Tsione Wolde-Michael

From Washington DC, Tsione Wolde-Michael is an arts administrator, public historian, and curator committed to developing lasting methods for collaboration between national museum systems. Based at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Tsione’s research explores comparative approaches to museum practice that strengthen community engagement, collections management and stewardship, exhibition development, and public programmes. 

Maureen Neumann

Maureen D. Neumann, from Burlington, Vermont, will research ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking in Teacher Preparation Programs’ at the University of Canterbury. Maureen will collaborate with scholars in Germany, Canada and New Zealand as part of the award, and will explore how teacher educators across different countries leverage Artificial Intelligence and computational thinking to enhance teachers’ pedagogical practices in schools. Maureen is a Professor of Education at the University of Vermont.

Flynn Struckmann

Flynn Struckmann from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Arts in Security Policy Studies at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Flynn graduated with an LLB (Hons First Class) and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Otago in 2026.

Emma Sidnam

Emma Sidnam from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, will complete a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing specialising in Fiction at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Emma graduated with an LLB and a BA in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington in 2024.

Lee Richardson

Lee Richardson from Waihōpai Invercargill, New Zealand will complete a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Yale University. Leegraduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

Hansaka Ranaweera

Hansaka Ranaweera from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will complete a Master of Laws at Harvard Law School in Boston. Hansaka graduated with an LLB (Hons First Class) and a BA in Politics from the University of Otago in 2022.

Jovana Nedeljkov

Jovana Nedeljkov from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Laws specialising in Competition, Innovation and Information Law at New York University in New York City. Jovana graduated with an LLB (Hons) from The University of Auckland in 2018.

Kaan Hiini (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Te Rarawa)

Kaan Hiini is a design director and strategist from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He has a Bachelor of Design from Auckland University of Technology. Kaan will be completing a Master of Transdisciplinary Design specialising in indigenous design methodologies at the New School in New York City.

Amy Weng

Amy Weng from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Arts in Asian Studies specialising in visual cultures at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Hawai’i. Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) and a BA conjoint at The University of Auckland in 2014.

Nikki Singh

Nikki Singh from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research the interplay of illness and identity for young adults living with autoimmune diseases at Stanford University in California. This is research towards a PhD at The University of Auckland. Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Hons First Class) from The University of Auckland in 2022.

Niamh Orr-Walker

Niamh Orr-Walker from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research health psychology and breast cancer survivorship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University in Boston. Niamh has a BSc form the University of Otago and is working towards a Master of Health Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Psychology at The University of Auckland.

Thomas Marsland

Thomas Marsland from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will research artificial intelligence methods for antibiotic discovery at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Boston. Thomas graduated with a BSc (Hons First Class) in Microbiology from the University of Otago in 2018. He is currently doing a PhD at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

Amelia Blamey

Amelia Blamey from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Economic Policy and Practice at Boston University. Amelia graduated with an MCom in Economics (Distinction), BCom in Economics, and BSc in Environmental Science and Geography from Victoria University of Wellington in 2024.

Sarah Hunter

Sarah Hunter from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research childhood bone and joint infections at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee. She is studying for a PhD at The University of Auckland. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from The University of Auckland in 2016 and a Master of Health Science (Honours) in 2022. She is a clinical research and training fellow with the Health Research Council of New Zealand and an Advanced Trainee with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association.

Nick Denton

Nick Denton from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will complete a Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Harvard University in Boston. Nick graduated with a MArch (Professional) and Bachelor of Architectural Studies, and BSc in Physics from Victoria University of Wellington.

Joey Back

Joey Back from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Science in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joey graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons First Class) in Computer Systems Engineering from The University of Auckland in 2025.

Ebony Komene (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Tainui)

Ebony Komene from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a visiting student researcher exploring Indigenous nursing at Washington State University in Seattle and Indigenous Nurse Practitioner models of practice at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Hawai’i. Ebony graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons First Class) at The University of Auckland, where she is currently a PhD candidate.

Pip Thomas

Pip Thomas will research the career transition experiences of New Zealand student-athletes navigating US collegiate programmes, focusing on transitional demands, institutional responsibility, and individual agency at Illinois State University.

Pip is a researcher, practitioner, and consultant specialising in emerging athlete career transitions, and Founder of Continuum Performance Hubs. She is based in Auckland.

Sophie van Hamelsveld

Sophie van Hamelsveld will research the relationships between harmful algal blooms and antibiotic resistance at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Sophie is a Senior Scientist at the New Zealand Institute of Public Health and Forensic Science in Christchurch.

Lefaoali’i Dion Enari (Lepa, Malaela, Vaiala, Nofoali’i, Vaiusu, Safune, Saleaaumua-Samoa)

Lefaoali’i Dion Enari will research Indigenous Dance as Physical Activity and Educational learning at Brigham Young University Hawai’i in Hawai’i. Dion is an Associate Professor at Ngā Wai a Te Tūī Maori, an Indigenous Research Centre at MIT Unitec, Auckland. He is also Honorary Associate Professor at University of Queensland.

Riz Firestone

Riz Firestone will conduct research and co-design a youth-focused type 2 diabetes prevention programme at the Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles.

Riz is a Professor of Pacific and Public Health at the Centre for Public Health Research at Massey University, Wellington. She currently lives in Wellington.

Hamish McDougall

Hamish McDougall will research a history of Nuclear-Free New Zealand at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Hamish is an international historian of the Cold War, decolonisation and international trade.

Until recently he was Executive Director at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and is currently Non-Resident Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington; and Research Associate at the Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland. Hamish is based in Auckland.

Luke Rowe (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa-ki-te-tonga)

Luke Rowe from Tokorangi is a trained and registered clinical psychologist. He works with high performance athletes helping them to thrive under pressure. His research project is titled: Ngā Uri o Māui: At the intersection of Indigeneity, men’s mental health, and sport. Luke will attend the University of Hawai’i in Manoa, Hawai’i.

Luke is based in Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Rachael Kneepkens

Rachael Kneepkens from Ōtaki, on the Kapiti Coast, Aotearoa / New Zealand. She is the Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) for Arahunga Special School, at Ōtaki College.

Rachael will research how we motivate and support disengaged students at secondary school.

“My research has come about from many years of working with students with additional needs, who then become disengaged at school.  I’m really interested in how we can motivate students and in particular how we can establish support within the wider community to keep them in school.”

Mary Bluck

Mary Bluck is a senior kāiako at Te kura O Ngā Puna Waiora / Newtown School in Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Mary will be investigating how indigenous playground play may be introduced into the classroom to accelerate learning.

“In 2025 I had the opportunity to look at positive play in the playground as part of a Kāhui ako (communities of learning). This led to further questions and ideas around further research in play especially the role in accelerating learning in our English language learners at school.”

Kerwyn Huang

Kerwyn Casey (KC) Huang, from Palo Alto, California, is a Professor of Bioengineering and Microbiology at Stanford University.

Trained in physics and mathematics, his research uses quantitative approaches to study microbial communities, with his Fulbright work at Otago University in Dunedin focusing on how traditional medicines influence the human gut microbiome.

Carolyn Mavretish

Carolyn Mavretish

From New Jersey, Carolyn is studying for a Master of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University in Christchurch, drawn to land-centred design and sustainable landscape practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Carolyn Mavretish

Xin Feng

Xin Feng

Xin Feng from Columbus, Ohio, is a Professor of Human Development and Family Science at The Ohio State University. Her research at Massey University in Palmerston North explores children’s emotional regulation and the development of depression and anxiety across cultural contexts.

Xin Feng

Lili Kuchar

Lili Kuchar

Lili Kuchar is from Berkeley, California. This Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Research recipient will be based at Victoria University of Wellington, researching literacy practices in highly vulnerable communities. Lili brings 15 years of experience teaching in public elementary schools and currently teaches at a pregnant and parenting teen school in Oakland, California.

Lili Kuchar

Christine Pagen

Dr Christine (Chris) Pagen, from New York, is the 2026 Ian Axford Fellow in Public Policy. A senior development professional with 15 years’ experience at USAID, she has worked across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. During her fellowship, she will be based at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington, researching international development cooperation.

Stephanie Graham

From New York and Massachusetts, Stephanie Graham is undertaking a Master of Museum and Heritage Practice at Victoria University of Wellington, focusing on how museum education supports K–12 learning.

Julia Mansfield

Julia Mansfield, from New York City will be completing a Master’s in Geology at the University of Otago in Dunedin, where she is researching the Green Island Fault and its seismic risk.

Yitong Tseo

Yitong Tseo is a PhD candidate and bio-artist at MIT whose work explores sustainable materials and bio-fabricated soft robotics inspired by living systems. Yitong will be hosted by the University of Auckland and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to conduct research on biohybrid robotics.

Sahana Arumani

From Great Falls, Virginia, Sahana is hosted by Massey University in Palmerston North, researching leptospirosis through a One Health lens that connects human, animal, and environmental health, with a focus on prevention and community awareness.

Tsione Wolde-Michael

From Washington DC, Tsione Wolde-Michael is an arts administrator, public historian, and curator committed to developing lasting methods for collaboration between national museum systems. Based at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Tsione’s research explores comparative approaches to museum practice that strengthen community engagement, collections management and stewardship, exhibition development, and public programmes. 

,

Maureen Neumann

Maureen D. Neumann, from Burlington, Vermont, will research ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Computational Thinking in Teacher Preparation Programs’ at the University of Canterbury. Maureen will collaborate with scholars in Germany, Canada and New Zealand as part of the award, and will explore how teacher educators across different countries leverage Artificial Intelligence and computational thinking to enhance teachers’ pedagogical practices in schools. Maureen is a Professor of Education at the University of Vermont.

,

Flynn Struckmann

Flynn Struckmann from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Arts in Security Policy Studies at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Flynn graduated with an LLB (Hons First Class) and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Otago in 2026.

,

Emma Sidnam

Emma Sidnam from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, will complete a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing specialising in Fiction at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Emma graduated with an LLB and a BA in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington in 2024.

,

Lee Richardson

Lee Richardson from Waihōpai Invercargill, New Zealand will complete a Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design at Yale University. Leegraduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury.

,

Jovana Nedeljkov

Jovana Nedeljkov from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Laws specialising in Competition, Innovation and Information Law at New York University in New York City. Jovana graduated with an LLB (Hons) from The University of Auckland in 2018.

,

Amy Weng

Amy Weng from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Arts in Asian Studies specialising in visual cultures at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Hawai’i. Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) and a BA conjoint at The University of Auckland in 2014.

,

Nikki Singh

Nikki Singh from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research the interplay of illness and identity for young adults living with autoimmune diseases at Stanford University in California. This is research towards a PhD at The University of Auckland. Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science (Hons First Class) from The University of Auckland in 2022.

,

Niamh Orr-Walker

Niamh Orr-Walker from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research health psychology and breast cancer survivorship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University in Boston. Niamh has a BSc form the University of Otago and is working towards a Master of Health Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Psychology at The University of Auckland.

,

Thomas Marsland

Thomas Marsland from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will research artificial intelligence methods for antibiotic discovery at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Boston. Thomas graduated with a BSc (Hons First Class) in Microbiology from the University of Otago in 2018. He is currently doing a PhD at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

,

Amelia Blamey

Amelia Blamey from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Economic Policy and Practice at Boston University. Amelia graduated with an MCom in Economics (Distinction), BCom in Economics, and BSc in Environmental Science and Geography from Victoria University of Wellington in 2024.

,

Sarah Hunter

Sarah Hunter from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will research childhood bone and joint infections at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee. She is studying for a PhD at The University of Auckland. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from The University of Auckland in 2016 and a Master of Health Science (Honours) in 2022. She is a clinical research and training fellow with the Health Research Council of New Zealand and an Advanced Trainee with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association.

,

Nick Denton

Nick Denton from Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington will complete a Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Harvard University in Boston. Nick graduated with a MArch (Professional) and Bachelor of Architectural Studies, and BSc in Physics from Victoria University of Wellington.

,

Joey Back

Joey Back from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will complete a Master of Science in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joey graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons First Class) in Computer Systems Engineering from The University of Auckland in 2025.

,

Ebony Komene (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Tainui)

Ebony Komene from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a visiting student researcher exploring Indigenous nursing at Washington State University in Seattle and Indigenous Nurse Practitioner models of practice at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Hawai’i. Ebony graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons First Class) at The University of Auckland, where she is currently a PhD candidate.

,

Pip Thomas

Pip Thomas will research the career transition experiences of New Zealand student-athletes navigating US collegiate programmes, focusing on transitional demands, institutional responsibility, and individual agency at Illinois State University. Pip is a researcher, practitioner, and consultant specialising in emerging athlete career transitions, and Founder of Continuum Performance Hubs. She is based in Auckland.

,

Sophie van Hamelsveld

Sophie van Hamelsveld will research the relationships between harmful algal blooms and antibiotic resistance at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Sophie is a Senior Scientist at the New Zealand Institute of Public Health and Forensic Science in Christchurch.

,

Riz Firestone

Riz Firestone will conduct research and co-design a youth-focused type 2 diabetes prevention programme at the Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles. Riz is a Professor of Pacific and Public Health at the Centre for Public Health Research at Massey University, Wellington. She currently lives in Wellington.

,

Hamish McDougall

Hamish McDougall will research a history of Nuclear-Free New Zealand at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Hamish is an international historian of the Cold War, decolonisation and international trade. Until recently he was Executive Director at the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and is currently Non-Resident Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington; and Research Associate at the Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland. Hamish is based in Auckland.

,

Luke Rowe (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa-ki-te-tonga)

Luke Rowe from Tokorangi is a trained and registered clinical psychologist. He works with high performance athletes helping them to thrive under pressure. His research project is titled: Ngā Uri o Māui: At the intersection of Indigeneity, men’s mental health, and sport. Luke will attend the University of Hawai’i in Manoa, Hawai’i. Luke is based in Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Aotearoa / New Zealand.

,

Rachael Kneepkens

Rachael Kneepkens from Ōtaki, on the Kapiti Coast, Aotearoa / New Zealand. She is the Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) for Arahunga Special School, at Ōtaki College. Rachael will research how we motivate and support disengaged students at secondary school. “My research has come about from many years of working with students with additional needs, who then become disengaged at school.  I’m really interested in how we can motivate students and in particular how we can establish support within the wider community to keep them in school.”

,

Mary Bluck

Mary Bluck is a senior kāiako at Te kura O Ngā Puna Waiora / Newtown School in Te Whanganui-a-Tara – Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Mary will be investigating how indigenous playground play may be introduced into the classroom to accelerate learning. “In 2025 I had the opportunity to look at positive play in the playground as part of a Kāhui ako (communities of learning). This led to further questions and ideas around further research in play especially the role in accelerating learning in our English language learners at school.”

,

Kerwyn Huang

Kerwyn Casey (KC) Huang, from Palo Alto, California, is a Professor of Bioengineering and Microbiology at Stanford University. Trained in physics and mathematics, his research uses quantitative approaches to study microbial communities, with his Fulbright work at Otago University in Dunedin focusing on how traditional medicines influence the human gut microbiome.

,
Xin Feng

Xin Feng

Xin Feng from Columbus, Ohio, is a Professor of Human Development and Family Science at The Ohio State University. Her research at Massey University in Palmerston North explores children’s emotional regulation and the development of depression and anxiety across cultural contexts.

,
Lili Kuchar

Lili Kuchar

Lili Kuchar is from Berkeley, California. This Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Research recipient will be based at Victoria University of Wellington, researching literacy practices in highly vulnerable communities. Lili brings 15 years of experience teaching in public elementary schools and currently teaches at a pregnant and parenting teen school in Oakland, California.

,

Christine Pagen

Dr Christine (Chris) Pagen, from New York, is the 2026 Ian Axford Fellow in Public Policy. A senior development professional with 15 years’ experience at USAID, she has worked across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. During her fellowship, she will be based at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington, researching international development cooperation.

,

Yitong Tseo

Yitong Tseo is a PhD candidate and bio-artist at MIT whose work explores sustainable materials and bio-fabricated soft robotics inspired by living systems. Yitong will be hosted by the University of Auckland and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to conduct research on biohybrid robotics.

,

Sahana Arumani

From Great Falls, Virginia, Sahana is hosted by Massey University in Palmerston North, researching leptospirosis through a One Health lens that connects human, animal, and environmental health, with a focus on prevention and community awareness.

,