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Marsden Fund panels

Definitions of panels and details of panel members

There are ten discipline-based assessment panels which make funding recommendations to the Marsden Fund Council.  The panels are made up of researchers who are experts in their field. They are appointed by the Royal Society Te Apārangi after being recommended by the Fund Council and usually serve for a maximum of three years.

On this page:

 

 

Biomedical Sciences (BMS)

Research related to human health and disease in: physiology, pathology, pharmacology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, microbiology; neurobiology (including animals as a model species for humans); human genomics and related bioinformatics.

 

Name Institution
Professor Colin Brown (Convenor) University of Otago
Dr Sarah Baird University of Otago
Dr Lisa Connor Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Nikki Freed  University of Auckland
Associate Professor Edwin D. Hawkins Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 
Dr Jonni Koia Plant and Food Research
Dr Vanessa Morris University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Pawel Olszewski  University of Waikato
Associate Professor Simon Swift  University of Auckland

 

Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology (CMP)

Studies related to understanding the activities that occur in cells and tissues, and their integration within living organisms across the biological, agricultural and veterinary and biochemical sciences. This includes: plant physiology; animal physiology; cell biology; plant and animal genetics; molecular biology and molecular genetics; functional genomics and related bioinformatics; microbiology excluding microbial ecology; animal and plant pathology.

 

Name Institution
Professor Richard Newcomb (Convenor) Plant & Food Research 
Dr David Crossman University of Auckland
Dr Nathan Kenny University of Otago
Dr Laura Gumy University of Otago
Associate Professor Colleen Higgins Auckland University of Technology
Associate Professor Davide Comoletti Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Heather Hendrickson University of Canterbury
Dr Adele Williamson University of Waikato

 

Earth Sciences and Astronomy (ESA)

Including: geology; geophysics; physical geography; oceanography; hydrology; meteorology; atmospheric science; earth sciences; astronomy and astrophysics; also cross-disciplinary topics which include substantial components in some of these areas.

 

Name Institution
Professor Jan Lindsay (Convenor) University of Auckland
Associate Professor Michael Brown Monash University
Dr Giuseppe Cortese GNS Science
Professor John Foden The University of Adelaide
Associate Professor Adam Hartland Lincoln Agritech, University of Waikato
Associate Professor Marwan Katurji University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Leanne Morgan University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Julia Mullarney University of Waikato
Dr Phaedra Upton GNS Science
TBC  

 

Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour (EEB)

Studies related to the interrelationships between organisms and their environment, evolution and behaviour. This includes: animal, plant and microbial ecology; biogeography; biodiversity; phylogenetics; systematics and evolution; population biology and genetics; animal behaviour; physiological plant ecology; biostatistics and modelling. Note that proposals seeking to establish the molecular basis of processes or traits are better sent to CMP or BMS panels, unless they materially concern the evolution of those processes or traits.

 

Name Institution
Professor Jacqueline Beggs (Convenor) University of Auckland
Associate Professor Kim Handley University of Auckland
Professor Simon Ho University of Sydney
Dr Angela McGaughran University of Waikato
Associate Professor Craig Radford University of Auckland
Dr Alice Rogers Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Simon Stewart Cawthron Institute
Associate Professor Matthew Stott University of Canterbury
Dr Paul Szyszka University of Otago
Associate Professor Priscilla Wehi University of Otago

 

Economics and Human and Behavioural Sciences (EHB)

Including: economics; psychology (experimental, cognitive, neuro-); cognitive science; cognitive linguistics; archaeology; biological anthropology; business studies; commerce; management studies; marketing; communication science and demography.

 

Name Institution
Professor Chellie Spiller (Convenor) University of Waikato
Dr Elham Bahmanteymouri University of Auckland
Professor Tamlin Conner University of Otago
Professor Helena Cooper-Thomas Auckland University of Technology
Professor Paul Dalziel Lincoln University
Associate Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere University of Waikato
Associate Professor Matthew Roskruge Massey University
Dr Tirta Susilo Victoria University of Wellington
Associate Professor Tim Thomas University of Otago

 

Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences (EIS)

Including: fundamentals of engineering (biomedical, bioprocessing, civil, chemical, electrical, electronic, environmental, materials, mechanical and robotics); and cross-disciplinary research relating to engineering.

 

Name Institution
Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase (Convenor) University of Canterbury 
Professor Brendon Bradley University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Peng Cao University of Auckland
Dr Jerome Leveneur  bspkl
Dr Hin Lim University of Waikato
Associate Professor Khoon Lim University of Sydney
Professor Melissa Knothe Tate Blue Mountains Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute
Dr Filicia Wicaksana University of Auckland
Professor Tracie Barber University of New South Wales

 

Humanities (HUM)

Including: English; languages; history; religion; philosophy; law; classics; linguistics; literature; cultural studies; media studies; art history; film.

 

Name Institution
Professor Cynthia White (Convenor) Massey University
Dr Anita Brady Victoria University of Wellington
Associate Professor Jane Buckingham University of Canterbury
Dr Rebecca Kiddle Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Professor Jessica Palmer University of Otago
Professor Diane Proudfoot University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Linda Tyler University of Auckland
Associate Professor Sarah Shieff University of Waikato

 

Mathematical and Information Sciences (MIS)

Including: pure mathematics; applied mathematics; statistics; operations research; logic; computer science; information systems; and software engineering.

 

Name Institution
Professor Stephen MacDonell (Convenor)  AUT
Associate Professor Ting Wang University of Otago
Professor Stephen Cranefield University of Otago
Professor Clemency Montelle University of Canterbury
Professor Andrew Mathas University of Sydney
Associate Professor Michael Norrish Australian National University
Professor Alan Fekete University of Sydney
Professor Claire Postlethwaite University of Auckland
Professor Felipe Voloch University of Canterbury

 

Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry (PCB)

Including: materials science; physics; chemistry; biophysics, chemical biology and biochemistry.

 

Name Institution
Professor Penny Brothers (Convenor) The University of Auckland / Australian National University
Associate Professor Jane Allison The University of Auckland
Associate Professor Simone Ciampi Curtin University
Professor Matthew Davis The University of Queensland
Professor David Lupton Monash University
Professor Sarah Masters University of Canterbury
Professor Renae Ryan The University of Sydney
Dr Jonathan Squire University of Otago
Associate Professor Frederique Vanholsbeeck The University of Auckland

 

Social Sciences (SOC)

Including: sociology; Māori studies; indigenous studies; social, developmental, organisational, community and health psychology; social, cultural and human geography; social anthropology; education; urban design and environmental studies; public health; nursing; public policy; political science; socio-linguistics; architecture.

 

Name Institution
Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley (Convenor) Massey University
Associate Professor Karyn Paringatai University of Otago
Professor Michael Cameron University of Waikato
Professor Marc Wilson Victoria University of Wellington
Associate Professor Sophie Bond University of Otago
Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva University of Canterbury 
Associate Professor Alice Mills University of Auckland
Dr Mona Krewel Victoria University of Wellington

 

Social Sciences Fast-Start Panel

Because of the large numbers of applications to the Social Sciences panel in previous years, preliminary Fast-Start SOC proposals will be assessed by a second panel. Proposals invited to the full application round will be assessed along with the Standard proposals by the full Social Sciences panel.

 

Name Institution
Professor Holly Thorpe (Convenor)*  University of Waikato
Dr Apisalome Movono Massey University
Professor Te Kani Kingi Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
Dr Marcela Palomino-Schalscha Victoria University of Wellington
Professor Sarah Riley Massey University
Associate Professor Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll  University of Canterbury 

 * Goes to Social Sciences Standard panel at full proposal stage

TBC = to be confirmed. Not a complete list yet.

Potential Panellists

The Marsden Fund secretariat at the Royal Society Te Apārangi maintains a list of potential panellists. If individuals wish to signal their availability to serve on a Marsden Fund Panel in 2024 or beyond, they should contact Dr Rachel Averill at the Royal Society Te Apārangi with their contact details, affiliation, a clear preference for which panel they would be suitable for, and ideally a link to their institutional web page.

Panellists are appointed by the Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi based on the recommendation of the Marsden Fund panel Convenor. Appointments are made on a year-by-year basis for each calendar year. Panellists must be experienced researchers in an appropriate field and may be drawn from outside New Zealand if necessary. 

In considering the suitability of potential panellists, the following requirements for panel composition should be taken into account as appropriate:

  • mix of discipline expertise;
  • institutional balance;
  • geographic representation; and
  • diversity/gender balance.

Panellists may not apply as a named as Principal or Associate Investigators to the panel they are serving on in that year.  The Royal Society Te Apārangi will call for nominations from interested parties. Individuals can nominate themselves or institutes can nominate staff to serve on panels.  All nominations received will be passed on to the relevant Convenor for consideration.