5 March 2012 Early career researchers acknowledged

Lincoln University’s Research Committee has presented awards to four Lincoln University researchers, acknowledging their research excellence and providing funding to assist them as they continue their research careers.

At the inaugural presentation held at Lincoln University, in front of their peers and senior management, Drs Johanna Steyaert, Jude Wilson, Anthony Brien and Tim Curran were each presented a certificate and $5,000 to go towards their respective research projects.

“Lincoln University has continued to develop as a national and international research-led university with particular research strengths in agriculture and argibiosciences, as well as being respected for our commerce, business and enterprise, environmental and social research.  Being able to recognise and assist four researchers early in their research careers demonstrates the commitment the University is making towards research and innovation,” says Director Research Strategy and Development Professor David Simmons .

The Research and Commercialisation Office provides a central University connection for external stakeholders seeking to link with Lincoln University’s research capabilities and to transfer the knowledge and intellectual property that emerges from these relationships.

Professor Simmons is encouraged by the quality of the research being conducted.  “We received ten strong applications from researchers who have completed their PhD within the last five years.   After a peer review of their respective research plans we were able to recognise four researchers representing the University’s three Faculties and the Bio-Protection Research Centre.

“All four recipients are highly-skilled and professional academics and supporting them will further enable their ability to deliver research and innovation essential to our key disciplines”.

About Dr Johanna Steyaert

Johanna is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Bro-Protection Research Centre.  In 2011 Jo received a Marsden Fund Fast Start Grant to investigate the effect of the Earth's geomagnetic forces on fungal growth.

About Dr Jude Wilson

Jude is a senior researcher officer and her main research areas are in tourism and climate change.

About Dr Anthony Brien

Anthony is a senior lecturer in business and hotel management.  Anthony’s main research areas are leadership and management, strategic human resource management and organisational behaviour, human & social capital.

About Dr Tim Curran

Tim is a lecturer in ecology.  Tim’s research lies mainly in the field of plant functional ecology. He is particularly interested in using plant functional traits to understand how plants survive extreme climatic events, such as drought, cyclones and front, and using these findings in restoration ecology.