Rutherford Foundation offers $250,000 research grant to bring kiwi scientists back home

Wednesday 12 November 2008

The Rutherford Foundation - set up early this year by the Royal Society of New Zealand with a million dollar per annum contribution from government – last night announced the establishment of the Rutherford Foundation Distinguished Fellowship, consisting of a research start-up grant of $250,000 for a New Zealand citizen returning to a permanent New Zealand position in science, engineering or technology. 
The announcement was made at the Science Honours Dinner in Wellington last night, attended by 380 scientists, technologists and educators from around New Zealand.
 
Said Chairman, Neville Jordan, “This is unashamedly designed to attract back our best talent from overseas; a research grant of this size will be compelling.  The trustees of the Foundation are very clear about its mission: that is to increase our creative capability in both quality and quantity.  Inevitably scientists will seek overseas experience, just as many scientists from other countries come here, but we want to ensure that more people who want to make their careers here, can do so.”
 
The Rutherford Foundation seeks to advance the education and career opportunities for young scientists and teachers.  This will include the creation of postdoctoral opportunities for scientists in this country, and the chance for them to study and gain experience overseas.  The Foundation will shortly announce two students selected to go to Cambridge University to study for their PhDs. These scholarships honour the memory of Ernest Lord Rutherford, one of the first overseas students to attend Cambridge University.  Rutherford received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 100 years ago on 10 December. 

For further details about how to apply for the Distinguished Fellowship, contact Rutherford.foundation@royalsociety.org.nz