Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Terms of Reference

General Terms of Reference

Background

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships are administered by Royal Society Te Apārangi (the Society) on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry). 

The Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders in their fields, their respective host organisations and across the whole of the Aotearoa New Zealand science, innovation and technology (SI&T) system. It is expected that Fellows, throughout their careers, will contribute to positive outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand, including (where applicable) giving effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy in their work and their community.

Receipt of an Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowship is expected to have significant value for the future career development and leadership potential of a researcher.

Objective

The overriding objective of the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships is to develop the future leaders of the Aotearoa New Zealand science, innovation and technology system. The Fellowships will:

• improve the retention of talented future research leaders within the SI&T system, both during the fellowship and in their post-fellowship careers, through development of a strong track record
• support career development, to empower Fellows to become leaders in their fields, their organisations and across the SI&T system
• improve equity and diversity within the SI&T system, in particular by creating opportunities for Māori, Pacific peoples and women who are excellent researchers and future leaders of research
• reward and support a range of boundary-pushing research activities that build SI&T capability in areas of government priority, including those that focus on generating economic impact from research.

Description

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships consists of 3 schemes, targeted at early, mid- and established career researchers respectively. The 3 schemes are:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

The Māori terms in the fellowship names reference the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s values, which includes Tāwhia tō Mana (building and retaining your reputation) as part of enabling the aspiration to “Hīkina Whakatutuki - Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for all”. Tāwhia te Mana Fellowships contribute to building excellence in the SI&T sector.

The schemes target excellent candidates at 3 career stages: early-career researchers/future leaders building the foundations of their career (mana tūāpapa); mid-career researchers, further establishing themselves as research leaders (mana tūānuku); and distinguished researchers with expansive career success and a prominent international reputation (mana tūārangi). 

These general Terms of Reference are common across all three schemes, with elements that are specific to individual schemes contained in following sections.

Applicant eligibility

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships are open to researchers who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in the Aotearoa New Zealand SI&T system. 

To be eligible applicants must:

• be either a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have a PhD, or have completed all requirements for their PhD to be conferred at the time of application
• be supported by a New Zealand-based research organisation, with a supporting declaration that affirms that:
  
  • the applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria
  • the applicant has good potential to develop and progress their research career
  • it will employ the applicant at least for the duration of the Fellowship
  • it will facilitate the provision of support and facilities to enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship for the duration of the Fellowship.

Additional eligibility criteria for the individual Fellowship schemes may be found in their respective sections.

Host eligibility

The host must be a New Zealand-based research organisation that can demonstrate it is capable and willing to provide support and facilities that will enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship.

The host cannot be a department of the public service as listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the ‘Public Service Act 2020’.

Eligible hosts are research organisations based in New Zealand that meet the following definition: ‘An organisation that has sufficient internal capability for carrying out research, science or technology, or related activities in New Zealand.’

Additional requirement

In accordance with the Russia Sanctions Act 2022, the applicant and their research must not benefit a Russian state institution (including but not limited to support for Russian military or security activity) or an organisation outside government that may be perceived as contributing to the war effort.

Criteria

The award criteria must ensure successful proposals are consistent with the background and objectives of the Fellowships stated above.

Eligibility and selection criteria will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Society. The Ministry may adjust these from time to time to increase the schemes’ effectiveness. The Society will publish these criteria at the start of each funding round.

Rules

• An applicant may make only 1 application for a Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowship in any 1 funding round.
• A former successful applicant may not apply for a second Fellowship in the same scheme.
• A previous holder of a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship or the James Cook Research Fellowship may not apply for an equivalent Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship.
• Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellows will commence their programme of research within 12 months of the award notification.
• Successful applicants may not engage in other professional employment during the Fellowship without prior approval by the Society.

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Society. This process will reflect the Ministry’s Diversity in Science Statement, with a commitment to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in the final cohort of funded Fellows. The selection process will be published by the Society when the Fellowship opens for applications.

Reporting, monitoring and evaluation

The Society will report to the Ministry on the Fellowships annually. The reporting will include information on the applications, monitoring of the Fellows and administration of the three schemes, and any suggested changes to improve their effectiveness. 

Evaluations will be carried out by the Ministry from time to time to ensure the objectives are being met. In response to those evaluations, the Ministry, in consultation with the Society, may update these Terms of Reference.

New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships

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 20 New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships of 4 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 4 years of the closing date for applications. The eligibility period for PhD conferral may be extended beyond 4 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:

• potential as a future research leader, which may include:
  • vision for their field of work,
  • understanding of how their research can benefit New Zealand (including potential benefits in areas of future value, growth or critical need for New Zealand),
  • team leadership,
  • knowledge transfer activity,
  • entrepreneurial activity (where applicable) and,
  • giving effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy in their research and community (where applicable).
• 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 pastoral care) 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% of fellowships are awarded to applicants who whakapapa Māori
• around 10% of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as being of Pacific ethnicity
• around 50% 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 4 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 8 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 provider, the contributions above may be shifted between the different components, as long as the sum of the contributions does not exceed the total value of the award.

New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships

Mana tūānuku can reference mid-career researchers further establishing themselves as research leaders

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships will support mid-career researchers to firmly establish themselves as experts in their research domain and as leaders within the research landscape.

Description

Around 10 New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships of 4 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 Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships, a mid-career researcher is a researcher whose PhD was conferred more than 4 years and less than 12 years from the closing date for applications. The eligibility period for PhD conferral may be extended beyond 12 years under any of the following scenarios at the discretion of the Society:

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

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• calibre of the applicant as a research leader, which may include:
  • vision for their field of work,
  • evidence of how their research can benefit New Zealand (including potential benefits in areas of future value, growth or critical need for New Zealand),
  • team leadership,
  • knowledge transfer activity,
  • entrepreneurial activity (where applicable) and,
  • giving effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy in their research and community (where applicable).
• 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 pastoral care) throughout the Fellowship.

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Society and will include suitability assessment conducted by an independent panel. A stratified selection ballot may be part of the selection process. 

The selection process will aim to ensure that:

• around 20% of fellowships are awarded to applicants who whakapapa Māori
• around 10% of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as being of Pacific ethnicity
• around 50% 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 may be awarded between a 0.4 and 0.8 Full Time Equivalent basis as requested by the applicant at the time of application, 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 4 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 8 years.

The total value of the Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship is $1,160,000. The Fellowship will award per annum (excl. GST):

• $115,000 towards the researcher’s salary
• $115,000 in organisational overheads
• $60,000 for research-related expenses.

These amounts will be pro-rated depending on the agreed FTE basis of the Fellowship. By exception, with agreement of the applicant, the host and the Society, the contributions above may be shifted between the different components.

New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowships

Mana tūārangi can reference distinguished researchers with expansive career success and a prominent international reputation

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship will support researchers with expansive and international reputations to make contributions that will extend beyond their own career span.

Description

2 New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowships of between 1 and 2 years of length will be awarded annually.

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• research quality (excellence in research)
• reputation of the applicant as a research leader, which may include:
  • vision for their field of work,
  • demonstration of how their research can benefit New Zealand (including potential benefits in areas of future value, growth or critical need for New Zealand),
  • team leadership,
  • knowledge transfer activity,
  • entrepreneurial activity (where applicable) and,
  • giving effect to the Vision Mātauranga policy in their research and community (where applicable).
• benefit to the wider New Zealand SI&T system (strengthening international or domestic research connections, mentoring and training of early career researchers and research students).

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Society and will involve a strong element of peer assessment. 

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

Scheme operation

The total value of the Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship is $220,000. The funding is able to be used over a period of between 1 and 2 years, as indicated by the applicant at the time of application. Up to $100,000 per year can be taken as a contribution to the researchers’ salary, with the remaining amount to be used for research related expenses to deliver the research and benefit to the Aotearoa New Zealand SI&T system outlined in the application. 

This study or research may be undertaken in a location and organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas, as agreed by the Fellow and the host organisation at the time of application.