After gaining his BA, MA and BSc, and doing two years of research during which he invented a new form of radio receiver, in 1895 Rutherford was awarded an 1851 Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, to travel to England for postgraduate study at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge.
Efter at have fået sin BA, MA og BSc, og lavet to års forskning, hvor han opfandt en ny form for radiomodtager, blev Rutherford i 1895 tildelt Research Fellowship fra Royal Commission for Exhibition of 1851 med henblik på at rejse til England for postgraduate studium ved Cavendish Laboratory ved University of Cambridge.