AUT - Postgraduate
Postgraduate
A selection of current ISRRNZ students
Mathew Kritz
| Matt has a strong sporting history in the United States, where he competed in swimming, cross country, wrestling and basketball, decathlon, and rowing. He has also enjoyed rugby union, club water polo, adventure racing and surf lifesaving. A passion for sports extends to his career; he is currently the Senior Strength and Conditioning Specialist for the New Zealand Academy of Sport, where he is responsible for improving professional practice of all the strength and conditioning coaches, as well as overseeing the strength and conditioning programming of various sports including, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s water polo, BMX, netball, and swimming. Matt loves his job and is excited about being involved in the London 2012 Olympic campaign. Postgraduate study will help Matt to be able to answer questions from his work and develop his knowledge. The aim is to become a better strength and conditioning professional and better serve the athletes he coaches. Matt believes a major benefit of postgraduate study is immersion within a subject which allows more focused learning and better understanding of the subject and the industry. The qualification is not all important but it definitely removes obstacles and grants opportunities. Matt has found the combination of family, work and study life challenging, but certainly rewarding, and he does not regret the choice to study further. He has followed his supervisor John Cronin from USA, to Perth, to New Zealand, whose enthusiasm made these decisions easy. “He has been incredibly supportive, and given the perfect amount of guidance and encouragement.” |  |
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PhD Candidate Thesis Topic: Movement competency assessment battery (MCAB): Development and evaluation of kinematic procedures for valid and reliable estimation of faulty movement patterns |
Tom Vandenbogaerde
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Tom is currently the lead sport scientist for New Zealand Swimming, and works with top swimmers every day at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health. He could not resist applying for an AUT scholarship from his home in Belgium, because it was advertised that the applicant would be working with the elite New Zealand swim team, and professor Will Hopkins. Tom describes Will Hopkins as the “best supervisor [he] could wish for”, and a world class exercise physiologist and statistician. Tom’s vision for the future includes finishing his PhD and having at least one New Zealand swimmer on the podium at the London Olympics. His advice to those considering postgraduate study is to have a clear idea of your goals and how to achieve them; set and stick to deadlines; and work hard but also be patient. Postgraduate studies are important to Tom, because the experience will allow him to work anywhere in the world, at universities and with elite sports teams. |
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PhD Candidate Thesis Topic: Dietary strategies to enhance performance and recovery from training in elite swimmers Supervisor: Will Hopkins |
Maria Bentley
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Maria is originally from Hawkes Bay, and has worked as a musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapist in New Zealand and The United Kingdom. She currently lectures in Exercise Science full-time at UCOL in Palmerston North. Maria discovered her passion for research while conducing a Postgraduate diploma, and knew a PhD would further her career. Her goal is to work in a university setting, as a lecturer and researcher and develop her skills to become internationally recognised. The PhD will provide many opportunities and Maria is looking forward to networking with a diverse range of people. At times the sacrifices required of postgraduate study have been difficult, especially when it comes to socialising, but Maria recommends maintaining a balance and allocating time to spend with friends and family. Maria has enjoyed being able to relate to her supervisor, and she feels very comfortable communicating with him. She simply says “cheers AK!” |
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PhD Candidate Thesis Area: The female athlete triad and menstrual disturbances in physically active females Supervisor: Andrew Kilding |
Jon Turnball
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Jon works full-time as the Performance Manager for the New Zealand Academy of Sports Winter Performance Programme; and the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games are major current objectives. This work means that Jon spends up to six months of the year travelling with various teams ensuring athletes and coaches are on track towards their goals. In his spare time Jon enjoys rock climbing, tramping and skiing, and is a student of karate and life. The burning question Jon is working towards answering is “how can we do it better” and he applies this to sports performance of his teams, as well as his own career, studies and personal life. His supervisors have been supportive in the limited time Jon has due to his career, and their passion for his topic have been inspiring. They have encouraged Jon to publish some of his papers in international journals, an achievement he is exceptionally proud of. Jon recommends postgraduate study as it provides the direction and skills to answer his question of how to do things better. One should never stop learning, searching and being critical and choices and decisions one makes. The qualification will also be internationally recognised and add conviction to his work and life experience. |
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MSc Candidate Thesis Topic: The adaptation of current competitive snowboarding into a performance sport. Supervisor: Justin Keogh |
Jennie Coker
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Jennie is an experienced rower from the UK, currently working towards her PhD. The applied nature of her PhD allows Jennie to work and conduct research simultaneously, allowing her to gain a postgraduate qualification and valuable work experience, which will ultimately enhance her employment opportunities. Her work with Rowing New Zealand at Lake Karapiro, involves providing biomechanical feedback to elite rowers, and the use of instrumentation systems for research. Her goal is to finish her PhD and pursue a career as an applied biomechanist. Jennie advises any prospective postgraduate students to “pick a subject that really interests you!”. Jennie is very appreciative of her supervisor, Patria who responds quickly to questions, and advises Jennie through her work in a structured manner. Even though she is working from a distance she is coping well with the workload. |
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PhD Candidate Thesis Topic: Rowing Biomechanics: Using a boat instrumentation system to measure and improve elite on-water sculling performance Supervisor: Patria Hume |
Taati Heke
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Taati is a sports fanatic, who has been playing rugby since he was a “young fella”. After working for 10 years he decided to pursue his passion for sports and exercise science by beginning a degree, which lead to postgraduate study in exercise physiology and injury rehabilitation. Taati currently works as a Physiotherapist for the Waikato (Tainui) Maori Seniors and Colts Rugby teams, and assists with coaching, as well as working at Fonterra. AUT was Taati’s choice due to the greater research resources, facilities and supervisors. His supervisors have been encouraging and supportive, and were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of the hormonal response to training. The combination of study, work and family can be challenging for Taati at times (he has two children, and a third on the way!), but he has been able to find a balance with the support of his family. Postgraduate study will provide him with further research possibilities, greater earning potential, and job opportunities. To prospective postgraduates Taait says “go for it!” The commitment and hard work are rewarding and well worth it. |
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MSc Candidate Thesis Topic: The effect of two equal volume resistance training protocols (full body and split body) upon muscle strength and hormones in strength trained males during a training period Supervisor: Justin Keogh |
Scholarships
In conjunction with the New Zealand Academy of Sport and several National Sports Organisations, ISRRNZ has awarded a number of sports specific PhD scholarships. The scholarships provide fees, $25,000 stipend and some research expenses.
The aim of these scholarships is to conduct a series of studies to advance knowledge in the specific sport science discipline while providing integrated high perfromance sports science services.