2015 L'Oréal-UNESCO 'Fellowships for Women in Science'

Applications for the L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science will open on 2nd February 2015. Four outstanding female post-doctoral scientists in the UK or Ireland will be granted a fellowship worth £15,000[1] each. The finalists will be selected by a panel of eminent scientists chaired by Professor Pratibha Gai, including Professor John Pethica FRS and Professor Anne Glover. Entries can be made at www.womeninscience.co.uk.

The L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science were launched in 2007 and provide flexible and practical help to female post-doctoral researchers. The winners may choose to spend their fellowship grants in any way that is helpful to them in furthering their research, from buying lab equipment, to hiring an assistant or paying for childcare costs.

Professor Pratibha Gai of the University of York and the 2013 L’Oréal-UNESCO International For Women In Science European Laureate will Chair the 2015 UK and Ireland awards.

Prof Gai commented,

“I am excited to be chairing this year’s judging panel. I am passionate about giving young women every opportunity to excel in their science research. These highly prestigious awards not only recognise the extraordinary range and quality of research being carried out by female scientists in the UK and Ireland today, but are unique in their flexibility for early career female researchers.”

Dr Sneha Malde from the University of Oxford’s department of physics was one of the winners of a 2014 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science UK & Ireland Fellowship, for her work exploring & measuring the differences between matter and anti-matter. Dr Malde comments:

“It was wonderful to have recognition of my work. Awards like this raise my profile and increase my chance of success when vying for other grants or jobs. The funds from this award are being used for travel, so that I can spend more time at CERN and attending conferences. This ability to collaborate with others face to face is an invaluable asset to efficient and creative working.

She adds that:

“One of the main challenges to women working in science are those related to balancing a family and work life. This award is helping me overcome these challenges by providing funds to help me take child with me while travelling for work. This has opened up opportunities to attend meetings and workshops that I would not have otherwise attended as I felt it would have been too much time away from my child”.

The 2015 awards will be adjudicated by a panel of eminent scientists. Katriona Methven, Scientific Director at L’Oréal UK & Ireland said:

“The For Women in Science programme in the UK and Ireland provides essential support for women at a vital stage in their career. Now in its 17th year internationally, the global initiative promotes women in science as important role models to inspire a new generation of young scientists.”

The closing date for applications to the 2015 L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women In Science is Friday 13th March 2015.

Further Information

For further information and to apply, please visit:

The programme is run in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society.

L'Oreal UNESCO For Women in Science logo
L'Oreal UNESCO For Women in Science Scholarships