Rate My Professor Nick Bowden

Dr. Nick Bowden is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Otago. He completed his PhD at the University of Otago in 2023, earning an Exceptional Thesis acknowledgement for his doctoral research on the health, education, and justice system experiences of autistic young people, analyzed using population-level linked data from New Zealand government agencies. Bowden also holds a Master of Commerce (MCom). As a quantitative social scientist, he specializes in harnessing the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure to explore intersections between health and non-health outcomes. His research focuses on health and social outcomes for autistic children, young people, and their families; associations between the physical environment and mental health; and educational outcomes for young people with type 1 diabetes. He leads projects investigating trends in autism prevalence and health service use, life course outcomes for autistic populations using population-level data, and health, labour market, and social service characteristics for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bowden has obtained significant funding, including a $124,442 Cure Kids Project Grant for research on autism prevalence and health service trends, an ANZMES research grant in 2023, and grants from the Otago Medical Research Foundation. He is a core member of the Quantitative Social Science Research Group at the University of Otago, and participates in the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes and Needs in Care (ICCONiC) and the Virtual Health Information Network (VHIN). Key publications include 'Autism spectrum disorder/Takiwātanga: An Integrated Data Infrastructure-based approach to autism spectrum disorder research in New Zealand' (Bowden et al., Autism, 2020), 'Case identification of mental health and related problems in children and young people using the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure' (Bowden et al., BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 2020), and 'Association Between High-Need Education-Based Funding and School Suspension Rates for Autistic Students in New Zealand' (Bowden et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2022). His work contributes to understanding disparities in neurodevelopmental conditions and informs health policy in Aotearoa New Zealand.