Te Puiaki Kaipūtaiao Maea MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize

Applications open 13 May 2025

Applications close 7 August 2025

 

About this Prize

One you have read all the material below you can apply for the Prize here

Eligibility

• The Prize will be awarded to an outstanding emerging scientist¹ who has had their PhD conferred within the past eight (8) years. i.e. (no earlier than 1 January 2017)
• If the applicant has had career interruptions after 1 January 2017 e.g. being a primary caregiver of dependent children then please make mention of that in your application. 
• The applicant must be either a New Zealand citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident, currently domiciled in New Zealand
• The recipient of the Prize is expected to remain active in research in New Zealand for at least the year following the presentation of the Prize.
• Re-application by candidates from previous years is encouraged, as long as they still meet the current eligibility criteria.  Past winners of the Prize are not eligible to apply for this particular Prize.

¹Taken to include natural, physical, mathematical and information sciences, applied science, technology, engineering, social science and multi-disciplinary science

 

Criteria 

The application will be judged on the following criteria. (with cross references to an evidence portfolio):

• The research carried out by the applicant is leading edge in its field.
• The research has already, or is likely to result in the generation of valuable new knowledge in the field, or have wider impact.
• The applicant is able to effectively communicate their research.

Each applicant should address these criteria in their application and cross-reference that statement with an Evidence Portfolio to support their application. Assessment will include consideration of referee statements and an interview of shortlisted applicants.

Value

• The total value of the Prize is $200,000.
• $50,000 is for the recipient and can be used at their discretion.
• $150,000 must be used for the recipients ongoing research.

Selection panel 2025

(to be confirmed)

Panellists are appointed by the Pou Whakahaere Chief Executive of Royal Society Te Apārangi based on the recommendation of the panel Chairs and Secretariat. Appointments are made on a year-by-year basis for each calendar year. Panellists can be appointed for more than one year.  Panellists must be experienced in an appropriate field or community and may be drawn from outside New Zealand if necessary.

Panels will consist of established leaders and researchers in their field, their research and in their communities.  We will also aim to bring emerging people to panels to ensure diverse views and allow for the development of people and new talent.

In considering the suitability of potential panellists, the following requirements for panel composition is considered as appropriate:

• Mix of discipline/expertise
• Sector and institutional balance
• Geographic representation
• Ethnicity
• Gender balance.

Royal Society Te Apārangi is committed to following best practice in being inclusive of diversity within our activities.

It is recognised that occasionally members of the selection panel will know applicants or have other conflicts of interest. They will be expected to declare all such knowledge and conflicts of interest. In cases where an applicant is the colleague of a panellist, the Chair of the selection panel will rule if this conflict is significant enough for the panellist to be stood down from the panel for that entry. (In the case of the Chair having a conflict of interest the decision will be made by another member of the panel who has been identified in this role at the beginning of the process).

The selection panel will not enter into any correspondence concerning its deliberations. All inquiries should be directed to the Secretariat. Note that information on matters such as ranking, or names of unsuccessful entrants, will not be disclosed.

Confidentiality

The Secretariat gives no undertaking to keep confidential any information that is provided in this application unless this is identified as information that should be treated as such. It may, for example, be used to prepare promotional material for the prize in future years.

Please note that information submitted on the entry form may be subject to the Official Information Act.

Referees

• Two referees will be required to support the Applicant’s application.
• The Selection Panel at its sole discretion, may request further referees or make contact with outside parties.
• The panel also reserves the right to hold interviews to help inform their decision.

Navigating the portal

• Everyone must register in the portal (this includes applicants, referees, mentors etc). The only exception is if you have registered in the portal previously.
• The application form and referee form can only be downloaded from the portal.
• Everyone must first set up a profile where some compulsory questions need to be answered but other questions are optional.
• The applicant will be prompted by the portal to supply referee details and this will trigger an email which is sent to the referee which contains a unique link for referees to lot into the portal.
• An application cannot be submitted until referees have submitted their referee reports.

Contents of application must include

1. Completed application template and evidence portfolio
2. Two completed referee forms
3. Applicant CV.

Expectations

• The recipient of the Prize will be expected to be involved in promotional opportunities appropriate to receiving The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize.
• The $150,000 will be used for the winner’s ongoing research.

 Announcement

• The winner  is expected to make themselves available for a full day in February 2026 to meet with the Prime Minister’s Science Prize media liaison personnel in preparation of media material and photos.
• The winner will be announced in March/April 2026.  (date to be confirmed) and the winner will be expected to make themselves available for that announcement.

Closing

Applications close at 1.00pm on 7 August.  Late applications will not be eligible.

 

Ko te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat for The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes is Royal Society Te Apārangi.  Contact details are:

Te Kaiwhakahaere the Secretariat
The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes
Royal Society Te Apārangi
PO Box 598
Wellington

Waea telephone: (04) 470 5762

Īmēra email: pmscienceprizes@royalsociety.org.nz.