New Zealand support for writing a successful HFSP proposal
This page provides information on the kind of support available from Royal Society Te Apārangi that potential applicants can access to help them submit a more competitive application to the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP).
The following support for writing a competitive HFSP application is available for New Zealand applicants:
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Recording of 2025 Royal Society Te Apārangi HFSP information session
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Information on New Zealand HFSP mock-panel
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New Zealand participants in HFSP grant writing Masterclass
Please see below for more information.
2025 Royal Society Te Apārangi HFSP information session
The recorded webinar below provides information on
- What is the Human Frontier Science Program
- Projects and Fellowships Funding available from HFSP and key dates
- Advice on how to submit a successful HFSP application - what to do and what NOT to do!
- Available New Zealand support for submitting a competitive application (mock panel)
View webinar slides.
New Zealand HFSP mock-panel
Understanding how to put together a competitive HFSP team and first-stage application (Letter of Intent (LoI)) is key to success. To help New Zealand HFSP applicants have a better chance of success, we have established a mock-panel of previous New Zealand HFSP reviewers, that will be able to give you valuable feed-back on your proposal before you submit it, if you wish to use this support. To access this support:
- Send your Letter of Intent (LoI)/questions to international.applications@royalsociety.org.nz
- Send us your application at any time but preferably no later than 6 weeks before the HFSP deadline.
- Note that the mock panel has initially agreed to read at least the first 15 submitted LoIs. We will update the page here with information on how many applications have been forwarded to the mock panel.
- The panel may decide not to provide feed-back on your application if it is submitted to the panel closer than 6 weeks to the HFSP deadline (unless otherwise stated on this page).
Get started now – the earlier, the better.
The mock panel currently consist of:
- Professor Vic Arcus (University of Waikato)
- Professor John Fraser (University of Auckland)
- Professor Peter Fineran (University of Otago)
- Professor Johanna Montgomery (University of Auckland)
- Professor Jasna Rakonjac (Massey University)
Support from New Zealand participants in HFSP grant writing Masterclass
Twelve New Zealand scientists were supported by Catalyst: Leaders to participate in a 2.5 day HFSP grant writing masterclass and the HFSP annual meeting in Melbourne in July 2025. The workshop focus on teaching participants how to assemble a strong team and write a competitive Letter of Intent (e.g. what to do and what not to do, what type of projects are eligible for HFSP funding and what projects are not eligible, etc.). The participants have agreed to support raising awareness to HFSP at their organisation. If you have already watched the information session above and still have questions about a potential HFSP project and application, feel free to reach out to a participant at your organisation. If they are unable to support you for any reason (they don't know the answer or currently don't have time to help you), please email Royal Society Te Apārangi on international.applications@royalsociety.org.nz and we can put you in touch with someone else instead.