New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship

(mana tūāpapa can reference early-career researchers/future leaders building the foundations of their careers)

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships will support Aotearoa New Zealand’s talented early career researchers to establish the foundations of an excellent and impactful research career.

Description

Around twenty New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships of four years in length will be awarded annually, for research in any field based in an Aotearoa New Zealand host organisation.

Eligibility

For the purposes of the New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships, an early career researcher is a researcher whose PhD was conferred within six years of the closing date for applications. The eligibility period for PhD conferral may be extended beyond six years under any of the following scenarios at the discretion of the Society:

• extended sickness leave
• part-time employment or career interruptions because of care giving responsibilities
• to account for work or service in the community or an industry
• as otherwise agreed by the Society.

For the purposes of the New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships, applicants must have completed all requirements for their PhD to be conferred at the time of application.

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• applicant track record and potential to establish, re-enter or progress their career in research relative to opportunity
• the clear articulation of a research plan with high likelihood to deliver research outcomes
• suitability of the host’s capability to support the Fellow (including cultural support and commitment to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi) throughout the Fellowship.

Selection Process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Society. This will include suitability assessment by an independent panel and a stratified selection ballot. The stratified selection ballot will aim to ensure that:

• around 20 per cent of Fellowships are awarded to applicants who whakapapa Māori
• around 10 per cent of Fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as being of Pacific ethnicity
• around 50 per cent of Fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as female.

The selection process will be published by the Society when the Fellowship opens for applications.

Scheme Operation

Fellowships are awarded on 0.8 Full Time Equivalent basis, unless otherwise agreed by the Society. The remainder of Fellows’ time may be used for other research, teaching and non-research related development opportunities.

The duration of the Fellowship will be for four years. The Fellowship may be undertaken on a part-time basis to enable the Fellow to fulfil family and/or care responsibilities, including personal care, subject to agreement by the host and the Society, in which case the duration of the Fellowship may be extended up to a maximum of eight years.

The total value of the Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship is $820,000. The Fellowship will award per annum (excl. GST):

• $82,500 contribution to the researcher’s salary
• $82,500 in organisational overheads
• $40,000 for research-related expenses.

By exception, with agreement of the applicant, the host and the Society, the contributions above may be shifted between the different components.

For further information please see the Tāwhia te Mana - General Terms of Reference.