We are researchers who would like to express concerns regarding the recently established Rutherford Discovery Fellowships and the current lack of postdoctoral opportunities available for early‐ to mid‐career researchers in New Zealand.
An open letter was sent today by Melanie Massaro to the Minister, the Royal Society, and others. The letter, signed by 560 scientists, highlights the lack of post-doctoral opportunities in New Zealand. Since the demise of the FRST postdoctoral fellowship scheme, there are very few avenues for funding post-doctoral research in New Zealand, beyond the Rutherford Foundation and the Marsden Fund. The New Zealand Association of Scientists supports this campaign to highlight the lack of opportunity for recent PhD graduates.
As outlined in the letter, the new Rutherford Discovery fellowship scheme favours mid-career scientists over those starting their research careers. Compared to many other countries, New Zealand not only under-invests in science generally, but strongly under-invests in post-doctoral positions. This is a major gap in the science funding landscape in New Zealand. We train many bright minds who then (by and large) head off overseas.
A PDF copy of the letter is available here.
Comment from a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship recipient
Although I am a recipient of one of the inaugural Rutherford Discovery Fellowships I certainly strongly support any call for increased postdoctoral funding in New Zealand. Postdoctoral funding was already far too low before the FRST scheme was discontinued. Postdocs are the key members of any good research group. But I think it is dangerous to line up Rutherford Discovery Fellowships with the discontinued FRST postdoctoral scheme as if its an either/or choice -- they don't serve the same purposes.
I should also point out that as a direct result of my obtaining a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, my department was able to advertise and appoint a 5-year lectureship that brought a strong NZ researcher back to New Zealand from the USA. This was possible because my department is paying for only a fraction of my salary for the next 5 years. Of course this outcome occurred because in some sense I was willing to spread the wealth of the fellowship by donating my portion of the overheads that would normally have been accessible for spending on my own research. But by working with the Faculty and Department we were able to get a better result: bringing an exceptional talented NZ scientist back to NZ from overseas and build critical mass in my extended research group. I would strongly recommend to my fellow Rutherford Discovery awardees that they consider strategic decision making of this sort when they wield their newfound leverage within their host organizations.
Alexei
Quick response, MSI
This afternoon, the MSI has already released what appears to be a response to the open letter ... they are planning to review the Rutherford scheme, soon ...
"MSI is aware that there are concerns in the research sector about support for early to mid-career researchers, including those who have recently finished their doctorates. In the light of these concerns in the research sector, MSI will be bringing the review forward."