FiRST Awards 2002

This year many high quality research projects have been submitted to the annual Foundation for Research, Science and Technology FiRST Scholarship Awards, which honour New Zealand's brightest up and coming researchers and scientists.

Journalists may wish to report on some of the interesting projects which are being carried out around New Zealand. The following list details the title of the various projects submitted, the name of the student undertaking the project, the company associated with the research and the relevant university and academic supervisor. The entrants have been grouped under the name of the city/region where they come from. The winners of the Awards will be sent out to you separately - this list contains everybody who submitted an entry in case you wish to follow up on some of the projects.

To find out more about the Foundation, the different fellowships and the assistance offered visit the website at www.frst.govt.nz

To find out more about the FiRST Awards contact:

Tracey Lewis, FiRST Awards Manager, Foundation for Research, Science & Technology on
04 9177801

PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO THE 2002 FiRST SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

AUCKLAND
Postdoctoral Fellowship
1. Dr Shane Kelly (casl@xtra.co.nz), working with NIWA (Dr Alison MacDiarmid)
‘Secondary, Community level impacts of fishing for the spiny lobster’

TIF Scholarships
2. Francis Tsz Chun Au, working with Fisher & Paykel Limited (John Price and Janet Hart) and Auckland University (Neil Edmonds)
‘Master Batch Addition of UV Stabilisers to Abs Materials’

3. Junghoon (Rafael) Lee (machoman@world-net.co.nz), working with Argent Metals Technology Limited (Dr Darius P. K. Singh) in association with Auckland University of Technology
‘Mould Filling Optimisation’

4.Prasika Manilal, working with Argent Metals Technology Limited (Dr Darisu P. K. Singh) in association with Auckland University of Technology
‘ Cooling Circuit Heat Transfer in Aluminium Wheel Casting’

5. Nimma Shepra, working with Olivado (NZ) in association with Massey University (Dr Marie Wong and Dr Laurence Eyres)
‘The Oxidation Stability of Extra Virgin Avocado Oil’

6. Nadine Wakim, working with Meritec Limited (David Kettle) in association with Auckland University (Dr Carol Boyle)
‘Vermicomposting bio-solids and food-waste’

7. Mark van Rij, working with Design Mobel (Timothy Allan) in association with Auckland University (Enrico Hammerle)
‘Design of a new bed adjustability mechanism’

Enterprise Scholarships
8. Athena Ferreira, working with Protemix (Dr G.J.S. Cooper) in association with Auckland University (Professor Garth Cooper)
‘Investigating mechanisms involved in the development of type-2 diabetes’

9. Karen Rapley, working with Carter Holt Harvey Limited (Chayne Zinsli) in association with Auckland University (John Craig and Graham Nugent)
‘Fallow deer management and ecological sustainability, Woodhill Forest’

10. Amanda Scoggins, working with NIWA (Gavin Fisher) in association with Auckland University (Professor Tord Kjellstrom & Dr Jennie Connor)
‘Development of air pollution spatial mapping techniques, exposure maps and health risk estimates’

11. Lincoln Tubbs, working with Moana Pacific Fisheries Limited in association with Auckland University (Dr Mary Sewell and Dr Carolyn Poortenaar)
‘Kingfish parasitology in aquaculture’

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships
12. Susan Crozie, in association with Auckland University (Dr Lee Wallace and Dr Misha Kavka)
‘TV Love: television and technologies of intimacy’

13. Suzanne Hay, in association with Auckland University (Margaret Hayland and Jim Metson
‘The formation and fate of COS’

14. Barbara Konarkawsha, in association with Auckland University (Professor Garth Cooper)
‘Moleculor basis for pancreatic Islet B-cell failure in diabetes’

15. Gwyn Lewis, in association with Auckland University (Dr Winston Bylow)
‘Cortical reorganisation in stroke patients’

16. John Lin, in association with Auckland University (Janusz Lipski)
‘Neuronal determinants of dopamine action’

17. James Stinear, in association with Auckland University (Dr Winston Byblow)
‘The role of movement-elicited afference’

18. Karen Towgood, in association with Auckland University (Associate Professor Jenni Ogden) and the Department of Neurosurgery, Auckland Hospital
‘The outcome of treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms – preliminary findings’

19. Chwei-Sen Wang, in association with Auckland University (Dr Grant Covic & Dr Oskar
‘Power supplies for loosely coupled inductive power transfer system’

HUNTLY
Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship
20. Kyle Bland, in association with Waikato University (Professor Peter J.J. Kamp and Professor Campbell S. Nelson)
‘Analysis of the plogene Hawke’s Bay forearc basin’

HAMILTON
Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowships
21. Gina Mohi (p&g.mohi@xtra.co.nz) , in association with Waikato University (Dr Megan Balks)
‘Investigation of the effects of selected environmental factors on the essential oil yield in kawakawa’

22. Matthew Bryant (mb22@waikato.ac.nz), in association with Waikato University (Professor Roberta Farrell)
‘Hallow giants – kauri heart rot and a heterobasidion fungus’

TIF Scholarship
23. Anette Steel, working with Peace Software (John Harpour) in association with Waikato University (Professor Mark Apperley and Dr Matt Jones)
‘Towards more usable computer systems’

Enterprise Scholarships
24. Claire Cooper, working with Dexcel Limited (Dave Clark) in association with Massey University (Colin Holmes)
‘Studies of variation between dairy cows in their response to once-daily milking’

25. Tim Sampson, working with Fisher and Paykel Healthcare (Lewis Gradon) in association with Waikato University (Moira Steyn-Ross)
‘Correlations in stochastically modelled EEG’

26. David Whiting, working with Fisher and Paykel Healthcare (Lewis Gradon) in association with Waikato University (Moira Steyn-Ross)
‘Numerical simulation of EEG Stochastic differential equations: investigation into transition into anaesthetic unconsciousness’

HAWERA
Technology for Industry Fellowship
27. Shabeshe Paramalingam, working with NZMP-Whareroa, Fonterra Co-op Group Limited (Dr Hong Chen) in association with Massey University (Dr Huub HC Bakker)
‘Modelling and Optimisation of Whey Products Processing’

ROTORUA
Enterprise Scholarships
28. Sonia Foote, working with Norske Skog Tasman Pulp and Paper Limited in association with Waikato University (Professor Hugh Morgan)
‘Biocatalytic capabilities of New Zealand pulp and paper treatment system microbiota’

29.Stuart Mitchell, working with Forest Research (Dr Chris Goulding) in association with Auckland University (Professor David Ryan)
‘Developing optimal forest harvesting schedules with iteratively generated cutting strategies’

GISBORNE
Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowship
30. Ian Ruru, in association with Waikato University (Meto Leach, Janis Swan, Bob Mills and Andrew Jeffs)
‘Perilous Puerulus Predicament: PhD Almost Sunk by Stranding’

NAPIER
TIF Scholarship
31. John Keir, working with Vectek Electronics Limited (Dr Simon Walton) in association with Canterbury University
‘Design and implementation of a new algorithm of enhanced performance of a high power active voltage conditioner’

PALMERSTON NORTH
Postdoctoral Fellowship
32. Dr Susan McCoard, working with Nutrition and Behaviour Group, AgResearch Limited (Dr Nicole Roy and Dr Warren McNabb)
‘Leucine-sensing kinase(s): A key to mRNA Translation’

TIF Scholarships
33. Naomi Boxall, working with The EpiCentre (P Davies, N Perkins, S Fenwick, B Jones, D Marks and R Diprose) in association with Massey University
‘Risk factors for Campylobacter Jejuni in commercial broiler flocks in New Zealand’

34. Sally Mannering (s.a.mannering@massey.ac.nz), working with Schering-Plough Animal Health Limited (Roger Marchant) in association with Massey University (Dave West)
‘Strategic Vaccine Investigation’

35. Nicholas K.L. Martin (nkl_martin@hotmail.com) working with SchemNZ Limited (Werner Schnider) in association with Massey University
‘Process Design Testing Using Simulation’

36. Jeremy McLeod working with Lactose New Zealand (NZMP) Kapuni (Tony Paterson) in association with Massey University
‘Lactose smearing in transport pipes’

Enterprise Scholarships
37. Janine Anthon, working with Association of New Zealand Advertisers in association with Massey University (Dr Janet Hoek)
‘Could less be more?’

38. Sarah Pitcher-Campbell, working with Landco Limited – Banthowe Vineyards Limited in association with Massey University (Mike Tuohy)
‘The application of precision technologies to a specialized landuse – a viticulture case study’

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships
39. Alice Aye, in association with Waikato University (Professor Ian Evans)
‘Parent-adolescent conflict in recent Asian migrant families in New Zealand’

40. Mary Breheny, in association with Massey University (Dr Christine Stephens)
‘Health professionals constructions of mothering: impact on accessing primary healthcare’

41. Xuezhao Sun, in association with Auckland University (Simone Hoskin, Ian Andrew, Keith Joblin and Philip Harris)
‘Improved cell wall degradation by rumen micro-organisms: new forage versus traditional forage’

UPPER HUTT
Postdoctoral Fellowship
42. Kathleen Logan (logank@agresearch.cri.nz) working with AgResearch (Ken McNatty and Jenny Jengel)
‘Discovery of novel genes and their functions using expressed sequence tags’

LOWER HUTT
Postdoctoral Fellowship
43. Nicola Litchfield, working with Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (Kelvin Berryman)
‘Dynamics of the Hikurangi Subduction Marin recorded by river terraces in eastern North Island’

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship
44. Christine Joy McIntosh, in association with Victoria University (Dr F.J. McDonald)
‘A role of nedd8 in regulation of the epithelial sodium channel’

WELLINGTON
Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellowship
45. Eli Mrkusich, in association with Victoria University (Dr Daren Kay and Paul Froggatt)
‘New technologies for the in situ analysis of single nucleotide variations in nucleic acid’

Postdoctoral Fellowship
46, Alan Orpin (a.orpin@niwa.cri.nz) working with National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited (Lionel Carter)
‘Land-ocean linkages off NW New Zealand’

Enterprise Scholarship
47. Clarissa Brown-Douglas working with New Zealand Racing Industry Board in association with Massey University (Professor Elwyn Firth, Dr Peter Fennessy and Associate Professor Tim Parkinson)
‘Growth and reproductive development of young thoroughbreds born out of season to facilitate sales in northern hemisphere bloodstock markets’

NELSON
Postdoctoral Fellowship
48. Jennifer Smith (smith.moore@xtra.co.nz) working with The Cawthron Institute (Dr Lesley Rhodes and Dr Doug Mountfort)
‘Development and application of carrageenase assays to generate bioactive compounds’

CHRISTCHURCH
Postdoctoral Fellowships
49. Dr B. Louise Chilvers (l.chilvers@zool.canterbury.ac.nz) in association with Canterbury University (Dr Neil Gemmell)
‘Foraging ecology and maternal investment patterns of New Zealand sea lions’

50. Margaret Gilpin (gilpinm@crop.cri.nz) in association with Crop & Food Research (Dr Tony Conner)
‘Development and assessment of chimeric plants as a biosafety tool for release of transgenic crops’

51. Andrew Laurie (laurie.a@landcare.cri.nz) working with Landcare Research (Dr Janine Clemons)
‘Genetic responses to environmental toxicants in indigenous species’

Enterprise Scholarships
52. Stewart Collie, working with Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand Inc. in association with Massey University (David L Officer)
‘Development and application of textile sensors and actuators’

53. Tracey Dale, working with Crop & Food Research (Dr Jan Grant) in association with Canterbury University (Dr Sandra Jackson)
‘A study of T-DNA integration and gene expression in transgenic pinus radiata’

54. Nerida Theinhardt working with Solid Energy (Mark Pizey) in association with Canterbury University (David Norton)
‘Restoration practices at the Stockton open cast coal mine’

55. Aynsley Tizzard, working with Lincoln Ventures Limited (Dr Neil Pasco) in association with Lincoln University (Dr Ravi Gooneratne)
‘How toxic is the world we live in?’

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships
56. Nicholas Blakeley, in association with Canterbury University (Associate Professor Phil Bones)
‘Recovery of under-samples magnetic resonance images’

57. M.R. Chandraratne, in association with Lincoln University (Professor Roy Bickerstaffe)
‘Online image analysis of meat quality characteristics’

58. Chris Forne, in association with Canterbury University (Dr Michael Hayes)
‘Optimal methods for 3D reconstruction using photometric images’

59. Derek Martyn, in association with Canterbury University (Andrew D. Abell)
‘Novel pyrrole-based peptidomimetic as a-chymotrypsin inhibitors and anti-cancer agents’

60. Milinda Ranasinghe, in association with Canterbury University (Dr Peter Gostomski)
‘Modelling the mass and energy balances in biofiltration’

61. Lucinda Robertson, in association with Lincoln University (Professor Roy Bickerstaffe and Dr J.D. Morton)
‘Inherited ovine cataract as a model of human cataract formation’

62. Sonia Whiteman, in association with Lincoln University (Professor Alison Stewart)
‘A study of petri vine decline in New Zealand’

KAIAPOI
TIF Scholarship
63. Malina Storer, working with Canterbury Healthcare Laboratories (Dr P.M. George) in association with Christchurch School of Medicine, Otago University (Associate-Professor S.T. Chambers, Dr M. Lever and Dr D.A.R. Happer)
‘New laboratory test for assessing a vitamin status in an ageing New Zealand population’

TIMARU
TIF Scholarships
64. Matthew Savage, working with ADM Group Limited (Graeme Wood) in association with Canterbury University (Professor L.R. Weatherley)
‘Advanced oxidation of wool scouring effluent’

65. Steven Kroening, working with ANDAR/ADM Group Limited (Graeme Wood) in association with Canterbury University (Dr Laurie Greenfield)
‘Biodegradation and composting profiles of woolscour wastes’

DUNEDIN
Postdoctoral Fellowship
66. Paula Cardoc-Davies (paulacd@alk.ali.otago.ac.nz) in association with Otago University (Dr Lyall Haton, Dr Keith Gordon and Professor Brian Robinson)
‘Smart boxes and cages for advanced molecular devices”

Enterprise Scholarship
67. Praneeta Sharma working with Donaghys Industries (David Casady) in association with Otago University (Michael Barker)
‘Mussel spat adhesion to catching ropes’

Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship
68. Marion Johnson in association with Otago University (David Wharton and Dr Colin Mackintosh)
‘Huskvac’ does it protect red deer against lungworm?’

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