PhD student research in hospitality, tourism and events
The hospitality, tourism and events industries don’t wait around – and neither do our PhD students. From reshaping guest experiences for wheelchair users at beaches to defining Zealand’s contemporary culinary identity, their research dives into the issues shaping the future.
Our current PhD students
Anh Minh Bui
Thesis title: Positive vs. Negative Gossip in the Workplace: Moderating Effects of Social Media and Deepfake Technology on Brand Citizenship Behaviour
Supervisors: Peter Kim, Dan Zhu and Warren Goodsir
Sabio Chai-Udom
Thesis title: Deciphering Shadows: Exploring the Lives of Sex Workers in Thailand’s Tourism Industry
Supervisors: Richard Ajiee and Heike Schänzel
Serene Chen
Thesis title: A grounded theory study of mixed emotions in multigenerational family travel: Chinese filial piety cultural context
Supervisors: Heike Schänzel, Tracy Harkison and Claire Liu
Madz Crouth
Thesis title: Frontline Perspectives: Examining the Role and Readiness of Airline Employees in Combating Human Trafficking within New Zealand's Commercial Airline Sector
Supervisors: Alison McIntosh and Brielle Gillovic
Sunny Dong
Thesis title: Negotiating Tradition, Modernity, and Intergenerational Roles: Chinese Multigenerational Family RV Tourism in Western Contexts
Supervisors: Heike Schänzel and Claire Liu
Sophie Hayden
Thesis title: The embodied experiences of tourists using wheelchairs at beaches
Supervisors: Alison McIntosh and Brielle Gillovic
Prang Ittikul
Thesis title: イラマンテ- Amidst the Gods’ Hunting Ground: Expanding Food Sovereignty through Ainu hunting culture in Hokkaido, Japan
Supervisors: Tracy Berno and Welby Ings
Sarah Lee
Thesis title: Women in Wine in New Zealand: The missing voices of family winemaking businesses in West Auckland
Supervisors: Heike Schänzel and Paul Woodfield
Pauline Marie
Thesis title: Api-tourism as Regenerative Tourism in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Value(s)-based Approach
Supervisors: Tracy Berno and Heike Schänzel
Qian Meng
Thesis title: Leading by the head or the heart: Unveiling the impact of paternalistic leadership on employee performance from a social comparison perspective
Supervisors: Peter Kim, Pola Wang and Dan Zhu
Elena Moshakova
Thesis title: Solo women travellers: Sharing of sexual harassment or assault experience on social media
Supervisors: Shelagh Mooney and Heike Schänzel
Tram Nguyen
Thesis title: Nocturnal placemaking: A multi-stakeholder perspective on night-time tourism development in Ho Chi Minh city
Supervisors: Tomas Pernecky and Abrar Faisal
Robert Richardson
Thesis title: Seeking the edible aesthetic: In search of New Zealand’s contemporary culinary identity
Supervisors: Tracy Berno and Fiona Amundsen
Victor Robinson
Thesis title: Immigration, identity, and tourism: A critical analysis of domestic tourism experiences of East and Horn of Africa immigrants in New Zealand
Supervisors: Heike Schänzel and Richard Ajiee
Laura Upson
Thesis title: Uncovering the lived travel experiences of adults with endometriosis
Supervisors: Alison McIntosh and Brielle Gillovic
Bochen Xiao
Thesis title: Local Identity as a Governance Resource: Tourism Managers and Collaborative Heritage Governance in Shuhe Ancient Town
Supervisors: Alison McIntosh and Claire Liu
Explore our research expertise
AUT's academic supervisors are recognised world-class researchers who have the expert knowledge to guide you throughout your studies.
If you’re interested in applying to a PhD or MPhil, email doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz first to assess your eligibility for the programme.