PhD Scholarship in Mātauranga Māori and Patent Law

Study area(s): Business and government; Humanities and Social Sciences; Law; Science
Scholarship level: Doctoral; Doctoral (fully funded)
Closing date(s): 28 February 2024
Tenure: 3 years.
Award for: Māori
Number offered: 1
Value: $27,500 stipend per annum, plus Tuition Fees for 3 years.

Description

This scholarship is for Māori students studying one of law, business, science or Māori studies, and who have interest in interdisciplinary research.

History

This scholarship is funded by a Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apāranga Rutherford Discovery Fellowship project. This project is entitled “Patents and Power: A Critical Analysis of Knowledge Governance”, and is led by Dr Jessica Lai, Associate Professor of Commercial Law. Dr Jesse Pirini, Senior Lecturer in Management, would also be part of the supervisory team.

The thesis would look at Māori perspectives on Māori innovation in relation to patent law – the area of law that protects ‘technical inventions’. It would be a mixed quantitative/qualitative project. This would include quantitative analyses of how the patent system has been used with respect to certain aspects of mātauranga Māori, and qualitative analyses of the patent system relative to te ao Māori perspectives on the management of mātauranga Māori.

Applications from those with a research masters in law, business, science or Māori studies are welcome. The student would be supported to gain an understanding of the patent system and how to search and analyse the patent register (a database of all NZ patents).

Ideally, the student would start mid-2024.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must

  • be Māori; and
  • have completed a research masters in law, business, science or Māori studies at a tertiary institute.

Selection criteria

Selection will be made on

  • academic fit to project
  • academic merit

Application process

Please email Associate Professor Jessica Lai at Jessica.lai@vuw.ac.nz.

Scholarship specific documentation

  • Letter of motivation
  • CV
  • University transcript

Selection process

Selection will be made by

  • Associate Professor Jessica Lai
  • Dr Jesse Pirini

Additional information

Applicants must gain into the VUW PhD Programme.

The opportunity would also come with funding for conference travel each year (for the three years), as well as funding for field work to talk to Māori innovators and knowledge holders.

Contact

Please email Associate Professor Jessica Lai at Jessica.lai@vuw.ac.nz.for more information.