UTS recently welcomed the 2026 cohort of Chancellor’s Research Fellows and Chancellor’s Indigenous Research Fellows, bringing together emerging researchers from across the university to connect, collaborate and begin their fellowship journey.
Welcoming the new Chancellor’s Research Fellows
Addressing the new cohort at a welcome morning tea, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anika Gauja emphasised the significance of the Fellowship program, which has supported more than 150 researchers since its establishment over a decade ago. She highlighted the university’s ongoing commitment to investing in outstanding early career researchers and developing future research leaders.
“The Chancellor’s Research Fellowships are something I'm extremely proud to be a part of at UTS, and I'm really determined to make sure that you get everything that you possibly can out of this program.”
Anika said that such opportunities are becoming increasingly rare in the university landscape as UTS remains one of the few universities to continue offering a dedicated program of this scale and ambition.
Investing in the next generation of research leaders
“UTS is investing in you as future research leaders,” Anika said. "You've all demonstrated exceptional scholarship and how you're ready to make contributions beyond your own individual careers and your own research fields. I look forward to seeing how you strengthen a culture of research excellence where you build and lead teams, form collaborative networks and make a contribution to research and to science that will eventually and hopefully outlive you.”
Reflecting on the changing nature of research careers, Anika encouraged incoming Fellows to embrace new opportunities emerging across the research ecosystem. She highlighted the growing importance of collaboration across disciplines, sectors and organisations, and the need for researchers to work closely with communities, industry partners and government to address complex challenges.
“What it means to be a research academic is changing but I think that this change presents some really amazing opportunities for you all to think about, including the significance of your research, how you might showcase it and how you can work with others to ultimately realise its benefits.”
She noted that UTS is well positioned for this future, pointing to the university’s strong culture of collaboration, mentoring, research translation and sector engagement.
“UTS is leading the way in how it is positioning itself as a research university for the future,” she said. “There is a genuine commitment to collaboration, experimentation, mentoring and research excellence. And with fewer disciplinary silos, the university is ahead of the curve.”
I look forward to seeing how you strengthen a culture of research excellence where you build and lead teams, form collaborative networks and make a contribution to research and to science that will eventually and hopefully outlive you.
Anika encouraged Fellows to build strong connections within their cohort, recognising peer networks as one of the most valuable sources of support throughout a research career.
“I received a very important piece of advice very early on in my career, and that was how it's great to have mentors and to collaborate with colleagues who are more senior than you, but the partnerships that you make that will bring you the most impact and the most runs across your career are those that you make with your peers and those at the same career stage as you.”
Incoming Fellows said the program will have a huge impact on their research and career development.
Chancellor’s Research Fellow in the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Dr Sabrina Chakori, said, "The Chancellor’s Research Fellowship provides the imagination infrastructure required to nourish ideas, values and possibilities that make alternative societal trajectories possible. The Fellowship represents a unique opportunity that enables me to explore systemic and long-term scientific questions that can help us transition towards socially just and ecologically sustainable societies.”
Chancellor’s Research Fellow in the School of Life Sciences, Dr Angus Mitchell, said, “For me, the Chancellor's Research Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to deliver real-world solutions to the climate crisis through foundational and applied science. During my Fellowship, I hope to further our understanding of how we can climate-proof our estuarine fisheries and safeguard seafood as a sustainable source of protein for communities around the world."
The Chancellor’s Research Fellowship provides the imagination infrastructure required to nourish ideas, values and possibilities that make alternative societal trajectories possible.
The next round of applications will likely open in April 2027.