New Rutherford Fellows outstanding result for University

New Rutherford Fellows represent outstanding result for University of Auckland

Seven University of Auckland science and medical researchers have been awarded Rutherford Discovery Fellowships for 2015.

Seven University of Auckland science and medical researchers have been awarded Rutherford Discovery Fellowships for 2015.

Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce named twelve new Rutherford Discovery Fellows this year, among them seven from the University. The awards recognise New Zealand’s most talented and promising mid-career researchers.

University of Auckland Deputy Vice-Chancellor Distinguished Professor Jane Harding said the awards announced today represented an outstanding achievement by University staff.

“It is my privilege to congratulate the very talented and dedicated group of young scientists who have been named as Rutherford Discovery Fellows,” Professor Harding said.

“It is a testament to the depth of research talent at this University that such a significant number of our young scientists have been named for these awards.”

Research by awardees covers a wide range of disciplines and fields and represents world-class research being undertaken in the Faculties of Science and Medical Health Sciences and Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI).

Two researchers from the University’s School of Psychology were named awardees. Senior lecturer Dr Annette Henderson will undertake research focusing on cooperation in early childhood development while senior lecturer Dr Gwenda Willis is named a Rutherford Discovery Fellow to research sexual violence prevention among sex offenders.

From the School of Biological Sciences, lecturer Dr Cate Macinnis-Ng is named a Fellow to research climate change, drought and native ecosystems. Lecturer in Physics, Dr Miro Erkintalo is awarded a Fellowship to undertake work on laser sources for scientific and industrial applications while Research Fellow at Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Dr Peng Du, also becomes a Discovery Fellow to explore an experimental modelling strategy for gastrointestinal electrophysiology.

From the Faculty of Medical Health Sciences, Research Fellow Dr Emma Scotter of the Department of Pharmacology and Centre for Brain Research becomes a Rutherford Discovery Fellow to research the blood-brain-barrier in motor neuron disease.

Also in the Faculty of Medical Health Sciences, Dr Troy Merry from Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology becomes a Rutherford Discovery Fellow to improve understanding of molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of metabolic disease and type 2 diabetes.

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