L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Program (11th Edition)

Deadline: 30 March 2020

Applications are now open for 11th edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Sub-saharan Africa regional program.

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-saharan Africa regional program aims to promote and encourage the participation of young African women in science. This program identifies and rewards young talented researchers in the formal sciences, life and environmental sciences, material sciences, engineering sciences and technological sciences.

Funding Information

For this 11th edition, 20 endowments will be given to encourage young researchers currently in doctoral or post-doctoral studies to pursue a brilliant scientific career.

15 endowments of 10,000 € each, will be allocated to 15 doctoral students enrolled in a doctoral school and in a research laboratory in sub-Saharan Africa.
5 endowments of € 15,000 each, will be allocated to 5 post-docs working in a laboratory or research institute in sub-Saharan Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

For doctorates
- Having the nationality of one of the 48 countries in the sub-Saharan African region.
- And being enrolled in a doctoral school and carry out their doctorate in a research laboratory in one of the 49 countries in the region (including South Africa).
- Having the nationality of one of the 49 countries of the sub-Saharan African region (including South Africa).
- And being enrolled in a doctoral school and complete their doctorate in a research laboratory in one of the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Conducting research in one of the scientific fields.
For post-doctorates
- Having the nationality of one of the 48 countries in the sub-Saharan African region.
- And being enrolled in post-doctorate in a research laboratory or an institution in one of the 49 countries in the region (including South Africa);
- Having the nationality of one of the 49 countries of the sub-Saharan African region (including South Africa).
- And being enrolled in a post-doctorate in a research laboratory or an institution in one of the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Having a doctorate in one of the scientific fields.
- Conducting research in one of the scientific fields.
- Having started the post-doctorate before 02/03/2020, opening of the call for application.
Applicants who have already obtained an endowment from a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

The quality of the applications the applicant must:

Demonstrate how the training or the practical and theoretical knowledge acquired within the host organization contribute to the work of the current research;
Valorize the excellence of the academic record (number, quality and impact of publications, conference presentations, patents, etc.);
Include the research summary formulated in clear terms in 200 words maximum (justified text, Times New Roman font, size 12 with single spacing);
Include exemplary and explicit letters of recommendation.
Origin (s):
- Letter from the thesis director.
- Letter of acceptance from the laboratory reception team for the year 2020- 2021.
- If possible, from a peer in the research area of the thesis and / or postdoctoral project (which is not part of the environment close to the candidate).
Content:
- Recognition of the scientific quality and the importance of the work carried out and envisaged in the research work (originality, scientific scope, even economic and social scope). It is important to show how the candidate really contributed. It’s not the lab’s work they’re talking about, but the one she did or will do herself.
- Appreciation of the human qualities of the researcher, of her autonomy, her inventiveness, her creativity and her ability to interact in an efficient, productive, caring way and with others (sharing, listening, mentoring…).
Scientific excellence in research:
- The research describes the research plan as a whole, including the methodology, as well as the scope, novelty and possible repercussions of the research.
- This description is no more than two pages including the references.
- Relevant and well prepared, the description illustrates an innovative and creative spirit.
- This research work must contribute to knowledge in the research area of the candidate and make it possible to promote scientific work, in the country, in African and abroad.
The candidate’s ability to communicate and promote science to young people.
Fluency in the English language is desirable:
- To be able to fully benefit from the training in “Management and Leadership” given in English
- To be able to benefit from the media exposure thanks to the various events (interviews, etc.) that will be offered to it.