Swiss L’ORÉAL- UNESCO For Women in Science Program (Switzerland)

Funding Information

• Award winners will usually receive the prize money of CHF 25,000 in one instalment, unless two instalments are necessary or appropriate.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are open to female early-career scientists working in STEM disciplines. “Early-career” is understood as post-doc candidates in the three years following their doctorate.
• Candidates must identify as female postdoctoral level researchers who have already completed their PhD in the STEM fields of life and environmental science, physical sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, engineering, architecture or medicine.
• Candidates must have no more than 3 years’ active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience (discounting career breaks but including teaching experience and/or time spent in industry).
• Candidates must not currently hold a permanent academic position or have ever held a permanent academic position in the past or have received a promise of a permanent academic position before the start date of the award.
• Candidates must conduct research in the fields of life and environmental sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, engineering, architecture or medicine.
• Psychology, education sciences, human and social sciences are not eligible for this award.
• Candidates may be citizens of any country but must be conducting their research at a university or research institute within Switzerland.
• Applications are welcome from candidates who wish to establish/reestablish themselves after a career break or other period of absence from active research in the STEM fields.
• The application of female scientists with children is strongly encouraged.

Selection Criteria

• The selection criteria are as follows:
  • Excellence of the applicant’s current and past research validated by:
    • Academic records
    • Strong recommendation
  • Relevant, timely, and clearly articulated research proposal:
    • Relevance of the research and its potential impact
    • Originality of the research proposal
    • Clarity of methodology
  • Feasibility of the proposed activities
  • Potential to leverage the award to enhance the candidate’s career and/or assist with a successful return to scientific research.
  • Applicants’ special commitment to the “third mission” of science (i.e. contribution to society) is also assessed as part of the understanding of research excellence. This can be, for example, open science engagement such as special efforts in citizen science or open data, transdisciplinary work, policy advice or science communication, especially with young people as target group.

Application Requirements

• The application and all its accompanying material must be written in English. Alongside the application form, it is required to submit the following documents:
  • A detailed CV of no more than 2 pages including training, outreach activities, commitments, etc.
  • Copies of candidate’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree certificates.
  • A letter of support from host institution (must confirm that the university/research institute is able to provide the candidate with the appropriate space and facilities for the duration of her project.
  • A letter of recommendation from academic supervisors acquainted with last periods of formal study or research. It cannot be the post-doc supervisor or direct manager.
  • A research proposal (maximum 1’000 words, not including bibliography and list of publications) incl. methodological and content-related research approach.
  • A candidate statement explaining why the award is important (maximum 500 words). The statement must demonstrate how the award will enable the candidate to undertake the research and contribute to her career. It shall specify how this award will address any obstacles or barriers that have hindered the candidate’s career progress to date. It must include a budget outline with justification for the proposed expenditure choices. This is an estimate and does not need to include exact figures/quotes or be formally approved by the candidate’s institution.

For more information, visit Fondation l’Oreal.