New Zealand Government LEARN Postdoctoral Fellowships for Developing Countries 2018

The Postdoctoral Fellowship provides funds for an emerging scientist from a developing country to complete a research project in New Zealand in an area aligned with livestock greenhouse gas mitigation.

Application Deadline: 30th June 2018

Eligible Countries: Developing Countries

To Be Taken At (Country): New Zealand.

About the Award: The Livestock Emissions Abatement Research Network or LEARN is an awards scheme sponsored by the New Zealand Government, through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to build international capability in livestock emissions research.

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LEARN is part of New Zealand’s support for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (or GRA (www.globalresearchalliance.org)). The GRA aims to increase international cooperation and investment in research to help reduce the emissions intensity of agriculture and increase its potential for soil carbon sequestration.

Type: Postdoctoral, Fellowship

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Postdoctoral Fellowship, you must:

• Have gained a PhD in the last 5 years.
• Be a high achieving researcher (supported by academic transcripts, letters of recommendation and publishing record).
• Be employed in an area of research aligned with livestock greenhouse gas mitigation in your home country.
• Have the support of your employer to apply for the Fellowship.
• Have a mentor in a New Zealand research organisation (host).
• Be resident in a developing country as defined by the OECD list of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) recipients: http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/daclist.htm
• Satisfy New Zealand Government requirements for international entry into New Zealand.
• Be able to speak and understand English to a level sufficient to function in a research role.

Selection Criteria: The assessment panel considers:

• The science quality and feasibility of the proposed research project.
• Alignment with known scientific priorities and profile of the applicant’s home organisationand the New Zealand host organisation.
• The extent to which the project will create enduring collaborations between New Zealand and the home country.
• The extent to which the project will contribute to building capability in livestock greenhouse gas research in the home organisation and country.

Taking into account the panel’s recommendations, the Ministry for Primary Industries then assesses the application’s ‘fit’ with the objectives of the GRA and other Ministry for Primary Industries objectives and priorities before making its funding decision.

The contract will be signed by the applicant, New Zealand host organisation, the applicant’s home organisation and the NZAGRC.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Funding is available for:

• Up to NZD$50,000 per year for a maximum of two years to cover living expenses while inNew Zealand (pro rata to be calculated on time spent in New Zealand).
• Up to NZD$5,000 will be provided for return economy class airfares and travel/medicalinsurance.
• Up to NZD$5,000 will be provided to assist with research costs associated with the project.

Duration of Program:  It is for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of two years and must be started within one year of the award being granted.

How to Apply: 

• There is a two-stage application process. The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) administers the LEARN awards on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
• Applicants must first submit an Expression Of Interest (EOI) to to determine eligibility. Forms can be downloaded from here. If eligibility is confirmed, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application to be considered by an assessment panel and Ministry for Primary Industries.
• An EOI for a Postdoctoral Fellowship can be submitted at any time during the year, however full applications must be submitted by 30 June (New Zealand time).

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers: New Zealand Government

Important Notes: All applications must be developed in close collaboration with a New Zealand research institution.