2554 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE No. 126

Monitoring of the Scheme

Monitoring of the scheme, including the implementation of this Ministerial instruction by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and the extent to which the Scheme achieves its stated objectives will be carried out by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

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Dr I Axford
Chairperson
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
P O Box 12 240
WELLINGTON

Dear Dr Axford

In accordance with Section 8 of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to allocate funds under the Ministerial Scheme “New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowships”.

The scheme is intended to support post-doctoral researchers. Annex A details the specific nature, objectives, criteria, and funding levels applying to the scheme, and nominates the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology as the agency that is to monitor the scheme. You may choose to contract some aspects of the administration to the Royal Society.

The Foundation is to report to me on the operation of the scheme within two months of the end of each financial year. The report will review the allocations made under the scheme for that year, including factors such as amount and duration of awards, host institutions or enterprises, and category of research. The nature of unsuccessful bids to the scheme should be commented on.

Monitoring by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology is to comprise a commentary on the reports provided by the Foundation.

In accordance with the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, this notice will be published in the Gazette and a copy laid before the House of Representatives.

Yours sincerely

SIMON UPTON, Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

Annex A

Ministerial Scheme

The New Zealand Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Introduction—the Nature of the Scheme

The Post-Doctoral Fellowships Scheme will provide early career support for New Zealand scientists and engineers of outstanding talent. This may be achieved through supporting post-doctoral research by New Zealanders, locally or overseas, or by attracting back to New Zealand researchers who have recently completed doctoral degrees overseas.

The scheme will complement initiatives being undertaken by the Crown Research Institutes and the universities, and has the particular aim of encouraging top researchers to pursue careers in New Zealand.

The Objectives of the Scheme

The objectives of the scheme are:

• to bridge the potential gap between PhD and employment, maximising the likelihood that young scientists and engineers will pursue science and engineering research careers in New Zealand;

• to assist New Zealand scientists and engineers to obtain exposure to recent overseas developments which are of potential future interest to New Zealand.

Mechanisms of Support

These objectives will be achieved by the following mechanisms:

• providing support for New Zealand post-doctoral researchers to undertake approved research programmes in New Zealand institutions;

• providing support for New Zealand post-doctoral researchers to undertake a programme of research in an overseas institution, where there is a clear intention of returning to a New Zealand institution on completion of the fellowship

Targeting of Support

The scheme will be targeted at recent doctoral graduates (not usually more than 2 years after achieving their PhD). It is expected that each individual fellowship will have a duration of two years, extendable to three years in particular cases where this is merited by the quality of the researcher or the research. Support is expected to average around $60,000 per fellowship, per year. This figure is intended to include financial support for the research itself (including a contribution to overhead costs of the host institution), as well as a stipend for the researcher.

Fellows under this scheme will be selected on the basis of their academic record, and the scientific excellence of the proposed research. Fellowships will not be specifically targeted at any discipline area, and will be tenable at Crown Research Institutes, universities, Research Associations, polytechnics, and private sector laboratories, provided the institution has the capability and the capacity for intellectual and logistical support of the Fellow.

Administration and Selection

The scheme will be administered by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, who may wish to contract some of these responsibilities to the Royal Society. The selection panel will comprise eminent science and engineering researchers.

As a transitional measure, which is not to extend beyond the first four selections, some of the 1993 Fellows may be selected by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology directly, as a means of smoothly integrating their existing fellowship scheme.

Fellowships, while being awarded on a personal basis, may be granted to a host organisation to assist with the logistics of taking up the fellowship.

Funding

The Post-Doctoral Fellowships scheme will allocate $1 million per year, which would enable approximately 17 fellowships to be held in any one year.

Monitoring

The scheme will be monitored by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

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Dr I Axford
Chairperson
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
P O Box 12 240
WELLINGTON

Dear Dr Axford

In accordance with Section 8 of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Act 1990, I direct the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology to