Li Lairong Fellowship
Li Lairong Horticultural Research Fellowship
Li Lairong Horticultural Research Fellowship
Plant & Food Research is offering scientists in China the opportunity to undertake research in New Zealand through the prestigious Li Lairong Fellowship, designed to encourage high quality collaboration between New Zealand and China in horticultural research.
The Li Lairong Fellowship is awarded on an annual basis to a horticultural scientist based in China to undertake a research placement of up to three months at one of Plant & Food Research's sites in New Zealand. The Fellowship will provide funding for living expenses and travel costs, with research and consumable costs covered by Plant & Food Research.
Applications for the 2024 Fellowship are open until 31 July.
Plant & Food Research has a strong tradition of collaboration with China, dating back to the 1940s when esteemed Chinese scientist Li Lairong first arrived in New Zealand. This Fellowship is named for him - Emeritus Professor of Subtropical Pomology and former President of the Fujian (Fukien) Institute of Subtropical Botany. Li Lairong was also President of the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (previously know as the Fujian Agricultural College).
Professor Li was the first Chinese scientist to work in New Zealand, arriving in 1941 and working for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (a predecessor to Plant & Food Research) before returning to China in 1944. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1979, and maintained a relationship with researchers in New Zealand until his death in 1992.