Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Awards are for promising New Zealand graduate students to undertake postgraduate study or research at US institutions in fields related to science and innovation.
Approximately seven awards are granted annually, valued at up to US$55,000 (plus NZ$4,000 travel funding) for up to one year of study or research in the US. Students undertaking multi-year Masters or PhD degrees have the opportunity to apply for additional funding of up to US$40,000 towards their second year of study.
These awards are offered in partnership with the Science and Innovation group of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), the lead agency driving the science and innovation sector in New Zealand.
The awards are available in fields of science and innovation targeted to support New Zealand’s economic, social, environmental and cultural needs, and to build international science connections. This includes, but it is not limited to, science research of the highest quality; areas with relevance to current and emerging New Zealand industry, social and environmental needs; areas with potential to broaden the economy and increase connections between research and industries; sectors of future need or growth; areas supporting Vision Matauranga – unlocking the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people.
Fulbright New Zealand Graduate Awards can be used towards a Masters or PhD programme, or grantees can participate as a Visiting Student Researcher (VSR). A VSR allows grantees to spend between 6-12 months studying or researching a topic or proposed project in the US, usually as part of a degree programme within New Zealand. This can be an attractive option for those pursuing a graduate degree at a New Zealand institution, when research in the US would supplement or aid their programme. A VSR does not require full graduate school admission into a US institution, and instead requires a letter of invitation from a host institution.
Nikki Singh
Nikki Singh from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research the interplay of illness and identity for young adults living with autoimmune diseases at Stanford University in California. This is research towards a PhD at The University of Auckland. Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Hons First Class) from The University of Auckland in 2022.
Niamh Orr-Walker
Niamh Orr-Walker from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research health psychology and breast cancer survivorship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University in Boston. Niamh has a BSc form the University of Otago and is working towards a Master of Health Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Psychology at The University of Auckland.
Thomas Marsland
Thomas Marsland from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will research artificial intelligence methods for antibiotic discovery at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Boston. Thomas graduated with a BSc (Hons First Class) in Microbiology from the University of Otago in 2018. He is currently doing a PhD at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.
Amelia Blamey
Amelia Blamey from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Economic Policy and Practice at Boston University. Amelia graduated with an MCom in Economics (Distinction), BCom in Economics, and BSc in Environmental Science and Geography from Victoria University of Wellington in 2024.
Sarah Hunter
Sarah Hunter from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research childhood bone and joint infections at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee. She is studying for a PhD at The University of Auckland. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from The University of Auckland in 2016 and a Master of Health Science (Honours) in 2022. She is a clinical research and training fellow with the Health Research Council of New Zealand and an Advanced Trainee with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association.
Nick Denton
Nick Denton from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will complete a Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Harvard University in Boston. Nick graduated with a MArch (Professional) and Bachelor of Architectural Studies, and BSc in Physics from Victoria University of Wellington.