Nelli Zaiko joined CERG, Massey University in March 2026 after graduating from the University of Otago in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science. Nelli is currently employed as a Laboratory Technician at Sequench, a DNA sequencing company in Nelson. Nelli's MSc research will focus on the gut microbiome of marine mammals, using advanced sequencing techniques to characterise microbial communities in relation to age, sex, reproductive status, and pathology, with focus on how gut microbiome diversity correlates with overall health status.

 

PhD Project:

 

Gut microbiome of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in New Zealand. 

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Supervisors:  Prof Karen Stockin and Dr Emma Betty