Student Research Grants

Aim of the award

These grants are designed to provide research support (direct costs) to postgraduate students studying ecology in Aotearoa New Zealand. The grants aim to support postgraduate research that advances ecological research in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the potential to benefit species and ecosystems.

Award

The grants provide support for direct costs associated with research such as, but not limited to, field costs and analytical expenses, but excluding fees, living expenses and conference costs. Applicants can apply for up to $2500. Once the funds have been used the successful applicants will need to provide a short report outlining how the funds were used to be published in the newsletter of Te Aka Toro | NZ Ecological Society. We encourage the recipients to present their research at Te Aka Toro | NZ Ecological Society conference.

Eligibility

To apply for these grants, applicants must be:

• enrolled in a NZ university for postgraduate study (MSc, PhD or equivalent) in ecology;
• a current member of Te Aka Toro | New Zealand Ecological Society;

Previous recipients of this grant are not eligible to apply again.

Selection

Grants will be based on the quality of the proposed research (scientific merit), potential to advance ecology in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the potential benefit to species and ecosystems. In addition, one grant will be specifically awarded to a Māori student where the project meets the aim/eligibility of the grant, and one grant will be awarded to a student with a research project that engages with, or is proposed by, mana whenua.

The selection panel shall consist of current elected council members of Te Aka Toro | New Zealand Ecological Society. Where deemed appropriate the council may co-opt ex-officio members of the council on to the selection panel, and/or delegate a sub-committee to oversee selection. The nominated committee reserves the right not to allocate grants in any given year.

Application

Please email application form to the awards convenor (Margaret Stanley, mc.stanley@auckland.ac.nz) by 31 July 2026.

Application form download.

Applications (as detailed in the form) must include: 1) a brief research proposal, 2) briefly explain how the research advances ecological research in Aotearoa +/or have the potential to benefit species and ecosystems in Aotearoa, 3) details of how the grant will be spent, and 4) a statement on how this grant will improve/change your research project.

Applicants are also required to upload (here) a brief supporting statement (as a word or PDF file) from their supervisor as part of this application process that confirms 1) the applicant is a student under their supervision, 2) the application represents an accurate reflection of the research project, and 3) the requirement of funds for the project.

For any queries, contact the awards convenor (Margaret Stanley, mc.stanley@auckland.ac.nz).