Six outstanding University of Otago academics have gained early career awards for distinction in research.
The awards went to Carolina Loch, Tim Hore, Erin Macaulay, Mei Peng, Anna Garden and John Shaver.
The university has recognised them for research in fields ranging from ancient dolphin teeth and inherited memories, to fighting cancer and managing obesity.
Each researcher receives $5000 and membership of the O-Zone Group, which brings together early to mid-career researchers, to promote networking and collaboration.
Dr Loch, of oral sciences, has studied the evolution of teeth in dolphins and whales, and has published 36 papers in international journals.
Dr Hore, of anatomy, grew up on a Maniototo farm, and set up his own epigenetics laboratory in Otago's anatomy department in 2015.
Originally from Boston, Dr Macaulay is a lecturer in the Otago pathology department, whose epigenetics research examines both the placenta and cancer growth and seeks to find links between the two.
Dr Mei Peng, a senior lecturer in food science, has led the establishment of a sensory neuroscience laboratory and also leads a Marsden Fast-Start project that aims to develop a multi-sensory ''fingerprint'' to help understand over-eating and obesity.
Dr Garden is a lecturer in chemistry, who is helping to understand and design catalysts to produce alternative fuels and clean up dangerous pollutants.
Dr Shaver heads Otago's religion programme and received the award for his work exploring the complex relationships between religion, conflict and co-operation.
