DoctorEssie Van Zuylen

Ko Takitimu, ko Uruao, ko Makawhiua kā waka

Ko Kāti Waewae, ko Kāti Wheke, ko Ngāi Tūāhuriri, ko Rakaiwhakairi kā hapū

He uri tēnei nō Kai Tahu me Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa

Mauri ora

I am a Research Fellow Microbiologist based in the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, UC and supported by the Biomolecular Interaction Centre, UC. My research background spans anaerobic bacterial pathogen physiology, human and ruminant gut microbial health, antimicrobial drug discovery, fungal engineering, and natural products research. 

Currently, my research focuses on weaving Kaupapa Māori and scientific methods to understand the endemic psilocybin-containing mushrooms of Aotearoa, particularly the genus Psilocybe, with the aim of improving the accessibility of psilocybin as a medicine/rokoā, as well as our understanding of these taoka species for enhanced hauora māori outcomes.