University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal
Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman (Department of Public Health, UOW) is the 2023 recipient of the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal.
Professor Howden-Chapman’s pioneering research, commitment to health equity, and dedication to improving housing conditions have made a profound and lasting impact on the lives of individuals, communities and broader society in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.
Professor Howden-Chapman’s research has achieved real world impact through the development and implementation of the ‘Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart’ programme (NZ Government funding for insulation retrofits and clean, efficient heating grants) and the subsequent ‘Healthy Homes and Healthy Homes Rental’ standards.
The University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal award aims to promote research at Otago and to give recognition to outstanding performance of individual researchers or research teams. A medal commemorating the award will be presented to each recipient at a public lecture given by the recipient. Up to two such awards may be given in any one year.
Any academic staff member of the University of Otago who holds an appointment at the level of Research Fellow, Lecturer, Senior Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor or Professorial Research Fellow, or a team comprising such individuals may be eligible.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement, including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or the development of concepts that lead to significant advances in activities of the University.
Past recipients of the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal
The Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal
Professor Jemma Geoghegan (Department of Microbiology and Immunology) is the 2023 winner of the Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal.
Professor Geoghegan is an evolutionary virologist with a strong research focus in emerging infectious disease. She was instrumental in establishing genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work focused on using genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to identify the origins of the SARS-COV-2 virus, the source of the variants arriving at our borders, their pathways of spread through our communities, and the likely mechanisms of escape for each outbreak. These data were integral to our national COVID-19 response, and her work in this domain was exceptional in informing government policy and protecting our health.
The late Sir Carl Smith was a prominent Dunedin businessman and member of the University Council who set up the Rowheath Trust to support the University's work.
The Rowheath Trust Award aims to promote research at the University of Otago and to give recognition to outstanding research performance of early career staff. Any staff member of the University of Otago who has been on the staff of this University for a period of at least two years and who has held a career research appointment for less than a combined total of ten years at this and other research institutes may be eligible.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement, including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or scholarship for an emerging researcher.
Past recipients of The Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal
Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Seven up-and-coming University of Otago staff have been announced as the 2023 recipients of Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research.
Dr Matthew Jenkins (Psychological Medicine, UOW), Dr Kimberley O’Sullivan (Public Health, UOW), Dr Simon Jackson (Microbiology and Immunology), Dr Hemakumar Devan (Medicine, UOW), Dr Matthew McNeil (Microbiology and Immunology), Dr Sara Miller (Chemistry), Dr Stephen Young (Law) have been selected for the award on the basis of their outstanding research achievements.
Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research recognize outstanding research achievements by early career staff. Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Awards.
The basis for selection is outstanding research achievement, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Past recipients of Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Two talented University of Otago researchers have been announced as inaugural recipients of the Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research.
Dr Alana Alexander (Anatomy) and Dr Erica Newman (Te Tumu) have been selected for the award on the basis of their outstanding research achievements.
Introduced in 2023, the Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research recognize outstanding research achievement by early career staff who whakapapa Māori, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Awards.
Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research
Dr Troy Ruhe (Va'a o Tautai | Centre for Pacific Health) has been announced as the inaugural recipient of the Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research.
Tofā Sāili refers to the wisdom gained through the constant search for truth. Introduced in 2023, the Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research recognizes outstanding research achievements by early career staff who are of indigenous Pacific descent, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Award.
Research Group Award
The Centre for Neuroendocrinology is the 2023 winner of the Research Group Award.
The Centre for Neuroendocrinology is acknowledged by its peers as one of the top endocrinology research labs in the world. Its work has had huge real-world impact through the development of innovative technology and concepts that have led to significant advances across a range of different areas of neuroendocrinology, including optogenetics and fibre photometry. The Centre has cohesion and a real ‘sense of team’, utilizing a breadth of skills and approaches and favouring a broadly collaborative approach. A significant proportion of the Centre’s publications represent collaboration between member labs and international collaborations.
The University of Otago Research Group Award recognises outstanding research performance at a high international level by a research group led from the University of Otago.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement that enhances the understanding, development and well-being of individuals and society including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or the development of concepts that lead to significant advances. The award recognises achievement during the previous five years.
Past recipients of the Research Group Award
The University of Otago Arts Fellowships
The University of Otago recognises the importance of providing authors, dancers, artists, and composers with financial support and resources to enable them to explore their creative talents. The Arts Fellowships cater for a wide variety of artistic styles that reflect the diversity of writing, art, composing and dance in New Zealand.
The University offers the following Fellowships:
- The Robert Burns Fellowship
- The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
- The Frances Hodgkins Fellowship
- The Mozart Fellowship
- University of Otago College of Education Writer in Residence
Further information can be found on the Otago Fellows website.
Divisional and Departmental Awards
Internal funding of research occurs both at the Divisional and Departmental level. Please contact your Divisional Office directly for further information.