Early Career research, Research , Division of Health Sciences

Te Kahui Houhare Rangahau Hauora

The Early and Mid-Career Researcher ( EMCR ) Group aims to support EMCR s to achieve research excellence by facilitating networking and promoting career development opportunities within the Division. We can be contacted here:

Email hsemcr@otago.ac.nz

Our Mission: Promote research excellence and sustainability within Aotearoa's unique research environment

Research careers are dynamic, exciting and hugely rewarding, but can also be daunting and precarious, particularly when starting out.

The Division of Health Sciences Early and Mid-Career Researcher ( EMCR ) Management Committee was set up by a group of passionate EMCR s in order to support colleagues across the division to develop research excellence at the University of Otago. As EMCR s ourselves, we understand the trials and tribulations that come with this ultimately rewarding career and want our researchers to achieve excellence while maintaining a holistic life balance.

Working with the Divisional Research Committee, we aim to strengthen our research community across all areas of health science and organise and promote career development opportunities for our EMCRs within the Division. To achieve this, we hold regular symposia, listen to, promote and advocate for EMCR s, and support EMCRs with funding, networking opportunities, and professional development workshops.

We also have a dedicated Blackboard page that includes a calendar of events and other useful information, from grant peer review support, funding opportunities, guides for research impact, Māori Health Advancement, and Vision Mātauranga, and much more. The link is in the Resources section of this page. If you have any problems gaining access to Blackboard, just email us at the address below.

We want to hear from you to know what you need to cultivate a satisfying research career. If you would like to know more, or have any ideas about how we can better support EMCRs , feel free to email us or catch us on Twitter:

Email hsemcr@otago.ac.nz

Upcoming events

Early and mid career academic development

Early and mid career academic development planning guide (PDF)

Division support

Drop-in sessions

Drop-in sessions available for feedback on your Māori Health Advancement section of your grant application(s).

Weekly sessions available with Howard Maxwell, Scientific Officer for Māori Health Advancement on Tuesday and Wednesday 11.00am and 11.30am

Additional sessions are available close to HRC and MBIE deadlines.

Book a session

Seminars

2022 seminars are available to watch on Echo360.
Rutherford Discovery Fellowships, Marsden Fast-Start, Hercus Fellowships, HRC Project Grants.

To access Echo360, check the HS EMCR Support group on Microsoft Teams or email: healthsciences.research@otago.ac.nz

Division of Health Sciences Accelerator Grant 2024

The Accelerator Grants 2024 round is now open for applications. Applications for either research seed-funding or travel funding will be considered (up to $2,000).

You can find the memo, application form, and CV template in the "Accelerator Grants" channel on Teams. The documents are also available on SharePoint: Divisional funding opportunities > EMCR Accelerator Grants.

Please read the memo and submit your application using the provided application form by 9:00am Friday, 12 April.
Email hsemcr@otago.ac.nz

Previous EMCR Accelerator Grant rounds

In 2023, we awarded 15 accelerator grants for a total of $26,000. Story to follow.
In 2022, we have awarded 17 researchers (12 early career; 5 mid-career) with grants that will be used to kickstart and support their awesome research ideas.
Read more about the grants and the recipients
In 2021, in our inaugural EMCR Accelerator Grant round, we awarded approximately $53,000 to EMCRs.
Read about successful projects