Minister for Tertiary Education Steven Joyce yesterday announced the 10 recipients of the fellowship, which rewards top early to mid-career researchers. Each is given a funding package of $800,000 over five years.
The two Otago University recipients are Dr Angela Wanhalla for research entitled ''Marriage: The Politics of Private Life in New Zealand'' and Dr Suetonia Palmer, from the university's Christchurch campus, for research entitled ''Improving evidence for decision-makers in chronic kidney disease''.
Deputy vice-chancellor, research and enterprise, Prof Richard Blaikie said he was ecstatic two Otago researchers had been recognised, saying it ''just continues our excellent track record in the Rutherford Fellowship''.
Gaining the fellowships was a good sign for the future careers of the researchers and the university as a whole.
''Having the next generation of outstanding researchers coming through the system [is] a healthy sign we have got the best and the brightest coming through.''
''It's wonderful for me, but it's also fantastic for my department and also the humanities division at the university,'' she said.
Her work would build on her research into interracial marriage in New Zealand, which she had been working on over the past few years.
''Now, I can do a much bigger project ... that gives a sense of the formation of modern New Zealand society through what is the foundational social institution.''
It was an area which had not been researched much in the past and a topic of particular interest given the recent passing of legislation enabling same-sex marriage.
Mr Joyce said the fellowships fostered future leaders in the science sector and allowed them to undertake important research that will be valuable for New Zealand's future.
''The fellowships will help attract and retain our most talented early-career researchers and encourage their career development in this country,'' he said.
