Meet our research students
Hear from students who are part of our vibrant research community, get a taste of their exciting research and find out why the University was their No 1 choice.
![hine-funaki-3200x1800-1.jpg Hine Funaki is currently completing a Master of Arts in Education thesis](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0003/1355646/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
A place to belong
Hine Funaki explored views of the future for young Māori and Pacific people for her Master of Arts in Education thesis.
![nathan-ross_3200x1800-1.jpg International Law PhD candidate Nathan Ross](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0005/1355468/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Climate change and Pacific nationhood
International Law PhD candidate Nathan Ross is exploring what cultural rights Pacific ‘climate change migrants’ will have in a new country.
![luke-stevensen-3200x1800-1.jpg Biotechnology PhD candidate Luke Stevenson](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0004/1355494/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Salvation in the soil
Biotechnology PhD candidate Luke Stevenson is digging to discover new antibiotics from the bacteria in New Zealand soil.
![emma-tennent-3200x1800-1.jpg Psychology PhD candidate Emma Tennent](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0011/1355537/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Better supporting victims
Phone calls to Victim Support are analysed by Psychology PhD candidate Emma Tennent to identify patterns that could help it improve its service.
![amin-rastandeh-3200x1800-1.jpg Landscape Architecture PhD candidate Amin Rastandeh](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0004/1355575/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Safeguarding wildlife through landscape design
Landscape Architecture PhD candidate Amin Rastandeh looks at whether urban green spaces can help safeguard indigenous wildlife against climate change.
![alex-da-silva-sawczuk-3200x1800-1.jpg Alexandre Sawczuk da Silva is an Engineering PhD candidate](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0006/1355568/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Improving web service composition
Alexandre Sawczuk da Silva is an Engineering PhD candidate using evolutionary computation to find better ways to build programs.
![esme-franken-3200x1800-1.jpg Human Resources PhD candidate Esme Franken](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0011/1355618/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Examining public sector resilience
The often-changing public service can be a challenging place for workers—Human Resources PhD candidate Esme Franken looks at how to create resilience.
![adam-osbourne-smith_3200x1800-1.jpg Adam Osbourne-Smith, Master of Arts in Political Science student](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0014/1400720/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Dream of the dragon
Master of Arts in Political Science student Adam Osborne-Smith is sifting the truth from the spin in Chinese state media.
![ellaine-ete-rasch-3200x1800.jpg Nursing PhD candidate Ellaine Ete-Rasch](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0007/1355443/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Better health for Pacific kids
Nursing PhD candidate Ellaine Ete-Rasch is looking to find out what’s going wrong in health services for Pacific children.
![tim-smith-3200x1800-1.jpg Tim Smith, Master of Arts students](https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0006/1355676/varieties/ls_medium.jpg)
Examining Roman elections
Tim Smith’s Master of Arts research confirms our modern political systems owe a lot to events that occurred in Roman times.