News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand
For immediate release
6 November 2012
Travel grants for research in the United States
Eight New Zealand researchers have won travel grants to initiate research with collaborators in the United States from
the 2012 International Mobility Fund.
The travel grants are administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation
and Employment to promote international connections within the New Zealand research system.
One of the awardees this year is Mr Ben Knight, Marine Biophysical Scientist at the Cawthron Institute. Mr Knight has
been awarded a travel grant to develop links in marine research for the modelling of algal blooms.
These harmful, toxic blooms can occur in areas such as the Queen Charlotte Sound and have a negative impact on the
shellfish industry. His work may provide shellfish farmers the specialist knowledge they need to avoid heavy losses to
stocks. Mr Knight will spend two weeks at the University of North Carolina’s facilities working with Dr Dennis
McGillicuddy on the computational modelling and fluid dynamics of bloom spreads.
The complete list of winners is:
New Zealand researcher
Project title
American collaborator
Dr Evelyn Sattlegger,
Massey University
Deciphering the role of a regulatory protein: Is IMPACT the crossing guard preventing cell division derailment?
Dr Orna Cohen-Fix,
NIH. Duke University School of Medicine
Dr Vicky Yang Wang,
University of Auckland
Coupling Mitral Valve with Ventricular Modelling to Investigate Mitral Regurgitation.
Prof Michael Sacks,
University of Texas at Austin
Mr Ben Knight,
Cawthron Institute
Bloom simulation modelling of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella in the Marlborough Sounds.
Dr Dennis McGillicuddy,
North Carolina State University
Dr Tom Wheeler,
AgResearch
An extract of milk that stimulates uptake of vitamin B12.
Prof Ralph Green,
University of California
Dr Julia Horsfield,
University of Otago
Modelling human developmental syndromes in Zebrafish.
Prof Thomas Schilloing,
University of California
Dr Guy NL Jameson,
University of Otago
Thiolate Activation at Non-Heme Mono Iron Centres.
Prof David P Goldberg,
Johns Hopkins University
Dr Jie Han,
University of Auckland
Nylons: a new class of micropollutant sorbents for water purification.
Prof Benito J. Marinas,
University of Illinois
Dr Rosemary Brown,
University of Otago
Prolactin transport into the brain
Prof William A Banks,
University of Washington
The International Mobility Fund: United States aims to develop new opportunities for New Zealand researchers in the
United States, utilising overseas advances in research, science and technology for the economic, social and
environmental progress of New Zealand.
The grants support stays of typically two weeks at an American institution.
The fund runs once a year and will be open again for applications between June to July 2013.
Areas of research eligible for the grants include: biochemical and biomedical sciences, earth sciences and astronomy,
humanities, life sciences, mathematical and information science, physical science/engineering, social sciences, and
technology development.
ENDS