Craig Bunt

Our latest preprint on the genomic epidemiology of flu over 10 years in NZ www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7...

We are hiring a #phage research assistant here in Christchurch to help with our phagesolutions.co.nz project. If you are looking for a rewarding job in a microbiology laboratory, please take a look! #NZLabLife
jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/a...

View from Rockefeller Bellagio conference center.

If someone would like to do a postdoc with me on the Stanford campus aimed at thinking about allocation of resources across different domains (climate, environment, food, health, education, wealth transfer, etc) to improve human welfare (balancing near-term and long-term goals), please contact me.

We're looking for three postdoctoral fellows to join us to work on this ambitious goal → bit.ly/3FqwX5Y

At the Wanaka A&O Show! Lucy and Leonore were fantastic ambassadors at our Ag@Otago stand. Proud to be showcasing Otago Uni's contributions to sustainable farming practices. Big thanks to everyone who visited! #AgInnovation #UniversityOfOtago #WanakaShow #SustainableFarming

Post-doc opportunity (three 2-year positions) in #NewZealand to work within our national Centre of Research Excellence in Complex Systems - @tepunahamatatini.bsky.social. www.tepunahamatatini.ac.nz/2025/03/07/p... 🧪 #complexity #networkscience #AcademicSky

FWIW, Dr Webby is a New Zealander, and a graduate of the University of Otago -

My department at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala has just advertised a position for senior lecturer/assistant professor in #anaerobic microbial #biotechnology. Application deadline is March 3rd. #microbiology #scijobs #AcademicJobs #AcademicSky

www.slu.se/en/about-slu...

Toitū te Tiriti o Waitangi

My Dad at ~19m10s

...if it's interpreted right, it’s a bloody good thing. It’s our only founding document, which a lot of people don’t agree with...but there’s no New Zealand without it, none at all.
– Rob Bunt

www.nzonscreen.com/title/lost-i...

Tātarāmoa berries

Matagouri berries

Matagouri thorns

When not distracted by the view it hiking on Saturday I did occasionally look down; mostly to avoid matagouri thorns, try to remember if matagouri berries are edible (decided to not try my luck), and have a little snack on tātarāmoa/bush lawyer berries (I do know they are edible and yummy)

Saturday's view after a little 1000m walk up from the hut :-)

Hike up the Jollie River last Friday

Students sample science life at camps If there is one thing you have to know about Caitlin White, it is that she loves science. This week, the Ellesmere College student joined 57 of her...

"...during a botany course yesterday..."

Actually it was an agricultural research theme course, but who can be upset being mistaken for botany, not me :-)

www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin...

Grear time this morning with a group of science academy students visiting the Jim Dunkley Heritage apple orchard; Aaron spoke about his master research sequencing the 200 varities, from Vinny we learnt about phages, and back in the lab some soil analysis. Thanks Leonore for the great pics!

Some eDNA fun from last semester: a water sample taken from the Leith, right in the heart of the Otago Uni campus! #eDNA
s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wilderlab.op...

Decades of indecision a weight on science sector Swift, decisive action needed to reform sector, scientists say.

And then this came out this week. Which I kinda think of as me saying "I hope it's not same wine new bottle." ;-)
www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/decades...

Lincoln professor gonged for animal research Racheal Bryant receives McMeekan Memorial Award from NZ Society of Animal Production.

Former colleague at Lincoln uni recieved summer very much deserved recognition.

And I have to confess the new name for the PEETER urine sensor I worked on with them is a big improvement on what I use to call it ;-)

www.farmersweekly.co.nz/people/linco...

Broader scholarship eligibility urged University of Otago students can now apply for a Ministry for Primary Industries’ scholarship programme aiming to increase support for farmers and...

Back in 2023 Otago Ag students questioned why only Lincoln and Massey students could apply for an Ag scholarship.
And in 2024 they were eligible to apply, well done and congratulations to Georgie the first Otago recipient :-)
www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/r...

Seems I haven't logged into this account in a while, been distracted, so what's been happening?

Hands down the most amusing title ever for an article that's quoted me.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350...

Medicinal marijuana company up for review Recipient of huge grant to be assessed on how it is tracking against its intended outcomes.

The second most amusing article where I'm quoted this week.
www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/medicin...

Let me count the ways I hate email:

1. I hate email.

Sorry if you were expecting more—that pretty much sums it up.

News Article: 'Deep concern' for future of universities ‍"There's a deep concern that that funding runs out in December next year; it would be effectively a drop on funding for the sector of about 8 percent at that stage and that would be catastrophic," Wh...

🇳🇿 Article about the serious concerns about the future of our universities. The upshot is that they are in danger of failing if this government continues to dramatically cut funding in both direct and indirect (research $) ways. This is not a drill.

Moved office last week. With a view like this, the only thing missing from the hand in the foreground is a glass of whiskey!

Students hungry for new degree Students in a new postgraduate qualification teaching about "farm-to-fork and beyond" are hungry to learn, a Dunedin professor says. University of...

It's refreshing to have been involved in establishing a second ag degree program—this time without the added challenge of a pandemic! 😉
www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/r...

Every single estimate of the real-world consequences of scaling up biofuels for a meaningful amount of energy is like:

Furry dog on a sofa, wood burner fire

WFH today.
Where's my usual WFH buddy?
At the other end of the house in the lounge, on the sofa, with the fire going, those half huskie genes aren't kicking in today I notice

30 years in science and my research still flips from Pharm to Farm ;-)
Review published recently;
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/3EIS27...

Small slab of whale bone for carving

I've sent some whalebone to my aunt, who's having something carved for her brother.
Now I have the urge to carve something myself. This urge hits me about once every five years—mostly because I tend to avoid sawing off a section by hand, takes forever!

ChatGPT and its gender bias with te reo Māori - Taiuru & Associates Ltd Gender discrimination is well documented with AI and LLM's. This article looks at the gender bias with Māori language translations.

taiuru.co.nz/chatgpt-and-...