Celebrating the people and work of Sciences was the focus of the 2026 Sciences Divisional Awards ceremony held last week.
The awards, which have been running since 2015, showcase the contributions of staff and students from across the Division.
Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Charles Brennan says he and Vice-Chancellor Hon Grant Robertson were honoured to present the awards.
“It was my first time attending the Sciences Divisional Awards, and learning more about the quality of mahi being undertaken across the Division was genuinely inspiring,” Charles says.
“I would like to thank all the award nominees and recipients for the positive impact you’re making. Your contributions to our Division and the wider University are immense and appreciated.”
The 2024 judging panel was chaired by Associate Professor Tracy Perry, Sciences Associate Dean Māori, and comprised the following winners from the 2024 awards – Professor Blair Blakie, Dr Nick Green, Dr Lara Vlietstra, Dr Celia Lie, Dr Marea Colombo, Dr Francesca Marzatico, Mariana Te Pou, and Professor Phillip Wilcox.
Due to the high calibre of nominations received, the panel presented each of the Outstanding Early-Career Researcher, Outstanding External Engagement and Outstanding Early-Career Teacher awards to two recipients.
2026 Sciences Divisional Award winners
Congratulations to the 2026 Sciences Divisional Award winners:
Outstanding Researcher: Professor Jörg Frauendiener (Department of Mathematics and Statistics)
Outstanding Early-Career Researcher: Dr Edmond Fehoko (Department of Human Nutrition); Dr Yanfang Wu (Department of Chemistry)
Best Research Paper (academic staff): Professor Elaine Reese (Department of Psychology)
Best Research Paper (postgraduate student): Phyo C Thu (School of Surveying)
Outstanding External Engagement: Richard Hemi (School of Surveying); Associate Professor Nic Rawlence (Department of Zoology)
Outstanding Teacher: Dr Celia Lie (Department of Psychology)
Outstanding Early-Career Teacher: Dr Emma Douma (Department of Physics); Dr Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle (Department of Psychology)
Innovation in Māori or Pasifika Course Content: Manaia Pearmain-Fenton (Ecology Degree Programme)
Outstanding Professional Staff – Technical: Daryl Braid (Department of Chemistry)
Outstanding Professional Staff – Administration: Wendy Shanks (Department of Zoology)
Continuous Service Milestone recipients
Congratulations also to our recent Continuous Service Milestone recipients:
Continuous Service Milestone recipients: May – August 2026
Ana Stojanov, Senior Lecturer, Psychology, five years
Erin Young, Teaching Fellow, Food Science, five years
Michael Bennington, Research Assistant, Chemistry, five years
Rob Lewis, Teaching Fellow / NZMSC Educator, Marine Science, five years
Xun Xiao, Senior Lecturer, Mathematics & Statistics, five years
Marco Brenna, Senior Lecturer, Geology, 10 years
Sara Styles, Senior Lecturer, Human Nutrition, 10 years
Nicky McHugh, Laboratory Services Supervisor, Zoology, 20 years
Stephanie Sherburd, Animal Technician, Psychology, 20 years
Tony Moore, Dean, Surveying, 25 years
Daryl Braid, Electromechanical – Mechanical Technician, Chemistry, 35 years
Sally Brooker, Professor, Chemistry, 35 years
Continuous Service Milestone recipients, from left, Janice Lord (Botany, 30 years), Nigel Barrett (SPESES, 35 years), Sally Brooker (Chemistry, 35 years), Daryl Braid (Chemistry, 35 years), Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson, Pro-Vice Chancellor Sciences Charles Brennan, Jeremy Anderson (Psychology, 30 years), and David Bilkey (Psychology, 40 years).