The Proposal Guidelines are available as a PDF: Proposal Guidelines
(PDF, 844 kB)
On this page:
- Proposal guidelines for APPLICANTS
- Background to the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships
- Objective
- Scheme Operation
- Eligibility Criteria
- Flowchart of key eligibility criteria at the time of application
- Selection Criteria
- Additional Rules
- Timetable
- Instructions for applying / using the portal
- Additional information for applicants
- Enquiries
Proposal guidelines for APPLICANTS
Background to the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships
The Rutherford Discovery Fellowships are administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand (the Royal Society) for the New Zealand Government.
The Fellowships will develop and foster the future leaders in the New Zealand science and innovation system. They will attract and retain New Zealand’s most talented early- to mid-career researchers and encourage their career development by enabling them to establish a track record for future research leadership. It is expected that Fellows, throughout their careers, will contribute to positive outcomes for New Zealand.
Receipt of a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship is expected to have significant value in the future career development and leadership potential of a researcher.
Objective
The objectives of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships are to support the development of future research leaders, and to assist with the retention and repatriation of New Zealand’s talented early- to mid-career researchers. The scheme will support early- to mid-career researchers to develop a strong track record, allowing them to compete with the best researchers in New Zealand and the world for mainstream research funds.
Scheme Operation
The scheme will award a contribution of $70,000 per year towards the researcher’s salary, $60,000 in research related expenses, and $30,000 per year for the host organisations to support the Fellow’s research programme.
Fellowships are awarded on a full-time basis of which at least 85% (or 0.85 FTE) of the Fellow’s time must be dedicated to the research objectives identified in the proposal, unless an exemption to this requirement has been approved by the Royal Society. The remainder of their time may be used for other research, teaching and non-research related development opportunities.
As a condition of the Fellowship, Fellows will participate in an annual workshop organised by the Royal Society. These workshops should provide multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional links across the science and innovation sector.
At the end of the Fellowship period Fellows will present the findings and demonstrate the impact of their research at an appropriate forum identified by the Royal Society.
Eligibility Criteria
The award criteria must ensure successful proposals are consistent with the background and objectives of the Fellowships stated above. The award criteria will be based on the following eligibility and selection criteria.
The Rutherford Discovery Fellowships are open to early- to mid-career researchers with the potential to become leaders in the New Zealand science and innovation system. For the purpose of this scheme, early-to mid-career researchers are researchers whose doctoral degrees were conferred between three and eight years prior to the year in which the Fellowship is awarded.
Applicants must:
- be either New Zealand citizens or applicants who have continuously resided in New Zealand for at least three months prior to their application and hold, or are deemed to hold, a New Zealand resident visa.
- be associated with a New Zealand-based research institution that can provide the appropriate support and facilities to enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship for the full five years of the Fellowship’s term.
Flowchart of key eligibility criteria at the time of application
Selection Criteria
|
Research Quality |
Leadership Quality |
|
|
Table 1. Assessment criteria
In the case of applicants of the same calibre, preference will be given to applicants who:
- do not already have tenure or equivalent, or
- who are living overseas and will use the Fellowship to return to New Zealand to continue their research careers.
Proposals are assessed on the information provided in the application, the accompanying forms and the applicant’s self-nominated referee reports.
For the current funding round the following weightings will be used:
- Calibre of the applicant as a researcher 60%
- Calibre of the research programme 20%
- Calibre of the applicant as a research leader 20%
Additional Rules
- If the applicant is not already an employee of the host institution, the host must agree to employ the applicant for the duration of the Fellowship.
- An applicant may make only one application for a Fellowship in any one application round.
- Where an applicant has previously submitted an unsuccessful application, they should discuss their subsequent application with the Fellowship Coordinator before reapplying.
- Successful applicants must commence their programme of research within a year of the award notification.
- The Fellowship is open to applicants from the life and physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, humanities and social sciences.
- The Fellowship is open to fundamental and applied researchers.
- Private research companies need to contact the Secretariat of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships to check eligibility as a host institution.
For the 2013 funding round the eligibility of the PhD conferral timeframe is between 01 January 2005 to 31 December 2010. Reasonable absences from a research career are permitted, for instance to take parental leave or for extended sickness leave. If there is doubt about eligibility, please contact the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships Secretariat to obtain a ruling. Documentation may be requested to support any claim for exemption to the 3-8 year post-PhD conferment rule.
Timetable
|
Date |
Activity |
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06 Mar 2013 |
Proposals On-Line web-based application system opens. |
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10 Apr 2013 |
On-Line web portal closes at 5 pm. |
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08 May 2013 |
Deadline for receipt of applicant-solicited referee reports to the Secretariat of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships at 5 pm. |
|
Late Jun 2013 |
After review of the applications by the discipline-based panellists, the ranking and recommendations are returned to the Secretariat. |
|
Early Jul 2013 |
The Long listed proposals are sent to the interview panel. |
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Late Jul 2013 |
The interview panel selects a short list of candidates to interview. |
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19-23 Aug 2013 |
Interviews conducted by the interview panel. Dates to be confirmed. |
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Late Aug 2013 |
The interview panel selects successful applicants. |
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Mid Sep 2013 |
Results announced. |
Table 2. Timetable for 2013
Instructions for applying / using the portal
Before beginning the process of applying please ensure that you have read the information available on our website: http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/funds/rutherford-discovery/
Proposals On-Line
- Proposals for 2013 are to be submitted on the web-based system, Proposals On-Line.
- Researchers must contact their host institution’s research office coordinator to obtain their login details for the Proposals On-Line system.
- Researchers should write their proposals directly into Proposals On-Line using the forms and templates provided (these can be downloaded from Proposals On-Line) with the original formatting retained.
- Separate instructions on using Proposals On-Line are available. However, guidelines provided here in the 2013 Proposal Guidelines for Applicants should also be referred to as they contain background information about the Fellowships and what information is expected in each section of the proposal.
- Please note that paper copies are not required when submitting a proposal through the web using Proposals On-Line. However, a signed hard copy of the declaration (section 15) of each proposal will be required. Proposals On-Line has a document printing facility which should be used to print the final page of the proposal. It may also be used to print the entire document for checking and your own records.
- The layout of the entire application on Proposals On-Line is automatic. The limit on space in all sections of the templates should be adhered to and the typeface should be 12 point, Times or of similar size font, single spacing (12 point), with margins of 2 cm on the left and 2 cm on the right sides of the page. Instructions may be removed, but not the margins. No additional pages or attachments will be accepted other than where requested or required.
Application numbers
Your login and application number can be obtained from your institution’s research office. Please contact them if you are interested in applying. When you have received your proposal logon to Proposals On-Line, a unique application number will automatically be generated at the top of each page of the application form, along with your name and initials as the Principal Investigator.
The example below shows Dr AB Jones has applied to the Life Sciences panel with 6 years’ worth of post-PhD research experience (R6).
|
Post-PhD |
Applicant’s Surname |
Initials |
Proposal Number |
Panel |
|
R6 |
Jones |
AB |
RDF-13-DUM-001 |
LFS |
The following notes are for assistance with filling out the application form
1. Identification
This section is for personal details. It identifies who you are and where you can be contacted most readily. Complete this section, providing all details. If any of your contact details should change at any stage after the application is submitted, please inform the Royal Society as soon as possible.
2. Eligibility
Scan and upload a copy of your academic transcript showing when your doctoral degree was conferred. The original or certified copies of the documents will be required if you are invited to interview. This information will NOT be released to the panellists.
Scan and upload proof of citizenship or permanent residency. The original or certified copies of the documents will be required if you are invited to interview. This information will NOT be released to the panellists.
From the Terms of Reference for the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships the selection criteria state that in the case of applicants of the same calibre, preference will be given to applicants who do not have tenure or equivalent; or, who are living overseas and will use the Fellowship to return to New Zealand to continue their research careers. To assist the panel with determining this and the final selection of Fellows, the following two questions must be addressed:
- Are you currently living overseas and plan to use the Fellowships to return to New Zealand? (YES/NO)
- Are you currently employed under a permanent employment contract? (YES/NO)
3. Research Area
Panel:
Please select the most appropriate panel to assess your application using the following information as a guide:
Humanities and the Social Sciences (HSS).
Research related to the human condition or aspects of human society.
This includes, but not limited to: English; languages; history; religion; philosophy; law; classics; linguistics; literature; cultural studies; media studies; art history; film; economics; education; psychology (cognitive, social, developmental, organisational, community and health); cognitive science; linguistics; archaeology; anthropology; sociology; social, cultural and human geography; social anthropology; architecture, urban design and environmental studies; public health; nursing; public policy; marketing; political science; and business studies.
Life Sciences (LFS).
Research related to understanding the activities that occur in cells and tissues and the interrelationships between organisms and their environment.
This includes: physiology (plant or animal), pathology (animal or plant), pharmacology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, microbiology; neurobiology and neuropsychology (including animals as a model species for humans); animal behaviour; population biology genetics; functional genomics and related bioinformatics; biostatistics and modelling; animal, plant and microbial ecology; biogeography; biodiversity; phylogenetics; systematics and evolution; biophysics, chemical biology; and biochemistry.
Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics (PEM).
Research related to the physical world and mathematics.
This includes: physics; physical chemistry; organic chemistry; analytical chemistry; inorganic chemistry; pure and applied mathematics; statistics; logic, theoretical and engineering aspects of computer and information sciences; complexity theory; operations research; nanotechnology; software and hardware engineering; applications and robotics; materials science; engineering (including bioengineering and other cross-disciplinary research activities); geology; geophysics; physical geography; oceanography; hydrology; meteorology; atmospheric science; earth sciences; astronomy; and astrophysics.
Research Experience:
Please provide the number of years of research experience you have attained after conferment of your doctoral degree. This should be a whole number between three to eight years and exclude any agreed career interruptions for parental leave or extended sickness leave. This will aid panellists in assessing your proposal, under the selection criteria, relative to the opportunity you have had.
Fields of research (FOR) classification:
The FOR classification allows research and development (R&D) activity to be categorised according to the field of research. In this respect, it is the methodology used in the R&D that is being considered. Please enter up to three codes from the list of research codes supplied in “Fields of Research Classification Codes” from the following website:
Please use codes that are as specific as possible. Also indicate project key words or phrases not exceeding 255 characters in total (separated by commas or semi-colons; please do not use the return key).
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) classification:
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) SEO classification allows R&D activity in Australia and New Zealand to be categorised according to the intended purpose or outcome of the research rather than the processes or techniques used in order to achieve this objective. The purpose categories include processes, products, health, education and other social and environmental aspects in Australia and New Zealand that R&D activity aims to improve. Please enter up to three codes from the list of socio-economic objectives codes supplied in “Socio-Economic Objective Classification Codes” from the following website:
Please use codes that are as specific as possible. Also indicate project key words or phrases not exceeding 255 characters in total (separated by commas or semi-colons; please do not use the return key).
4. Curriculum Vitæ
To assist the panel in assessing your calibre as a researcher, please upload an up to date curriculum vitæ. Please use the NZ RS&T-CV template provided by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology – this is also available on the web portal. Only sections PART 1 through to PART 2a are required to be completed.
5. Research leadership
To assist the panel in assessing your calibre as a research leader, using only ONE page, please demonstrate an emerging leadership role in the New Zealand research community. Please use the template provided on the web-based portal. This is also accessible through the web portal. Expected sources of evidence may include but are not limited to: team leadership roles; project management responsibilities; quality of stakeholder relationships; student numbers and completions; external grant funding as a named investigator; presence in relevant research communities; invitations to present keynote or plenary presentations; collaborator networks; significant contribution to achievement of commercialisation milestones; entrepreneurial activity; knowledge transfer activity; and, indications of peer-esteem. If appropriate, please also indicate the future direction you wish to develop your research leadership skills.
6. Programme title
Provide a title that describes the nature of your proposed programme of research. Keep the title brief and to the point. The title of your proposal should be in plain English and no more than 30 words in length. The Royal Society reserves the right to request the title be amended if it doesn’t adequately describe the nature of the research being undertaken.
7. Summary
In plain English please describe in approximately 500 words the nature of your proposed research, in a form that can be understood by non-specialists. It may be used for reporting and public information. The application form with section 6, Programme title, and section 7, Summary, cannot exceed one page.
8. Programme design and rationale
For sections 8-10 describing your research plan, please use a MAXIMUM of 3 pages. There is no requirement to use a full page for each section; however, you are strongly encouraged to use the whole space available in filling out the three sections of the application template. The scope of research may be broader than that of a single defined project, where there is often a limited three year period in which to complete the proposed objectives. It should be possible to address some of the larger themes of a research area in the five year term of a programme of research. In doing so, you may have more than one specific question or inter-related project to pursue.
Give a brief overview of the design of the proposed research, and indicate how it relates to work already done, by yourself and/or others, in this field. Please give consideration to offering both a primary design and an alternative plan.
Please note this proposal is printed in black and white. An electronic version in colour is also supplied for the panellists’ reference.
9. Research objective(s) and method(s)
State your proposed research objectives, methods, timetable, data sources and how you plan to transfer the knowledge gained from your research.
10. References
It is important to support sections 8-10 by means of references. Please ensure that these are not restricted to your own work. Please also ensure that the references have been published, to ensure that they are readily accessible when the proposal is being assessed. Authors must verify all references.
A guide for the reference list:
- The list can be in 10 point type.
- Start each reference on a new line (numbering is optional).
- For three or more authors, list the first three names followed by “et al.”
- Ensure you include the journal name (abbreviated if desired), year of publication, volume number and page numbers.
- If you wish you can bold your own references.
Please note the following examples created by R Siegel along with the format and punctuation (ordered in Journal, Book, Chapter in a book and Web site):
- Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer Statistics, 2008. CA: Cancer J Clin 2008; 58:71-96; DOI: 10.3322/CA.2007.0010.
- Eifel PJ, Levenback C. American Cancer Society Atlas of Clinical Oncology: Cancer of the Female Lower Genital Tract. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker; (2001).
- Park BH, Vogelstein B. Tumor-Suppressor Genes. In: Kufe DW, Pollock RE, Weichselbaum RR, et al, eds. Cancer Medicine. 6th ed. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker; 2003:87-106.
- Health on the Net Foundation. Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct (HONcode) for medical and health Web sites. Available at: http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Conduct.html. Accessed August 26, 2003.
11. Vision Mātauranga
Unlocking the Innovation Potential of Māori Knowledge, Resources and People is a policy framework that was implemented into Vote Research, Science and Technology in July 2005. It was developed by the Ministry for Research, Science and Technology in consultation with research funders, researchers and research users including Māori communities. The framework is designed to assist research funders, researchers and research users when they consider research of relevance to Māori – particularly its distinctive aspects – and how this might be supported through Vote Research, Science and Technology. For more information please refer to the following website:
http://www.msi.govt.nz/get-connected/unlocking-maori-potential/
There are four themes: Indigenous Innovation, which involves contributing to economic growth through distinctive research and development; Taiao, which is concerned with achieving environmental sustainability through iwi and hapū relationships with land and sea; Hauora/Oranga, which centres around improving health and social wellbeing; and Mātauranga, which involves exploring indigenous knowledge.
Where research projects are of particular relevance to Māori or involve Māori, there is an expectation that applicants are in consultation with Māori to ensure that the research is well planned, that appropriate etiquette is observed when access to Māori sites, culturally sensitive material and knowledge is sought from their owners, and that Māori intellectual and cultural property rights are respected. Cultural understanding is required to ensure good quality research. As a first step, researchers should seek advice from their institution, many of which have established processes for consultation with Māori.
Please provide a brief summary, a maximum of 250 words, of the consultation process so far and plans for ongoing consultation. Māori applicants undertaking Māori research should demonstrate their linkages and what processes they have used in developing and designing their proposal.
Consultation with Māori is not expected, and may not be appropriate, for proposed programmes where no specific interest for Māori can be identified. In this case, this section should be left blank.
Please also identify which, if any, of the four Vision Mātauranga themes, can be associated with your proposed research. Please note that more than one box may be ticked. If none apply, please tick N/A.
12. FTE table
The personnel information requested in this section should contain the total time that each researcher will spend on the project. List the time involvement of personnel in terms of a Full Time Equivalent (expressed as a proportion of full-time equivalent – FTE: 0.1 means 10% of one FTE). For example, if the Research assistant were to commit one day per week to the proposed research this would be expressed as 0.20 FTE.
Fellowships are awarded on a full time basis of which at least 85% (or 0.85 FTE) of the Fellow’s time must be dedicated to the research objectives identified in the proposal. The remainder of their time may be used for other research, teaching and non-research related development opportunities. An exemption to the full time clause requires prior approval from the Royal Society. Current exemptions may be sought for applicants who are required to fulfil childcare obligations. Applicants wishing to submit part time proposals will need to commit a minimum of 0.5 FTE and have approved personnel named in the application at a minimum of 0.35 FTE to maintain the 0.85 FTE requirement. The named personnel will be exempt from overhead costs in a similar manner to a full time applicant.
Provide all names – except when they are as yet unknown for such people as postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students. All FTEs should be included regardless of whether funding is being requested. Note that the total time that is to be devoted to the programme will form part of the contractual obligations to the Royal Society.
Fellows are permitted, and encouraged, to continue to be involved with existing or new projects requiring a time commitment in excess of 0.15 FTE, where these are aligned with the objectives of their Rutherford Discovery Fellowship. In these situations, Fellows should use released funds to support others to assist with these projects. After award of a Fellowship, details of the variations are subject to agreement by the Royal Society.
13. Budget
Download the budget spreadsheet template. There are four components to this budget, each on a separate worksheet: Budget, Direct costs, Sub-contractors, and Other funding. When the Direct costs and sub-contractors worksheets are completed, the front Budget worksheet should automatically update these line items.
The value of the award will provide annual contributions (excluding GST) of: $70,000 towards the researcher’s salary; $60,000 in research related expenses; and, $30,000 for the host organisation.
Budget
Salaries
The figures in this category are to cover only the costs of personnel employed on the research proposal in the application. This should include the direct costs (i.e. salary) and salary related costs (e.g. superannuation, ACC and fringe benefits). Any subcontracted personnel should not be included in this section but incorporated under the Sub-contractors worksheet.
The FTEs of personnel shown in the budget page should only be those where costs and time are associated with Rutherford Discovery Fellowship funding. If this funding is not sought for particular individuals (e.g. overseas investigators, post-doctoral researchers with stand-alone fellowships, or postgraduate students with other sources of funding) then the individual should still be named on the budget page but with zero FTEs recorded (please note this is different from the FTE table where contribution of researcher time is recorded regardless of whether funding is being requested).
Post-doctoral researchers may be part-time (usually 0.3 FTE or more) or full-time on your proposal. This should be indexed to L1 to L3 salary scales. Please check with your host institution for more information.
Postgraduate students are awarded scholarships free of income tax and may be supported on your proposal on a fixed-rate basis. For 2013 this is set at $25,000 stipend per year, plus fees (New Zealand resident rates) for PhD students or $16,000 stipend plus fees (New Zealand resident rates) for Masters students. These figures assume the postgraduate students are assigned to the research on a full time basis. Fees should be included in the direct costs.
Indirect costs
Fellowships are accompanied by an award of $30,000 per year as a host contribution. This is represented under indirect costs on the budget spreadsheet. Indicate the cost of any additional overheads that relate to personnel other than the PI. These should be directly proportional to the time spent on the programme of research. Overheads include managerial time not included in the proposal, the cost of support services, the cost of financial and accounting systems, corporate activities, the cost of premises and other indirect costs. Cost of premises may be either the annual rental cost, or the depreciation cost, of premises and should be proportional to the project’s use of the institution’s premises for the research proposal.
An example of a budget worksheet appears below (please note the recognised contribution of other funding sources in the first year of the proposed budget).
RDF-2012_BudgetExample (Excel, 47 kB)
Direct costs
Expendables, Equipment depreciation/rental and Sub-contractors need to be further explained on the Direct costs worksheet of the spreadsheet.
Expendables
This category should include the general operating expenses associated with the research proposal such as consumables, travel (for conferences, collaboration etc.), capital purchases under $5,000, and other miscellaneous costs associated with research. This does not mean that equipment, such as a spectrometer, can be divided into separate components all less than $5,000 each. Details of expendables should be given on the Direct costs worksheet. Please give details of major working expenses.
Equipment Depreciation/Rental
The Rutherford Discovery Fellowship scheme does not fund the purchase of equipment directly but may allow for an annual depreciation or rental cost. In the case of rental costs, the share of the total cost of the equipment should be proportional to the use of the equipment as outlined in the proposal.
Note: Many institutions make a general provision for depreciation in their overhead costs. If this is the case, depreciation costs should be incorporated in “Indirect Costs” as Overheads.
An example of a Direct costs worksheet appears below.
RDF-2012_BudgetExample (Excel, 47 kB)
Sub-contractors
Break down the sub-contractors into costs per year for each organisation. If required, please insert more sub-contractors in the sub-contractor worksheet of the spreadsheet.
Any costs, where services are purchased from other organisations, should be included in this section. Where personnel are sub-contractors they should be shown in this section, named, and their time-commitments shown in the FTE column.
Where a sub-contractor is a New Zealand research organisation, please break down costs per year into salary, overheads and direct costs. Other sub-contractors (e.g. private individuals) may provide the annual cost as a single figure in the budget, rather than breaking down the costs.
An example of a sub-contractors worksheet appears below.
RDF-2012_BudgetExample (Excel, 47 kB)
Other funding
Fellows are permitted, and encouraged, to continue to be involved with existing or new projects requiring a time commitment in excess of 0.15 FTE where the research projects are aligned with the objectives of their Rutherford Discovery Fellowship. In these situations, Fellows should use released funds to support others to assist with these projects. After award of a Fellowship, details of the variations are subject to agreement by the Royal Society.
Where other funding for research relevant to the proposal is being provided or sought, it must be detailed here in the Other Funding worksheet of the budget spreadsheet. It is appreciated that the applicant will be involved in applications to other funding sources, or have funding for related work. This is to be encouraged. However, to assist in the assessment of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships the discipline-based panels and interview panel need to be aware of other funding applied for or received.
Indicate whether non-Rutherford Discovery Fellowship funding (e.g., Marsden Fund, HRC, CoRE, TEC, Commercial, Other) has been: (i) received; or, (ii) applied for, for this or for research relevant to this proposal. Include information on the FTEs applied for or received from non-Rutherford Discovery Fellowship government funding sources.
An example of an applicant’s Other funding worksheet appears below.
RDF-2012_BudgetExample (Excel, 47 kB)
14. Referees
You are required to obtain three referee reports to support your proposal. Referees should be capable of judging your suitability for a Fellowship, and must be able to answer all the questions asked. The Referee will be asked to comment on: (i) the calibre of the applicant as a researcher; (ii) the proposed programme of research; and (iii) the calibre of the applicant as a research leader. Referees should not be directly involved in the proposed programme of research or in your chain of line management. Of the three applicant-solicited referees, there is a requirement that one of these be an international referee. Each reference will be treated as confidential by the Society.
- You should approach your referees prior to the closing date of the funding round to ensure they are available and willing to assist with your application through writing a referee report.
- There are some useful example templates for approaching referees posted on the web-portal. These are found in the Referees section (14) and the greyed-out templates become available after you start entering your choice of referees.
- The “Referee Letter” button generates a template with information about the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship scheme and a few details of your proposal – this may help with your initial approach to your referees.
- The “Send Email” button is active after the closing date for applications. All referees listed by the applicant on their application will be emailed by the Royal Society of New Zealand immediately after the application closing date. This is the only time we will email referees on behalf of the applicant.
- If the applicant needs to make any additions to the referees listed, this can be done through logging into the portal and adding a referee to the table in the Referee section (14). It is important to click the “Send Email” button after adding a referee to ensure your referee is sent the application, the referee guidelines and a URL link to complete their report.
- When sending information to a referee, please remember to include a copy of your application (PDF sections 1-12) and the Guidelines for Referees.
Requests for referee reports will be sent from the proposals on-line web-based portal with the information you have supplied. Referees will be emailed a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link to a separate web-based portal to complete their report.
- After the email request has been sent from the web-based portal it is prudent for you to check that the referees have received the invitation to review your application. Occasionally, email is inadvertently identified as spam and in a referees ‘junk’ folder in their email client.
If there are any difficulties, please ask your referees to contact the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship secretariat at: rutherford.discovery@royalsociety.org.nz
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure your referees have sent their reports to the Royal Society by the closing date. To be eligible for a Fellowship, a complete set of referee forms must be received by the Royal Society by 5 pm on 08 May 2013 (NZST).
The web-based proposals on-line system can be checked by applicants for notification of when the Royal Society has received each of the applicant-solicited referee reports.
If the Royal Society receives more than three applicant-solicited referee reports, only the first three referee reports received will be used for appraisal.
15. Declarations
This section is to be read and filled in by you and a duly authorised agent of the host organisation. Please read the declaration carefully and ensure that all information contained in the application is true and accurate prior to signing. Please note that confirmation by the host organisation of their acceptance of the programme is a precondition for your application to be assessed.
16. Statistical information
The Royal Society encourages applications from all eligible members of the New Zealand research community. To monitor the profile of different groups of applicants and identify funding trends and gaps, the Royal Society would appreciate applicants providing the information requested in this section of Proposals On-Line. The statistical data will be used by the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships secretariat for statistical purposes only.
These data will NOT be part of the transfer of information to the main Royal Society database. The information you provide will not be sent out to panellists for review.
Additional information for applicants
Feedback process
In the Proposals On-Line web-based system, applicants are offered the option of receiving feedback in the form of quartiles for the three graded criteria at the conclusion of the funding round. A general statement about the funding round will also be prepared and given to all applicants.
Applicants will also be notified:
- if the applicant was successful in making the ‘long list’.
- if the applicant is considered ineligible to apply for a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.
Where an applicant has submitted an unsuccessful application, they should discuss their subsequent application with the Fellowship Coordinator before reapplying.
Enquiries
If you require further information about the Rutherford Discovery Fellowships, please email us at rutherford.discovery@royalsociety.org.nz or phone 04 470 5790.
