PhD in NZ helped Lesley land a job in Germany & publish in a leading global journal

His work focuses on the origins of humankind, using DNA from archaeological skeletal remains to study cells and diseases, including historical plagues.

Lesley’s exceptional career took off after completing his PhD in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology at Lincoln University in New Zealand’s South Island, where he worked with some of the best researchers and scientists from around the world. Studying in New Zealand gave him the knowledge and confidence to present his research to influential people and ultimately led to him being published in Nature magazine, a prestigious publication within the global research community. Lesley’s thesis focused on improving farming practices, specifically within the dairy industry, which is New Zealand’s most valuable export sector. He worked with talented New Zealand scientists analysing the genetic makeup of grass grubs and identifying genes associated with disease traits.

Lesley describes taking his PhD in New Zealand as a well-rounded experience. He was able to work in high quality laboratories, visit farms, and study many different types of pastures. He enjoyed working with his colleagues and was particularly impressed by New Zealand’s unique style of teaching. He found the collaborative style of teaching here an exciting and dynamic way to work and because he got to meet so many talented people, he was able to build up valuable networks.

Explore courses in New Zealand that could help set you up with a great career

During the four years he was here Lesley got to learn more about New Zealand’s culture and history. He learnt about Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi), an important founding document signed in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and Māori chiefs. He also took to a new hobby, learning how to carve Māori designs on cow bones to create necklaces and pendants. He completely embraced the natural beauty of New Zealand, enjoying hiking in the mountains, visiting golden beaches and trying his hand at the unique pastime of gumboot (rubber boot) throwing. (Yes, this is a ‘sport’ in New Zealand, where competitors are required to throw a gumboot as far as possible.)

Lesley’s New Zealand PhD was recognised in Germany as a world-class qualification and was highly valued by his employers at The Max Planck Institute where he now works.

All of New Zealand universities are in the top 2% of universities worldwide as ranked by QS World University Rankings.

Lesley feels that his time in New Zealand gave him the best education he could wish for. He enjoyed studying in a less pressured environment, interacting with diverse cultures and trying new things. Living and studying in New Zealand gave him the specific skills he needed for his career and pushed him out of his comfort zone giving him the belief he can do anything he puts his mind to. With his job at a leading research institute in Germany and his work being published in a prestigious journal he feels he has reached his highest achievement — but he’s not done yet. He now has his eye on getting tenure and advancing up the career ladder even further to full professor.

If you’re ready to pursue your research passion and accelerate your career like Lesley did, take a look at New Zealand’s PhD courses. A PhD gained in New Zealand will be recognised around the world, identifying you as an expert in your specialty. You’ll develop valuable transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and independence, and gain a competitive advantage in a knowledge-based global job market. New Zealand offers world-class doctoral research opportunities and a life experience like no other.

Find PhD programmes

Whether you’re starting out on your education journey or pursuing higher education, it can be hard knowing what courses to study.  

Start by thinking about your strengths, your values and what sort of lifestyle you’d like to lead in the future.  Try talking to people in jobs you're interested in about what they do, the skills needed for the job and what study they did. 

Doing a little research now and really thinking about what’s important to you in life will helpguide you along the right career path.  

New Zealand offers flexible study options such as global pathways and online courses that can help you decide not only what you want to study but also how you study. 

You may also get the opportunity to work part-time while you study and if you choose, full-time during holidays.  

Find out about working while you study

Your chosen career may mean studying for further qualifications like a master's degree or a PhD. New Zealand's higher education system offers a wide range of programmes and education providers to choose from, in any region of the country.  

Find out about NZ courses and study programmes 

If you complete a qualification in an area that is skilled and in demand in New Zealand, you may be able to continue working here by applying for a different type of work visa or a skilled migrant visa. 

Find out more about a post study work visa