Applications open for summer studentships in diabetes research
The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) and the Diabetes New Zealand Research Foundation (DNZRF) are pleased to announce their joint financial support for up to six NZSSD-DNZRF summer studentships.
The monetary value is $7,500 (plus GST) for each studentship for the 2025/2026 summer period with an additional $500 available to the student to support travel to present their research at the NZSSD Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) - May 2026 in Napier.
The NZSSD-DNZRF summer studentships must be related to diabetes in the NZ context.
Requirements:
• Appropriate supervision needs to be provided by the host institution.
• The supervisor must have been a member of NZSSD since at least 1st January 2024
• The supervisor must be employed by a university, public hospital or other institution in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Supervisors are expected to find their own student if awarded the studentship. As such, supervisors should consider this before applying.
Applications should be a maximum of two A4 pages. Please clearly outline the following:
• describe the background, aims, methods (including timeline) and significance of the project
• relevance to Māori Health
References should ideally be included in the two pages but may extend to a third page if required.
Applications must be submitted using the application form on the NZSSD Website by 5pm, Friday the 15th of August 2025.
Key points to consider
• The $7,500 is a stipend to fund the student with no additional funding from NZSSD or DNZRF for research costs.
• Successful applicants will be notified by 15 September 2025.
• There will likely be a maximum of one studentship awarded per centre.
• Projects that can feasibly be completed within 8-10 weeks and address health equity will be prioritised for funding.
• Projects will also be prioritised if they align with NZSSD's stated objectives of promoting the study of diabetes and the best standards of care for diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Supervisors who were a recipient of a 2023/2024 or 2024/2025 NZSSD-DNZRF summer studentship award may apply again this year, but priority will be given to those who have not received an award within the last two years.
• Projects need to commence by 01 December 2025 and need to be completed by 15 February 2026.
• The findings of each studentship are expected to be presented at the 2026 NZSSD ASM unless the timing of the project necessitates a delay to the following year. Submission of abstracts must follow the usual processes and deadlines for the ASM. Ideally, the presentations should be given by the student and NZSSD-DNZRF will cover the cost of the student’s conference registration if presenting and the additional $500 will be paid to the student towards travel costs. Conference costs for supervisors will not be covered by NZSSD (though they may apply for a NZSSD conference grant if applicable).
• Successful applicants must notify the NZSSD Executive the name and contact details of their student by 13 October 2025 or advise if they are unable to find an appropriate student. In this case, the studentship will be awarded to the next best application.
• Successful applicants must also re-submit for approval if there is any change in the student, supervisor or project topic before using the funds.
• Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that a comprehensive final report is generated from the research study for sharing on the NZSSD website. Guidelines for this will be provided to successful applicants, but in brief this should include authors, lay summary, background, methods, results and discussion / implications for practice, references (3-6 pages).
• DNZRF has a stated goal of promoting diabetes research to people with diabetes and their whānau to encourage future research projects and donors. A lay summary that details the outcome of the research project should be provided with the final report (referred to above). This will be published on the DNZRF website. An example for reference purposes can be found at
• NZSSD and DNZRF should be acknowledged as funders in all dissemination resulting from this summer research project, including presentations, reports and publications.
For further information about research grants please contact the NZSSD Secretariat at
Grant or research-specific questions may also be directed to the chair of the awards committee, Associate Professor Hamish Crocket, (hamish.crocket@waikato.ac.nz)
