Honours students Petra Fisher, 23, and Alexander Matthews, 22, have been awarded prestigious 2025 Woolf Fisher Scholarships worth about $70,000 a year, for the next three years, to pursue their doctoral studies at the top British university.
The annual scholarships are awarded to outstanding graduate students who have the potential to become leaders in their fields and make a significant contribution to New Zealand.
Mr Matthews graduated with a bachelor of science in neuroscience and data science last year, and said the scholarship would be "an absolutely life-changing experience".
"There’s not many opportunities like this, where your life changes in a day — but for me, this is one of them.
"I feel fortunate to have this chance and I’m ready to make the most of it."
He said the scholarship enabled him to provide research data which might also change the lives of many others in the future.
His doctoral research in psychology will focus on computational modelling of neural responses to anxiety.
He said the PhD programme would enable him to integrate his computational and biological expertise to make significant contributions to the understanding of neural responses to stress.
"The intersection of neuroscience and data science holds immense potential, and I’m excited to continue exploring it."
He was excited to have the chance to learn from world-class researchers, and looked forward to contributing to important research in neuroscience and mental health, he said. Following his PhD and postdoctoral studies, he planned to return to New Zealand to set up a pioneering laboratory where he would continue his research into the intersection of neurobiology and machine learning.
Miss Fisher graduated with a bachelor of science in physics and computer science last year, and plans to focus her Cambridge doctoral research on astrophysical fluid dynamics associated with the formation and dynamics of galaxies and accretion discs.
She said it was an "incredible honour" to receive the scholarship and she was "extremely excited" to have the chance to learn from leading astrophysicists in the United Kingdom.
"It’s an exceptionally amazing opportunity and I’m extremely thankful."
Following her doctorate study, she plans to use her new-found skills in the growing field of space sciences in New Zealand.
"The potential of space sciences within New Zealand is very exciting and I believe it has the potential to be an incredibly important field for Aotearoa.
"I look forward to spearheading future initiatives within space research and education, with an additional focus on championing women in Stem and students from rural, low-decile schools."
