New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships

Funding PhD graduates to undertake two years’ postdoctoral research in New Zealand.

Downloadable forms:

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Background

The Rutherford Foundation New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships are administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the Rutherford Foundation Trust.  Support for this programme comes from the New Zealand Government.

Recipients of the Fellowships will carry the identity of the Rutherford Foundation.  This award will be expected to play a strong part in the Fellow’s professional development.  

The New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships will enable recipients to undertake full-time research programmes within New Zealand in any area of science, technology, engineering or mathematics at an eligible research institution.  Applications are encouraged from within New Zealand and from those who are living overseas and would use the Fellowship to return to continue their research careers.

Objective

The Rutherford Foundation New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships aim to build human capability in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing early career support for New Zealand’s brightest and most promising researchers.

Description

The Rutherford Foundation is offering four New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships to outstanding recent PhD graduates.

These Fellowships are offered annually, with a closing date for applications on the 1st of August 2012.

The New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowships are offered for two years.  Each year, the Fellow will receive a stipend of NZ$65,000.  In addition a GST-inclusive fund is paid each year of NZ$26,000 to support direct and indirect research costs of which up to NZ$5,000 can be used to support conference travel.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants from the disciplines of science, technology, engineering or mathematics are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants are required to have had their PhD conferred no more than two years before the application closing date.
    • An exemption to this clause can be sought to allow applicants to demonstrate that their PhD has been submitted and can be examined by the date of short-listing.  This requires prior approval from the Trustees of the Foundation.
    • A further exemption can be sought to demonstrate a reasonable absence from a research career, for instance to take parental leave or for extended sickness leave.
  • An applicant must have had no more than two previous positions as a postdoctoral researcher.
  • Applicants must be either New Zealand citizens or have continuously resided in New Zealand for at least two years immediately prior to their application and hold, or are deemed to hold, a New Zealand resident visa.
  • Eligible host institutions include Crown Research Institutes, universities, research associations and businesses whose prime purpose is research and development.  Co-hosting arrangements are possible between one of the above and another host, with the permission of the Trustees.

Selection Criteria

The selection is based on an applicant’s demonstration of academic excellence, depth of understanding of their proposed research and its ultimate purpose, and the scientific quality of the research programme.  Additional selection criteria are the benefits to New Zealand, transfer of skills, and engagement with the wider community.

Proposals are assessed on the information provided in the application, the accompanying forms and referee reports.

  • The award does not include cover for relocation expenses.  For successful Fellows who will use the Fellowship to return to New Zealand, it is expected that the host institution(s) will cover the cost of relocation.
  • Applicants who are offered a Fellowship but have not completed their PhD before the application closing date will be required to demonstrate PhD completion requirements by a date specified by the Trustees.
  • The Fellowship must be taken up within a reasonable time frame of being offered (e.g. half a year).
  • Applicants may only make one application per funding round.

Application Process

Closing date:

Applications and supporting information must reach the Royal Society of New Zealand by the closing date of 1 August 2012.

Submitting your application:

Please email one electronic copy of your application to:

Rutherford.Foundation@royalsociety.org.nz.

Supporting information: 

In addition to the completed electronic version of your application, applicants must supply electronic copies of the following documents (scanned jpeg or PDF preferred) sent to the above email address:

  • Proof of New Zealand citizenship or residency.
  • Academic transcript(s) including undergraduate and PhD studies.

Note:  Original or certified copies of the above two documents will only be required if you are invited to interview.

You are also required to send one hard copy of the following by the closing date:

  • A signed declaration form confirming that the proposed host institution and supervisor support the proposed application.

Please send the declaration to one of the following addresses:

Postal address:

Executive Officer, Rutherford Foundation
Royal Society of New Zealand, PO Box 598, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

Courier address:

Executive Officer, Rutherford Foundation
Royal Society of New Zealand, 4 Halswell Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Referees:

In addition, applicants must ensure their three referees independently email or send their referee reports to the Royal Society of New Zealand by the closing date.

Selection Process

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to Wellington to interview at the Royal Society of New Zealand (at their own expense).  If this should prove a hardship, then applicants may request to have the interview conducted by teleconference or videoconference.

Successful applicants will be notified by early October.

Contact

Further enquiries should be made by contacting the Rutherford Foundation by email:

Rutherford.Foundation@royalsociety.org.nz

Previous Awardees