A powerlifting vegan with an interest in mudflat hydrodynamics has won this year's Stella Frances Scholarship awarded by Waikato Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.

Hamilton local Nicola Lovett was presented with the $5000 scholarship by chair Alan Livingston last month.

Originally hailing from the UK, Nicola is currently studying a Masters of Science degree at Waikato University with an earth science major.

'My research involves studying the hydrodynamics in the Firth of Thames estuary…and how that affects the sediment dynamics, particularly the effects of turbulence on sediment movement in vegetated areas.”

Nicola already has a degree in archaeology and prehistory, and has also previously had the opportunity to excavate a Bronze Age burial site in Greece.

'I came back to university after being a foster parent. I chose to do science because I wanted to be a scientist after working with Met Office scientists in the UK.”

In her spare time, Nicola does powerlifting and is hoping to compete eventually.

DOC and the regional council jointly sponsor this scholarship for students in the final year of a master's degree at the university.