Liz
Carpenter (PhD) is an immunologist at AgResearch, Ruakura. Liz leads a research group working on the
development of Hyperimmune Milk through vaccination of dairy cows. The project involves basic research through
to addressing questions on commercialisation of a high-value dairy product. She
has also initiated a new programme to examine the link between consumption of
raw milk and reduced incidence of allergies.
Liz has a strong connection to Dunedin, being a BSc(Hons) graduate of the University of Otago and having taught at Queens High School for two years. She then moved to Canberra, Australia to complete a PhD in Immunology. Since then Liz has worked on vaccine research in New Zealand, Kenya and Scotland before returning to NZ in 2001. In the past 8 years, Liz has taken a keen interest in talking about science and immunology to school groups and community groups. She has presented research findings to international visitors and at Farmer Open days with AgResearch. Liz was awarded the NZ Association of Scientists Science Communicator Award in 2006 and the Hamilton Science Excellence Award for Science Education/Communication in 2007 as recognition for her involvement with school and community groups in the Waikato region. Liz is involved with the Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS), as a national executive member and convenor of the local Waikato branch.