Govt funding provided to jump-start young research careers

The Government is investing up to $10 million to support 30 of the country’s top early-career researchers to develop their research skills.

The Associate Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, Dr Ayesha Verrall, said the Covid-19 pandemic had had widespread impacts across the science system, including the research workforce.

After completing their PhD, researchers often travelled overseas to gain experience but in the past year many had been unable to do so because of travel restrictions, she said.  

“The MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship will fund some of our best and brightest early-career researchers, providing them with much-needed certainty for the coming years. Each researcher will receive a one off fellowship worth $320,000 over two years to help them grow and develop their research skills in New Zealand.

“It’s vital that we ensure that our science community is well supported as we respond to COVID-19. Some of the long term challenges we are tackling as a Government, such as housing and climate change, rely on the contributions of the country’s leading scientists.”

The new initiative is about attracting and retaining talented researchers and encouraging their career development.

The Fellowships, which open next month will be awarded for research undertaken in any field, including the humanities, mātauranga and social science at an eligible New Zealand research institution.

Source:  Minister of Research, Science and Technology

Author: Bob Edlin

Editor of AgScience Magazine and Editor of the AgScience Blog

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