Research Centres & Facilities
University of Otago has some of the best research facilities in the country, with recent additions of a new research vessel, the centre for trace element analysis and others increasing the range of research opportunities available.
ADHD clinic
This clinic facilitates research on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the Department of Psychology. An independently run unit, the Clinic maintains close links with the Departments of Paediatrics and Child and Family Services at Dunedin Hospital. Broadly defined, past and present research at the clinic includes studies on the diagnosis, aetiology, and management of ADHD and spans the areas of clinical psychology, applied behaviour analysis, and neuroscience. It also provides assessment and limited intervention services to children and families in the local community.
AgResearch Molecular Biology Unit
The AgResearch Molecular Biology Unit is a successful partnership between AgResearch, a Crown Research Institute, and the University of Otago.
It is the national centre and an international leader in the application of sheep and deer gene maps for agricultural and biomedical research.
Campbell Micro-analytic Laboratory
The Campbell Micro-analytical Laboratory is an analytical unit within the Department of Chemistry. It specializes in the elemental microanalysis of research, environmental and industrial samples.
Centre for Applications of Stats and Maths (CASM)
The Centre provides advice on design, sample size, data collection procedure, data quality control and assurance, as well as data modelling and analysis using standard and non-standard statistical methods.
Centre for Neuroendocrinology
The Centre for Neuroendocrinology explores the neuroendocrine control of reproduction, in particular the regulation of neuronal structure and function by reproductive hormones. The neurological and neuroendocrine adaptations of the maternal brain, Hyperprolactinemia and infertility. Particular interests are in the neurobiological and neuroendocrine adaptation to different reproductive states.
In addition to the work described above, the lab maintains a number of active collaborations in areas of neuroendocrinology, with groups from University of Queensland, Australia; University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA; Tufts University, Massachussets, USA; and University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
ChemSearch
ChemSearch holds IANZ accreditation (ISO17025) for a large number of tests. The laboratory performs environmental analysis as well as research and development, occupational heath monitoring, consultancy and training.
Clothing and Textiles Centre
The Centre provides research and advisory services for the apparel, textiles, and leather sectors and groups requiring technical and scientific information on various forms of protective clothing. Facilities include instruments for determining physical properties of fabrics, yarns and fibres (e.g. tensile, impact, abrasion, microscopic) and sensory properties of fabrics and garments (e.g. tactile, visual). Climate-controlled facilities are also available.
Cognitive Ergonomics and Human Decision-making Laboratory
Research projects on aeronautical decision making, safety, situational awareness, understanding weather forecasts, simulation and flight performance. Several research projects utilize our latest flight simulator which is set in a fibreglass cab equipped with a Precision Flight Controls Cirrus II Flight Console featuring fully functional analog flight controls along with a heavy-duty metal yoke. Flight instruments are presented on two 15" LCD flat panel monitors and can be configured to show a radio stack or moving-map GPS. The external view is produced by a high-resolution NEC WT600 short-throw projector and is viewed through a glass windshield.
CSAFE - Centre for Study of Agriculture, Food and Environment
This is an interdisciplinary centre working on sustainabilitiy issues and their social impacts. It builds on the longitudinal study ARGOS which has operated for 30 years as a collaboration between Drs Hugh Campbell and Henrik Moller.
Disease Research Laboratory
The DRL provides the scientific resources to study immunological markers associated with protection or disease caused by the Mycobacterial infections. Interactions between natural infection, vaccination, and experimental infection are covered in the work done by the laboratory.
GLIMS-NZ
The School of Surveying and the Department of Geography set up the
"Global Land Ice Monitoring from Space" New Zealand Office. GLIMS-NZ
- collaborates with the US Geological Survey-led international GLIMS
- program whose aims are to map world glaciers and extract glaciological
- information through the use of satellite imagery. GLIMS-NZ research also
- involves mapping and modelling seasonal snow cover.
Human Performance Centre
The HPC is an applied research division of the School of Physical Education at the University of Otago . It is a multidisciplinary group dedicated to investigations that help to monitor and enhance human performance.
Jack Dodd Centre for Photonics and Ultracold Research
The Jack Dodd Centre is a world-leading research unit exploring Bose Einstein condensate and the behaviour of ultra-cold atoms. The research group comprises leading theorists as well as experimentalists, and active collaborations worldwide.
LINZ ®Activity & Health Research Unit
The LINZ ®Unit facilitates public health research, from inception and design of projects to collection, analysis and reporting of results. The Unit has a number of consultants, including nutrition, medicine, biostatistics, kinesiology, leisure and psychology.
Marine Science and Aquaculture Research Centre
The Portobello Marine Laboratory is home to a wide range of research projects which make the most of Otago's unique coastal environment. Research topics include marine conservation, ocean physics, marine biology and ecology, and aquaculture. The research vessel RV Polaris II effectively extends the research range of the Portobello Laboratory.
Metabolic Facility Department of Human Nutrition
This unique facility provides clinic rooms for venepuncture and anthropometry, as well as kitchen and dining facilities. Studies conducted include projects in diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance, weight loss, weight maintenance, obesity prevention, toddler nutrition, trace element status, vitamin status and sports nutrition. Departmental laboratories provide a range of analyses (GCMS available). The facility works closely with the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research.
National Energy Research Centre
The National Energy Research centre is an interdisciplinary collaboration exploring sustainable energy generation as well as energy-efficient industrial applications.
Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy (OCEM)
The Centre is well equipped for ultrastructural studies. It has a Philips CM 100 transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a Philips 410LS TEM. Both TEMs are fitted with Megaview digital camera system s . The Centre also has a JEOL 6700F field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and a Cambridge S360 conventional SEM. The FEGSEM is fitted with an Alto high resolution cryostage for working with frozen hydrated samples and an elemental analysis (EDS) system. The Centre has particular expertise in ultrastructural immunoccytochemical techniques and both TEM and SEM cryopreparation techniques. The Otago Centre for Confocal Microscopy operates in conjunction with OCEM . (contact Andrew McNaughton )
Otago Genomics Facility
The Otago Genomics Facility provides researchers with the ability to analyse patterns of human gene expression in normal growth and development and in disease. Equipment in the facility includes a robotic DNA microarrayer, four colour laser fluorescent scanner, robotics for DNA preparation and a laser dissection microscope.
Otago Palaeomagnetic Research Facility
The Otago Palaeomagnetic Research Facility is a nationally available state of the art palaeomagnetic research facility which is centred around a specially constructed "magnetic field-free room" and a purpose built automated high-sensitivity, high-resolution, long-core cryogenic magnetometer designed and constructed by 2G enterprises (USA).
Plant Extracts Research Unit (PERU)
This Unit is a collaboration between Crop and Food Research and the University of Otago. Researchers are investigating New Zealand plants for natural products with potential as new pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
Compound structures are identified by spectroscopic methods, particularly nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with molecular modelling.
Protein Microchemistry Facility (PMF)
Otago's PMF offers sensitive identification and analysis of proteins, amino acids and other macromolecules. Amino acid analysis and automated N-terminal sequencing are available with low picomolar sensitivity. Proteomic research is supported with supplies and equipment for two-dimensional electrophoresis, complemented with mass spectroscopic analysis by specialist operators. The PMF offers both MALDI-TOF and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, with the option of on-line chromatographic separation.
Product Development Research Centre
The Centre undertakes comprehensive research programmes to improve commercial profitability and assist with product development for the food industry. Researchers' expertise includes product development, food chemistry, encapsulation and controlled release, flavour science, food microbiology, malting and brewing science/technology and lipid technology.
Sensory Science Research Centre
Areas of research include
- perception of smell, taste, pungency, touch, appearance and internal sensory states (eg hunger)
- Factors which modify sensory perceptions
- Preferences and other behaviours shaped by sensory perceptions.
The centre has a Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer
SERF
The Spatial Ecology Research Facility (SERF) is a computer laboratory dedicated to the application of remote sensing, GIS, and GPS technologies to wildlife ecology and management. Research projects include habitat and landscape mapping, as well as modelling of habitat use and resource selection, population distribution and abundance, intra- and inter-specific interactions of wildlife species.
Centre for Trace Element Analysis