WHAT IS THE O-ZONE GROUP?
FURTHER INFORMATION:
To read more about the group and how we
The O-zone group comprises early career
might be helpful please see our website:
award winners at Otago.
http://www.otago.ac.nz/research/centres/ot
ago004136.html
The main goals of the group are:
1. To advocate for and promote research:

Within the University of Otago;

To the broader New Zealand
government, industry, and research
sectors;

To the New Zealand public.
2. To facilitate networking & collaborations
among early to mid-career researchers at
University of Otago.
CONTACT DETAILS:
For all enquires, in the first instance, please
contact Catherine McDonald, the group’s
administrator: Phone: 03 479 8835; email:
catherine.mcdonald@otago.ac.nz
FOR EARLY-MID CAREER RESEARCH STAFF
MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
O-zone members are winners of either an
Early Career Award for Distinction in
Research, or the prestigious Rowheath Trust
Award and Carl Smith Medal. To maintain its
focus on early career researchers, award
winners remain members of the group for a
five-year term. The group elects two
conveners, with convenership rotated
biennially. The Conveners of the O-zone
group sit on the University of Otago
Research Committee; to provide a voice for
early career staff.
The group exemplifies the University of
Otago’s national and international leadership
by including world-class researchers across
the entire spectrum of disciplines – science,
medical science, social science, commerce,
business, humanities and the arts.
SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR EARLY
CAREER STAFF
SHOWCASING AND PROMOTING
RESEARCH AT OTAGO
The group typically organises a biennial visit
to parliament to both showcase the research
being conducted by early career staff at
Otago; and to promote better research
opportunities for early career staff at a
national level.
In the alternate year they organise a public
symposium, again showcasing the cuttingedge research being conducted at Otago.
The group also elects two key agendas to
focus on over a two year period. The group
strongly encourages all early career research
staff across all of the University of Otago’s
campuses to make contact with the group at
any time to raise any specific research issues
they may be experiencing; or to alert us to
any assistance for early career staff that they
feel that the group could look in to.
O-zone group members are also available to
meet with individual early career staff
members to discuss the challenges involved
in starting out. We have members who are
both confirmation path and research-only
staff so can offer advice for both situations.
To set up meetings you can either email one
of the convenors to suggest the most
suitable person for your situation; or email
anyone listed on our website directly.