L’ORÉAL-UNESCO - The For Women in Science Program

What you get

You will receive about 69,000 EUR (75,000 USD) for one year of postdoctoral research and may apply for an extension. The funding will be paid to your university or research institution. You may use it to cover laboratory supplies, equipment, travel to conferences, publication costs, a computer, technical support and research assistants. Up to 10% may be used for science outreach, such as workshops for school pupils. You will also receive mentoring (guidance from experienced scientists) and the opportunity to network. Five women are selected each year. The programme is run by L’Oréal USA in partnership with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). It is the US branch of the global initiative ‘L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science’.

Who can apply

• Women only: This prize is intended exclusively for women.
• Career stage: You are currently employed as a full-time postdoctoral researcher or will be commencing your postdoctoral research by 31 January of the funding year. Faculty members and professors are not eligible to apply.
• Degree: You must hold a PhD, a D.P.H. or a Sc.D. An M.D. or D.V.M. on its own is not sufficient, but will be accepted if you also hold one of these doctoral degrees.
• Field of research: Your research project falls within the fields of life sciences, natural sciences, materials science, engineering, technology, computer science or mathematics. Psychology, science education and the social sciences are not eligible. The decisive factor is the research project you are proposing, not your field of study.
• Where you work: You are employed by a US university, a research institution, a federal agency or a non-profit organisation that is eligible to receive funding. You carry out your research primarily in the US or a US territory.
• Nationality: You are a US citizen (by birth or naturalisation) or a Green Card holder. Applicants from Puerto Rico are eligible to apply. Holders of visas (J1, H1-B, F1 and similar) are excluded from this.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the AAAS portal. The deadline for applications is mid-February. You must submit a three-page research proposal, brief statements about yourself and your community involvement, a budget breakdown and three letters of recommendation. Applications undergo a peer-review process (i.e. they are assessed by other academics). The prize winners are honoured during an awards week, which usually takes place in November.

How realistic are your chances?

Each year, only five scholarships are awarded to postdoctoral researchers from across the country, so competition is fierce. Your chances depend on a concise, well-reasoned research proposal in an eligible STEM discipline, as well as a convincing plan for public engagement. If you clearly meet the requirements regarding nationality and postdoctoral status and can demonstrate outstanding research achievements, a carefully prepared application will give you a fair chance of securing one of the few places available.