L’Oréal–UNESCO “For Women in Science” Egypt Young Talents National Fellowships 2024

This program identifies and rewards talented young female scientists in the field of Life Sciences (such as biology, biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, physiology, neurosciences, biotechnologies, ecology, and ethology) as well as Physical Sciences (such as physics, chemistry, petroleum engineering, mathematics, engineering sciences, information sciences, Earth, and Universe sciences).

The program honors three talented young Egyptian women researchers for the quality of their research works and encourages them to pursue a brilliant career in science.

• Two fellowships amounting to ten thousand Euros (€ 10,000 or equivalent in local currency) each will be granted to Egyptian women pursuing post-doctoral researchers working in a research laboratory, institute, or university in Egypt.
• One fellowship amounting to six thousand Euros (€ 6,000 or equivalent in local currency) each will be granted to Egyptian women pursuing a PhD (doctoral degree) in a research laboratory, institute, or university in Egypt. The total amount will be used to cover the research expenses &/or travel and accommodation costs related to scientific visits, training, specialized courses etc. for a minimum of two months abroad. This one should occur within a maximum of one year from the ceremony day.’

Fellows Commitment

• Fellows must commit to:
  • Pursue the research work for which the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Egypt Fellowship was obtained, failing that, the total amount of the fellowship must be immediately refunded to the L’Oréal entity that granted the amount.
  • Within one year after receiving their fellowships, fellows are expected to submit a status report on the awarded research project to L’Oréal Egypt.
  • Within one year after receiving their fellowships, Fellows are expected to submit to L’Oréal Egypt a final financial expenditure statement on the actual fellowship expenditure incurred on the research project or Thesis project.
  • The three awarded fellows will be expected to attend the Fellowship Awards Ceremony that will be held between October and the last week of November 2024. Attendance is mandatory.
• The payment of the fellowships will be made directly to the fellows after the Fellowship Awards Ceremony, and after having signed the contract and received the original documents for the wire transfer of funds.

Eligibility Criteria

• Postdoctoral Researchers:
  • Applicants must meet the following general criteria:
    • Having obtained a PhD in one of the science fields.
    • Only applicants having obtained their PhD during 2019-2023 are eligible.
    • Being of Egyptian nationality.
    • Working in a research laboratory, institute, or university in Egypt.
    • Candidates must be no more than 45 years old by the end of the application period.
• PhD Students:
  • Applicants must meet the following general criteria:
    • Having obtained a Bachelor’s (B.Sc.) and a Master’s (M.Sc.) degree, or equivalent, in one of the science fields.
    • Should be a full-time student in PhD and have registered in the 2nd year of the PhD program, or one year before the thesis defence.
    • Being of Egyptian nationality.
    • Working in a research laboratory, institute, or university in Egypt.
    • Candidates must be no more than 35 years old by the end of the application period.

Selection Criteria

• The selection criteria of the candidate by the jury are the following:
  • Candidates must have a researcher position in one of the universities or research institutes in Egypt.
  • The candidate’s outstanding academic record (including the number, quality and impact of the scientific publications, conference presentations, and patents).
  • The scientific quality and usefulness of the research project.
  • The innovative approach (rationale, relevance, originality, outputs, applications, etc.) and the expected outcomes of the research.
  • The ability of the candidate to communicate and promote sciences to a younger audience and to encourage young Egyptian & Arab female scientists.
  • The candidate’s career path.
• Fellowships are exclusively dedicated to the development of scientific research and can under no circumstance be a substitute for the duties of the laboratory vis-à-vis its researchers.
• Fellowships are non-renewable and can be combined with other research grants.

For more information, visit Fondation l’Oreal.