L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL YOUNG TALENTS PROGRAM 2024

Applications are now open for the 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program.

Application Deadline: APRIL 8, 2024

The goal of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents program is to encourage young women from Yemen and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman—to pursue careers in science. In the fields of life sciences (biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, physiology, neurosciences, biotechnologies, ecology, and ethology) and physical sciences (physics, chemistry, petroleum engineering, mathematics, engineering sciences, information sciences, Earth and Universe sciences), this program finds and supports bright young women scientists. Six gifted young Arab women researchers are recognized by the program for the caliber of their research projects, and it inspires them to pursue bright scientific careers in Yemen and the GCC.

Requirements

Postdoctoral Researches:

Applicants must meet the following general criteria:

• Having obtained a PhD in one of the science fields mentioned in paragraph 1.
• Being an Arab national.
• Working in a Research Laboratory, Institute, or University in one of the countries mentioned in paragraph 1.
• Candidates must be no more than 45 years old (Born in 1979 and beyond, taking into account the year of birth).

PhD Students:

Applicants must meet the following general criteria:

• Having obtained a Bachelor (B.Sc.) and a Master (M.Sc.) degrees, or equivalent, in one of the science fields mentioned in paragraph 1.
• Should be full time student in PhD and having registered during 2023-2024 in the^2nd year of the PhD program, or one year before the thesis defense.
• Being an Arab national.
• Working in a Research Laboratory, Institute, or University in one of the countries mentioned in paragraph 1.
• Candidates must be no more than 35 years old (born in 1989 and beyond, taking into account the year of birth.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria of the candidate by the jury are the following:

1. The candidate’s outstanding academic record (including number, quality and impact of the publications, conference presentations, patents…).
2. The scientific quality of the research project.
3. Abide by international ethical regulations in all research steps.
4. The innovative approach (rationale, relevance, originality, outputs, applications, etc.) and the expected outcomes of the research.
5. The ability of the candidate to communicate and promote sciences to a younger audience and to encourage young Arab female researchers.
6. The candidate’s career-path.
7. The application will be considered complete if it contains a detailed description of the research project and its methodology.
8. Consideration with regards to animal testing:

• 1.Any project using experimental protocols likely to generate animal suffering will be rejected, even if it has been approved by an ad hoc ethics committee
• 2. If animal experimentation is to be conducted as part of the applicant’s submitted research, it must be described in detail. Thereafter indicated in what way it cannot be substituted. The necessity of the animal experiments or the lack of alternatives must be justified. Jury members must take a position based on these elements or ask for clarification if necessary.
• 3. A commitment by the candidate not to cause animal suffering during the project for which she is applying for the award will be included in the application forms and must be officially signed.

Grants are exclusively dedicated to the development of scientific research. Hence can under no circumstance be a substitute to the duties of the laboratory vis-à-vis its researchers.

Grants are non-renewable and can be combined with other research grants.

Timeline:

• Application opening date: 8th of January 2024
• Application closing date: 8th of April 2024
• Attribution of applications and review by the jury members: 15th of April 2024 until 15th of June 2024
• Selection and announcement of winners: July 2024
• Awards Ceremony: October 2024 (Exact date to be announced)

For More Information and to apply for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young, visit the L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL YOUNG TALENTS PROGRAM’s official website.