Dr Sivajanani Thiruchchenthuran

Originally from Sri Lanka, Dr Sivajanani Thiruchchenthuran pursued her PhD in Animal Science, specialising in poultry nutrition. 

“I was a lecturer back home before coming to New Zealand. I received a scholarship to study here, and that opened the door for me to begin this journey.”

Like many international students, Sivajanani’s plans were impacted by the global pandemic. Due to border closures, she spent her first year working remotely from Sri Lanka before finally arriving in New Zealand in 2022. Despite the disruptions, she completed her PhD in four years.

Reflecting on the journey, she acknowledges the challenges but also the strong support network that helped her succeed. “It was a hard journey, but my supervisors and my family supported me well. Somehow, I finally did this, and all credit goes to my supervisors.”

When asked what advice she would give to current and future students, her message is simple but powerful: “Keep studying. Keep learning. You can achieve many things.”

Looking back on her time at Massey, Sivajanani expresses deep gratitude. “It was such a nice journey. I really thank Massey University for giving me this opportunity. I learned a lot from New Zealand, and I’m very grateful to everyone who supported me during my time here.”

Sivajanani is looking forward with excitement to seeing what the future holds for her.