Deadline: January 25, 2017 | Apply here
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Eligibility: Women residing within the UK or Ireland at the time of application, conducting their research at a UK or Irish university or research institute in the life or physical sciences, computer science, engineering and having no more than 10 years’ active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience

L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science 2017

The L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science are awards offered by a partnership between L’Oréal UK & Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society, to promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their research careers in the UK or Ireland in the fields of the life and physical sciences.

The National Fellowships are offered under the umbrella of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme, which has promoted women in scientific research on a global scale since 1998.

Five Fellowships will be awarded in 2017 to outstanding women scientists in the early stages of their career to facilitate promising scientific research.

The Fellowships are tenable at any UK or Irish university or research institute to support a 12-month period of early career research in any area of life, physical and computer sciences, engineering and mathematics.

Who is eligible

• Candidates must be female early career researchers who have already been awarded their research doctorate in the fields of life, physical and computer sciences, engineering and mathematics
• Candidates must have no more than 10 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 post, or have ever held a permanent academic post in the past, or have received, before the start date of the award, the promise of a permanent academic post
• Candidates must be undertaking research in the life or physical sciences, computer science, engineering, mathematics. Psychology, science education and social sciences are not eligible for this Fellowship
• Candidates must be conducting their research at a UK or Irish university or research institute
• Candidates can be citizens of any country. However, applicants must already have a confirmed contract covering the 12-month period of the Fellowship at a University or Research Institute within the UK or Ireland. Applicants must already be residing within the UK or Ireland at the time of application

Judging process

A panel of multi-disciplinary scientists will review all applications. The top 20 applications selected by this panel will be forwarded for final review and selection for interview by the Jury Panel.

Both panels will shortlist candidates for interview based on equal weighting given to:

• Intellectual merit of candidate

Taking into account academic records, ability to plan and conduct research, ability to interpret and communicate research findings, evidence of originality, initiative and productivity, and strong recommendation in reference letters.

• Clearly articulated research proposal

Taking into account the relevance of the research and its impact, the originality of the research proposal, and whether it is presented in a clear and compelling way.

• How the fellowship will enhance the candidate’s career and/or assist with a successful return to scientific career

Taking into account whether the candidate has made a convincing case for the difference that this flexible fellowship will make to her.

Awards ceremony

2017 Fellowship Interviews and Awards Ceremony will be held in London on 3rd and 4th May 2017. Successful candidates must take up the Fellowship within 6 months of the announcement of the award. The offer will otherwise lapse. Only in exceptional circumstances will a later start date be considered.

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