News
15th May, 2013
Department take part in Otago Peninsula Challenge
The Department of Physiology was out in force at the Otago Peninsula Challenge on Sunday, 12th May 2013.
12th February, 2013
Physiology staff recognised at OSMS Awards
Congratulations to Associate Professor Grant Butt and Mrs Dianne Galvin who received awards at the Otago School of Medical Sciences (OSMS) Awards 2012 ceremony on Thursday 7th February.
10th December, 2012
Masters student awarded prize for presentation at meeting
Congratulations to Aye Thaung, MSc student (supervisors Drs Regis Lamberts & Daryl Schwenke) from the Department of Physiology.
26th October, 2012
Physiology Professor gains 3-year Marsden grant
Congratulations to Professor Allan Herbison, Department of Physiology, who has been awarded a 3-year $950,000 grant from the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund.
28th September, 2012
Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) PhD & MD Student Speaker Awards
At the OMSRS meeting on 26th September, 10 students from the University of Otago were selected to present their research.




Since its establishment in 1905 the Department of Physiology has grown to become one of the largest Departments in the University, being home to approximately 100 staff. It makes major contributions to the undergraduate and postgraduate education of students in science, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical lab sciences, nutrition, and physical education.
The Department's 20 internationally-recognised research groups are supported in three broad research foci: Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience, Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiology, and Membrane Physiology & Ion Transport. Our research endeavours are enabled by state-of-the-art equipment and facilities including recently developed electrophysiology suites, a modern imaging unit, and cell, bacterial and tissue culture facilities.
More detail on the Department's history, its place within the University structure, staffing and administrative structure, research and teaching activities, and physical infrastructure is available here.
Doing a summer research project in Physiology gave me a good idea as to what it's like to actually work within a lab. This allowed me to break down that lecturer-student barrier and get to know people in the Department outside of studies.
For more information on the Summer Research Programme, click here