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The UNESCO-L’ORÉAL
fellowships scheme focuses on UNESCO’s premise that people are the
world’s
greatest resource and that innovation and excellence, especially among
the
young women community, deserve to be supported and encouraged through
the concerted
efforts of the international community. The award of the fellowships
constitutes a key strategy through which impetus is being given to the
enhancement of the role of women in devising scientific solutions to
problems
confronting humankind in the twenty-first century.
TARGET GROUP
The programme is designed to identify and reward fifteen deserving,
committed
and talented young women scientists, from all over the world, active
in the
field of life sciences. With a view to ensuring that a balanced
geographical
representation is made, a maximum of three young women, from each of
the five
geo-cultural regions of the world, will be awarded fellowships.
Candidates must already be engaged in pursuing research at the
doctoral or
post-doctoral level in one or allied fields of life sciences including
biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, pharmacy
and
physiology. Projects involving animal models (i.e. experimentation
using
vertebrate laboratory animals) are rejected, and proposals in the area
of
cosmetics research are NOT encouraged; preference is given to non
cosmetic
researches.
Special attention will be given to candidatures from the Least
Developed Countries(LDCs).
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants (maximum four from each applying National Commission) must
meet
the following general criteria:
1- The National Commission must endorse all applications. UNESCO
cannot
entertain applications from individuals.
2- Candidates must be no more than 35 years old. Thus, applicants born
before
1 January 1976 will not be considered under this programme.
3- Preference will be given to candidates already possessing at the
time of
application a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in the field of the life
sciences.
However, candidatures from students pursuing studies/research leading
to a
Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) will also be entertained.
4- Only candidates with the necessary qualifications, who demonstrate
outstanding intellectual promise and personal qualities, will be
considered
under this programme.
5- Candidates must be proficient in reading and writing the language
of
instruction in the proposed country of study.
6- Applicants must be in good health, both physically and mentally.
7- Candidates may not be in receipt of another fellowship/grant for
the
project or for the period covered by the fellowship application. If
the
candidate receives another award, scholarship or fellowship for the
proposed
research, she should inform UNESCO immediately and her application
will be
reviewed and may be withdrawn.
CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION:
1. Field of study: Life Sciences
2. Closing date for receipt of applications: 30 June 2010
3. Duration of proposed study/research:
12 months with possibility of extension for additional 12 months
4. Duration of stay in the host country/laboratory:
At least half of the period of the fellowship must be undertaken
abroad,
for a minimum duration of 6 months and a maximum duration of 12
months. If an
extension is granted then duration abroad is minimum 12 months and
maximum 22
months. In the latter case, the applicant is requested to complete the
studies in her own country for a minimum of two months.
5. Possible date of commencing the project:
Any time between 1 March 2011 &1 March 2012
6. Requirements for application for an extension of the fellowship:
The following documents should be submitted 3 months before the
ending
date of the fellowship:
i. Three letters of recommendation issued by
(a) the host institution,
(b) the research supervisors at the host institution, and
(c) the academic institution/laboratory in the fellow’s home country;
ii. A research report on progress to date on the project and a
proposal
justifying the need for an extension with details of the work to be
done
iii. A budget estimate specifying how the second grant will be
utilised.
Applications for extension may only be made for the project for which
the
original fellowship was granted
7. Upon termination of the fellowship, the beneficiary must agree to
return
to her country so that the knowledge acquired may be put to good use
in local
research and training programmes.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
All applications must be submitted with
the required documentation on
the prescribed and enclosed application forms. Each Member State
may nominate up to a maximum of four candidatures. It is the National
Commission’s responsibility to select candidates that it wishes to
submit to
UNESCO. The National Commission is also invited to seek the
cooperation of
the local scientific community to ensure high standard candidatures
that will
then have more chances of being selected. The application(s)
should reach
the Fellowships Programme Section (ERC/RPO/FEL), UNESCO (7, Place de
Fontenoy
75352 Paris
07P) before 30 June 2010. An
electronic copy of this letter and the application form is
available in
the UNESCO Fellowships' website. Advance copy may be sent by fax:
+331.45.68.55.02/03 or by e-mail: a.zaid@unesco.org and
c.dixon-cifuentes@unesco.org (MSWord or PDF format document
exclusively).
1. The application must have the following attachments:
a) The UNESCO Fellowship application form duly completed, in English
or in
French, in duplicate. Two recent photographs should be included with
the
form.
b) An e-mail address regularly used by the candidate.
c) Certified copies of degree or diplomas (including transcript of
grades) in
duplicate. Proof either of having obtained a Ph.D. degree or of being
in the
process of studying for a Ph.D. degree must be included.
d) A list of publications, if any.
e) A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with the
candidate’s
work.
f) A host institute’s letter of acceptance (i.e. the institute that
has
accepted the candidate for work should she be selected for a
fellowship).
This letter of acceptance must indicate the name of the academic
supervisor,
the date and duration, and the host institute’s willingness to provide
the
relevant training facilities required by the candidate in the chosen
field of
specialization.
g) The certificate of language proficiency (on UNESCO form) duly
completed in
duplicate for the language of the country of study (should this be
different
from the candidate’s mother tongue) and signed by the competent
authority.
h) A detailed description, one to two page(s) (maximum), in either
English or
French, of the research work for which the candidature is being put
forward.
The research proposal should cover the following points:
• Why? The concrete nature
of the proposed project’s contribution to
the life sciences; its innovative, original aspects; and the scope and
purpose of the research project. The candidate should demonstrate that
the
reasons of the theoretical and practical knowledge or training
acquired at
the host laboratory would be beneficial to her on-going research
project.
• What? The expected
results or impact of the research project being
undertaken.
• How? Describe the
proposed arrangements for conducting the research.
• Where? The proposed
country, where research will be undertaken and
the name and address of the host institute/laboratory.
• When? The time-framework
explicitly stating the proposed starting
date and the suggested duration of research which should be of twelve
months
maximum. Because the possibility for extension exists, it would be
useful
also to give an indication of further development of the project
beyond the
1-year time frame.
• How much? A detailed
budget estimate indicating the resources
required for the candidate to undertake the proposed research. The
amount
should not exceed USD20,000. All figures must be shown in US dollars
and must
be stated on a separate page. The total amount indicated should cover,
exclusively, the international or domestic travel costs for the
proposed
itinerary and tuition fees, if any, including personal subsistence
abroad,
etc. Applicants should be realistic in compiling their estimated
budgets, and
consider that an average of USD1,500 per month for accommodation and
meals
(including local transportation and incidentals) should not be
exceeded.
Applications where funds requested are judged to be excessive in
relation to
the objectives and importance of the project are likely to be
considered for
a smaller grant.
The following costs are not eligible:
Computer or equipment purchases; publication costs; attendance at
conferences, unless a case can be made that such attendance is an
integral
part of the research and would make a direct and significant
contribution to
the outcome of the development of life sciences.
2. UNESCO and the L’ORÉAL Corporate Foundation allocate the greatest
importance to originality and quality. Consideration will be given
only to
well-structured projects that demonstrate innovation, creativity and
relevance, and which are likely to contribute to enhance knowledge in
life
sciences.
3. Files which are incomplete or which are received after the deadline
for
application, as well as candidatures that do not meet the requirements
mentioned above, will not be taken into consideration.
4. Additional information on the results of the past years’ programme
can be
obtained by consulting the following website: www.forwomeninscience.com
FACILITIES OFFERED BY UNESCO and the L’ORÉAL
Corporate Foundation
The awards financed by the L’ORÉAL Corporate Foundation, and managed
and
administered by UNESCO will consist of the following:
- A financial contribution, not to exceed US $20,000 per year for each
selected beneficiary to support her on-going research proposal, with
the
possibility of an extension for a second year.
- Round-trip travel for the selected beneficiaries from their country
of
residence to Paris, France, (date not yet determined)
to attend an awards ceremony (sine qua non condition for the award of
the
fellowship).
- Lodging and pocket money during the stay in Paris for the awards
ceremony.
- A certificate attesting to the special award.
SELECTION OF BENEFICIARIES
A special Selection Committee made up of representatives of UNESCO,
L’ORÉAL,
and Life Sciences research community or institutions will make the
selection
of the candidates. The International Basic Science Programme (IBSP)
will be
also consulted during the selection process. A member of the IBSP may
take
part in the selection.
Only selected candidates will
be contacted by UNESCO.
Candidates who have not been
informed of thier selection by the end of
September 20010 should consider that their application have not been
approved
in the selection process.
Announcement
date 22 Feb 2010
Deadline
for applications 30 Jun 2010
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