Award information
Research transforms our world through new innovations that influence our individual and collective ways of working, connecting, living, and planning for the future, across all areas of society.
Research matters, and the UC Research Medal recognises the most influential and impactful UC researchers who are making a difference locally and globally.
2025 recipients
After growing up in Ukraine and experiencing the collapse of the Soviet Union, Professor Natalia Chaban has become an award-winning expert on European politics.
Professor Matthew Stott
Described as the Indiana Jones of New Zealand microbiology, Professor Stott is leading research and inspiring new discoveries from Earth’s most extreme environments.
Past recipients
2024
- Professor Carl Mika - Aotahi: School of Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Professor Dan Zhao - Department of Mechanical Engineering
2023
- Professor Brendon Bradley - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2022
- Professor Misko Cubrinovski
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Professor Elissa Cameron - School of Biological Sciences
2021
- Professor Alex James - School of Mathematics and Statistics
- Professor Michael Plank - School of Mathematics and Statistics
- Professor Markus Milne
- Department of Accounting and Information Systems
2020
- Professor Gail Gillon - UC Child Wellbeing Research Institute, New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour
2019
- Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva
- Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies
- Professor Jason Tylianakis - School of Biological Sciences
2016
- Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Distinguished Professor David Schiel - School of Biological Sciences
- Professor Rick Millane - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
2015
- Professor Jennifer Hay - School of Language, Social and Political Sciences, New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour
2014
- Distinguished Professor Mike Steel - School of Mathematics and Statistics
- Professor C. Michael Hall
- Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism
2013
- Professor Angus Macfarlane
- Faculty of Education
- Professor Dave Kelly - School of Biological Sciences
2012
- Professor Philip Joseph - Faculty of Law
2011
- Professor Douglas Bridges
- School of Mathematics and Statistics
2009
- Distinguished Professor Jack Copeland
- School of Humanities
Media enquiries
The UC Marketing, Communications and Events team handles all media requests.
