Rate My Professor Nevil Pierse

Research Professor Nevil Pierse is based in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington, within the Division of Health Sciences. Originally from Ireland, he holds a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics, an MSc in Statistics, and a PhD from the University of Otago, where his doctoral research addressed the statistical challenges of the placebo effect in unblinded randomised trials. Prior to his current role, Pierse worked in research for four years in New Zealand and the UK. As a statistician by training, his career has focused on biostatistics in public health, particularly the design and implementation of natural experiments to improve home and community environments. He serves as co-leader of He Kāinga Oranga, the Housing and Health Research Programme, and leads the Housing First programme—a NZ$2.5 million partnership between the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, and The People's Project in Hamilton. This initiative examines the long-term effects of housing interventions for rough sleepers using Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure to assess impacts on health, education, benefits, and employment. Pierse also leads five housing and health projects on the integrated data infrastructure and works on the Healthy Housing Initiative, providing home interventions to prevent re-hospitalisation of children with housing-related diseases.