University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal
Professor John Crump (Centre for International Health) is the 2024 recipient of the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal.
Professor Crump’s research has improved the lives of millions of people through the discovery and dissemination of a range of preventable and treatable causes of non-malaria fever in tropical countries. He is a global leader on the epidemiology of typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever and nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease, and has received international acclaim for his work on bacterial zoonoses, Q fever and rickettioses in the tropics.
Professor Crump’s scholarship is world class. He has published >300 scientific manuscripts, his work had been cited >58,000 times, and his h-index is 88. He is a 2020 cross-field Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher with multiple highly cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year – one of very few scientists worldwide to have done so in the fields of tropical medicine and global health. Professor Crump has won numerous prestigious awards, including the 2012 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Bailey K. Ashford Medal for distinguished work in tropical medicine, and the 2022 Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Chalmers Medal. He is the only New Zealander to have received either medal.
The University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal award aims to promote research at Otago and to give recognition to outstanding performance of individual researchers or research teams. A medal commemorating the award will be presented to each recipient at a public lecture given by the recipient. Up to two such awards may be given in any one year.
Any academic staff member of the University of Otago who holds an appointment at the level of Research Fellow, Lecturer, Senior Research Fellow, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor or Professorial Research Fellow, or a team comprising such individuals may be eligible.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement, including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or the development of concepts that lead to significant advances in activities of the University.
Past recipients of the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal
The Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal
Associate Professor Anna High (Faculty of Law) is the 2024 winner of the Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal.
Since joining the University in 2017, Associate Professor High has established herself as an expert in evidence law, criminal law, feminist theory/sexual violence, Chinese law and socio-legal research methods. Her work in tackling the law's response to sexual violence and what constitutes proper evidence of consent, and in conducting socio-legal fieldwork in China, have been described as ground-breaking and brave.
Associate Professor High’s achievements to date have been outstanding, and include substantial research funding, publications in top-tier NZ and international journals, and multiple awards for teaching and writing, including the 2020 Sir Ian Barker Prize for the best legal article published in NZ that year.
The late Sir Carl Smith was a prominent Dunedin businessman and member of the University Council who set up the Rowheath Trust to support the University's work.
The Rowheath Trust Award aims to promote research at the University of Otago and to give recognition to outstanding research performance of early career staff. Any staff member of the University of Otago who has been on the staff of this University for a period of at least two years and who has held a career research appointment for less than a combined total of ten years at this and other research institutes may be eligible.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement, including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or scholarship for an emerging researcher.
Past recipients of The Rowheath Trust Award and Carl Smith Medal
Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Six up-and-coming University of Otago staff have been announced as the 2024 recipients of Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research.
Dr Jude Ball (Department of Public Health), Dr Rose Crossin (Department of Population Health), Dr Olivia Harrison (Department of Psychology), Dr Nathan Kenny (Department of Biochemistry), Dr Daniel Pletzer (Department of Microbiology and Immunology) and Dr Andrew Reynolds (Department of Medicine) have been selected for the award on the basis of their outstanding research achievements.
Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research recognize outstanding research achievements by early career staff. Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Awards.
The basis for selection is outstanding research achievement, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Past recipients of Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Two talented University of Otago researchers have been announced as 2024 recipients of the Māori Early Career Award for Distinction in Research.
Dr Amanda Clifford (Department of Psychology) and Dr Amber Young (School of Pharmacy) have been selected for the award on the basis of their outstanding research achievements.
Introduced in 2023, the Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research recognise outstanding research achievement by early career staff who whakapapa Māori, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Awards.
Past recipients of Māori Early Career Awards for Distinction in Research
Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research
Dr Emma Powell (Te Tumu) has been announced as the 2024 recipient of the Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research.
Tofā Sāili refers to the wisdom gained through the constant search for truth. Introduced in 2023, the Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research recognises outstanding research achievements by early career staff who are of indigenous Pacific descent, with emphasis being given to achievement during the nominee's appointment at the University of Otago.
Full-time academic staff who have held a career appointment as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Clinical Lecturer, Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow at the University of Otago for a period of at least two years, and who have held an academic appointment for less than a combined total of six years at this and other universities, may be eligible for the Award.
Past recipients of Tofā Sāili Pacific Early Career Award for Distinction in Research
Research Group Award
The Phage-host interactions (Phi) laboratory is the 2024 winner of the Research Group Award. (*Phages are viruses that infect and specifically kill bacteria.)
The Phi lab explores four related fundamental and translational areas: 1) phage defence systems, 2) how phages evade defences, 3) phage antimicrobials against agricultural and medical pathogens, and 4) CRISPR-Cas tools for biotechnological applications. The lab’s researchers have interdisciplinary and complementary skills and pursue a deliberately collaborative approach, spanning genetics and microbiology, biochemistry and structural biology, bioinformatics and high-throughput screens, and surface chemistry.
The lab’s research productivity and scholarly impact is superb, comprising 63 publications and >7,800 citations since 2019. Lab members have won multiple prestigious international fellowships and awards and have been invited to present at top international conferences. Since 2019, Phi lab has been awarded ~$17M of research funding as Principal Investigators from HRC, MBIE, Marsden, Return on Science and Zespri, among other funders.
The University of Otago Research Group Award recognises outstanding research performance at a high international level by a research group led from the University of Otago.
The basis for selection is outstanding scholarly achievement that enhances the understanding, development and well-being of individuals and society including the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, the development of innovative technology, or the development of concepts that lead to significant advances. The award recognises achievement during the previous five years.
Past recipients of the Research Group Award
The University of Otago Arts Fellowships
The University of Otago recognises the importance of providing authors, dancers, artists, and composers with financial support and resources to enable them to explore their creative talents. The Arts Fellowships cater for a wide variety of artistic styles that reflect the diversity of writing, art, composing and dance in New Zealand.
The University offers the following Fellowships:
- The Robert Burns Fellowship
- The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
- The Frances Hodgkins Fellowship
- The Mozart Fellowship
- University of Otago College of Education Writer in Residence
Further information can be found on the Otago Fellows website.
Divisional and Departmental Awards
Internal funding of research occurs both at the Divisional and Departmental level. Please contact your Divisional Office directly for further information.