical modelling is a central theme in both my research areas.
Associate Professor in Food Technology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I'm a cellular and molecular biologist whose research interests are focussed on chromatin biology and its dysfunction during tumorigenesis. Present research within my laboratory investigates the functional organisation of the genome within the nucleus, specifically the role of Heterochromatin Protein 1α, guanine quadruplex (G4) assemblies and histone H1 in mediating the partitioning of chromatin into domains of highly compacted heterochromatin . Also under investigation in the laboratory, is how the alter organisation of heterochromatin organisation, observed during tumorigensis, alters nuclear integrity thus contributing to the malignant phenotype.
Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Laboratories Safety Operations Coordinator - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Postdoctoral Fellow on Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Zoology and Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
The overarching theme of my research is understanding the composition, distribution and evolutionary history of New Zealand’s unique ecosystems. My primary focus is the rich, and largely endemic, marine mollusc fauna. However, I apply my broadly ranging expertise in genomics, ecology and evolutionary biology, to a diverse range of research topics involving New Zealand’s biodiversity, both native and exotic. As a Māori (Ngati Porou) scientist, I am increasingly focused on research collaborations with iwi/hapu. These projects generally involve working with Māori communities to build capacity and generate data that will inform enhanced kaitiakitanga.
Senior Lecturer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
My general research area is food physics. I enjoy uncovering the molecular processes that drive the physical and chemical changes occurring in food during manufacture and storage. My current area of emphasis is in the application of magnetic resonance techniques to analyse physical and chemical changes in foods and biological materials. The other area is non-newtonian fluids in food engineering. Currently investigating non-newtonian fluid behaviour during spraying drying.
Purchasing Officer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Prof Hort took up the position of Fonterra-Riddet Chair of Consumer and Sensory Science at Massey University in July 2017 moving from the University of Nottingham in the UK where she was SABMiller Chair of Sensory Science. Her research focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the factors effectng consumer perception of food and beverages and consequent choice behaviour. She is co-editor of a series of text books in Sensory Evaluation, author of over 100 research publications and Board member of the Pangborn Sensory Science Trust
Senior Technician - Food Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Emeritus Professor Geoff Jameson
Emeritus Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Lovedeep Kaur
Associate Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
- Featured among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2023-24 (Stanford University, USA);
- Associate Investigator- Riddet Centre of research Excellence, NZ;
- Associate Editor- Plant Foods for Human Nutrition (Springer Nature); by invitation
- Editorial Board- Trends in Food Science and Technology- IF 16, Rank#2 in Food Sci&Technol; by invitation
- Editorial Board- Scientific Reports (Springer Nature); by invitation
- Editorial Board- Translational Food Sciences (IFST-Oxford Academic); by invitation
- Editorial Board- Foods (MDPI), Food Science of Animal Products (Beijing Academy of Food Sciences), by invitation
- Co-editor-book, "Advances in Potato Chemistry and Technology", editions-2009, 2016, and 2025 (upcoming)
- Co-chair-International Symposium, Meat Chemistry, Processing and Nutrition (2022-25).
Senior Technician - Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Technician - Product Development - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Laboratories Safety Operations Coordinator - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Technical Study Coordinator - Consumer & Sensory Science - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer - Food Delivery, Jiangnan delivery - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Electronic Services Manager - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Laboratory Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Food Science and Technology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Lara Matia-Merino
Associate Professor in Food Science & Techology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Microbiology Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Laboratory Technician - Food Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Officer - Feast - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Technician - Product Development - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Maria Minor
Associate Professor in Ecology and Zoology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Soil ecology (focusing on ecology of soil invertebrates), systems ecology (focusing on the interactions between human land use and biodiversity) , New Zealand's Biological Heritage (focusing on diversity and conservation of native invertebarte fauna).
Postdoctoral Fellow - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Post Doctoral Researcher working on the development of oligonucleotide-based inhibitors of APOBEC3 Proteins, Research interests also include synthesis of novel modified nucleosides as transition state analogs of cytosine deamination, post-synthetic oligonucleotide transformations, and click chemistry.
Professor Mary Morgan-Richards
Professor in Evolutionary Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I am an evolutionary biologist working within the Ecology group (SoFTeNS) on the Manawatū campus. My research expertise is in hybridisation of genetically distinct populations or species, and the process of speciation. I teach ecology, population genetics, conservation biology, and New Zealand Natural History to undergraduate students. My graduate students use native invertebrates such as wētā, stick insects, marine snails and feather lice to test evolutionary hypothesis about the formation of new species and the distribution of genetic and adaptative diversity
Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Jon Palmer
Associate Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Lecturer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Officer in Zoology and Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Zoology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor Murray Potter is working both nationally and internationally to find practicable solutions to human-wildlife conflict. His areas of expertise include conservation biology, reproductive and stress physiology, avian nutrition, avian migration, entomology, kiwi, stoats, Adelie penguins and emperor penguins. His research interests include studies that integrate the ecology, physiology, behaviour and natural history of whole organisms within their natural settings, including how temporal constraints, stress, morphology and nutrition underpin and interact with an animal's behaviour and ecology. In particular he is interested in invertebrate and vertebrate behaviour, physiology, nutrition and conservation, and predator/prey population dynamics.
Head of School - Food Technology & Natural Sciences - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Filamentous phage biology, phage display, bionanotechnology; antibacterial development.
Professor in Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Evelyn Sattlegger
Group Leader - Molecular Biosciences - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
EXPERTISE and INTERESTS
>> Basic Biomedical Research aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms occurring in a healthy organism, how diseases and disorders develop, and how they can be prevented or treated. For example, we have recently discovered promising new anti-cancer drug leads We apply a variety of techniques in the fields of Molecular Biology/Genetics, Genetics, Cell Biology, to Biochemistry, Biotechnology
>> Applying molecular techniques in Food Microbiology, e.g. to detect disease-causing bacteria.
>> Teach and mentor undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, and emerging researchersSenior Lecturer in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Director - Manawatu Microscopy and Imaging Centre (MMIC) - Manawatu Microscopy and Imaging Centre
I am Director of the MMIC, Massey's imaging facility and a Senior Lecturer in Cell Biology. My laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular basis of male fertility. Specifically we focus on two fundamental processes, how chromosomes are accurately segregated during meiosis and the cellular events underlying sperm development. To investigate these we employ the Drosophila melanogaster fruit flymodel system and a multidisciplinary approach that combines quantitative live and fixed cell cell microscopy with molecular genetics and additional complementary imaging and analytical techniques.
Research Officer in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I’m a molecular biologist with a research interest in calcium dysregulation in skeletal muscle, specifically Malignant Hyperthermia. My focus at the moment is on determining the impact of variants in the human gene coding for the major skeletal muscle calcium release channel (RYR1) on calcium homeostasis .
Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I have established an internationally recognised research program on plant foods, carbohydrates and starch digestion at Massey University since 2004. The research programme has been successful in producing publications in top tier journals, attracting funding from external sources, building international research linkages and strengthening our human resource (students and young researchers). My research on plant foods contributes towards solving major issues such as food sustainability and food security. I am affiliated with School of Food and Advanced Technology and have also been appointed (2015-2021; 2021-2029) as Associate Investigator in the Riddet CoRE, NZ’s national centre of research excellence in foods.
Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Andrew Sutherland-Smith
Associate Professor in Molecular Cell Biology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
My research interests are in protein structure & function, biochemistry, and molecular cell biology. My lab is focused the relationship of protein structure to function with importance in a biomedical context relating structural and functional changes to disease mechanisms. I also have interests in protein biotechnology solutions to livestock/archaeal methane production with implications for climate change mitigation. My teaching contributions are into the BSc (Molecular cell biology, biochemistry and genetics), BAniSci and BVSc programs. Before taking a faculty position at Massey University I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge UK.
Senior Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Jennifer Tate
Associate Professor in Plant Systematics & Evolution - School of Agriculture and Environment
Associate Professor in Plant Systematics & Evolution - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Our research focuses on understanding the nature of plant speciation and diversification using a variety of approaches. We use molecular phylogenetics to test ideas of species relationships, taxonomy, biogeography, and character evolution. We also use morphological and molecular tools to understand different evolutionary processes affecting plant speciation, including hybridization and polyploidy (whole genome doubling) and plant mating systems. A recurrent theme of our research is to assess and understand the repeatability of evolution and its effects on morphological and genomic level traits.
Professor in Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
For complete information please visit our lab website.
Associate Professor in Food Microbiology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Evolutionary Ecology - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Officer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor in Physical Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
I have been on the academic staff in the Institute of Fundamental Sciences since 2003. In 2012 I was promoted to Associate Professor. I led the development and introduction, in 2009, of the Nanoscience Major in the BSc programme. I received my BSc(Hons) (1st Class) from the University of Otago in 1995 and my PhD, also from Otago, in 1998. My research interests include the development and characterisation of carbon nanomaterials and the application of Raman spectroscopy to complex analytical problems.
Senior Lecturer - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Professor Catherine Whitby
Associate Professor in Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Associate Dean - Postgraduate - College of Sciences
Catherine joined Massey as a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry in late October 2014. Prior to this she was an ARC Future Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Ian Wark Research Institute at the University of South Australia. She is a physical chemist with expertise in colloid and surface chemistry. She uses nanomaterials to modify the chemistry of drop and bubble surfaces. This strategy enables her to control the structure, stability and flow of soft materials. Her findings have been applied in food and pharmaceutical products and in drilling fluids.
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Electronic Services Technician - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Tutor in Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Professor - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Offshore Delivery Leader - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Technician - Chemistry - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Technician - Product Development - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Senior Technician - Molecular Biosciences - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
Research Associate - School of Food Technology and Natural Sciences
