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L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards facts for kids

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L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
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L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme
L’Oréal Prize for Women in Science Awards Ceremony
The winners of the 2010 UNESCO-L'Oréal Prize for Women in Science Awards Ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris – From left to right; Elaine Fuchs (United States of America), Anne Dejean-Assémat (France), Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman of L'Oréal, Alejandra Bravo (Mexico), Lourdes J. Cruz (Philippines), Rashika El Ridi (Egypt), Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and Günter Blobel, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1999.

The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards, created in 1998, aim to improve the position of women in science by recognizing outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress. The awards are a result of a partnership between the Foundation of the French company L'Oréal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and carry a grant of $100,000 USD for each laureate. This award is also known as the L'Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Awards.

Each year an international jury awards five laureates, selecting one from each of the following regions:

Eligibility requirements alternate every other year based on scientific discipline with laureates in life sciences recognized in even years and laureates in physical sciences, mathematics and computer science recognized in odd years (since 2003).

The same partnership awards the UNESCO-L'Oréal International Fellowships, providing up to $40,000 USD in funding over two years to fifteen young women scientists engaged in exemplary and promising research projects. The Fellowship awards began in 2000 with a one-year award of US$20,000 and offered ten awards until 2003. In 2003, the number of awards increased to 15 and then in 2006, the grant period extended to two years and the amount of the award increased to US$40,000. In 2015, the name Rising Talent Grants was implemented.

As of 2023, 7 L'Oréal-UNESCO laureates have won also a Nobel Prize, these are: Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard in Physiology or Medicine (1995 - unlike the others, she had won the Nobel Prize before receiving this International Award), Elizabeth Blackburn in Physiology or Medicine (2008), Ada Yonath in Chemistry (2009), Emmanuelle Charpentier in Chemistry (2020), Jennifer Doudna in Chemistry (2020), Katalin Karikó in Physiology or Medicine (2023) and Anne L'Huillier in Physics (2023).

Recipients

Quarraisha Abdool Karim
Quarraisha Abdool Karim was the 2016 Laureate for Africa and the Arab States

Legend:      Life sciences (LS), Life and Environmental Sciences (LES)      Physical sciences, mathematics and computer science (PMC)

Year Laureate for Name Nationality Credentials Recognized for (her)
1998 LS Africa and the Arab States Grace Oladunni Taylor  Nigeria Biochemist, scholar, university professor. contributions to epidemiology cardio vascular disease in Africa
Asia and the Pacific Myeong-Hee Yu  South Korea Researcher and professor on micro Biological Sciences at Korean Institute of Science and Technology. discoveries of protein folding and its relationship to human pathology
Europe Pascale Cossart  France Professor at Bacteria-Cell interaction Unit, Institut Pasteur elucidation of the mechanisms whereby pathogenic bacteria subvert immune defenses
Latin America and the Caribbean Gloria Montenegro  Chile Professor of botanic at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Sciences Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile efforts to apply modern science to the protection of plant ecosystems
2000 LS Africa and the Arab States Valerie Mizrahi  South Africa Researching at Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, National Health Sciences Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand contributions to the fight against tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
Asia and the Pacific Tsuneko Okazaki  Japan Professor of Molecular Biological Sciences at the Institute of Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health Sciences University discovery of the molecular mechanism of retrograde DNA replication
Europe Margarita Salas  Spain fundamental contributions to our understanding of DNA replication
Latin America and the Caribbean Eugenia María del Pino Veintimilla  Ecuador Professor of developmental Biological Sciences at Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador original investigations on the Biology of marsupial tree frogs and her efforts on behalf of conservation in the Galapagos Islands.
North America Joanne Chory  United States Professor and Director Plant Molecular and Cellular Biological Sciences Laboratory Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the response of plant organisms to light
Thressa Campbell Stadtman
2001 LS Africa and the Arab States Adeyinka Gladys Falusi  Nigeria Professor of haematology at Institute for Medical Research & Training of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan molecular-genetic identification and classification of hereditary blood diseases in Africa
Asia and the Pacific Suzanne Cory  Australia Professor at The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research contributions to our understanding of the genetic basis of human lymphoma and other cancerous conditions
Europe Anne McLaren  United Kingdom discoveries in reproductive Biology, which have paved the way to human assisted reproduction
Latin America and the Caribbean Mayana Zatz  Brazil Professor of genetics University of São Paulo contributions to the pathology, diagnosis and management of hereditary
North America Joan Steitz  United States Professor of molecular Biological Sciences at Yale University discoveries of the structure, biological functions and pathological implications of small RNA molecules
2002 LS Africa and the Arab States Nagwa Meguid  Egypt Researcher at the National Research Centre, Cairo systematic genetic investigations of Down syndrome and other neurological conditions in the Mediterranean region
Asia and the Pacific Indira Nath  India Professor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - Former Founder Head of Department of Biotechnology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences fundamental contributions to the pathogeny, prevention and treatment of leprosy
Europe Mary Osborn  Germany International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biological Sciences (IUBMB). Member of University of Göttingen Research Committee development of immunofluorescence microscopy as a tool for the study of cytoskeletal structures
Marianne Grunberg-Manago  France lifetime achievements and exceptional participation in the development of modern molecular Biology
Latin America and the Caribbean Ana María López Colomé  Mexico Professor of biochemestry at the Institute of Cellular Physiology, National Autonomous University of Mexico discoveries of the molecular pathways involved in vision and pathological alterations
North America Shirley Tilghman  United States President, Princeton University discovery of parental imprinting and its role in embryological development
2003 PMC Africa and the Arab States Ayse Erzan  Turkey Professor at Istanbul Technical University theoretical work on the formation of tree-like structures
Karimat El-Sayed  Egypt Professor of Crystallography at Ain Shams University work on crystal growth, including the formation of kidney stones
Asia and the Pacific Li Fanghua  Hong Kong discovery of novel techniques in electron microscopy
Latin America and the Caribbean Mariana Weissmann  Argentina Professor at Argentine National Research Council theoretical studies on novel forms of carbon
North America Johanna M.H. Levelt Sengers  Netherlands experiments on critical opalescence in fluids
2004 LS Africa and the Arab States Jennifer Thomson  South Africa Professor at Department of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences. University of Cape Town work on transgenic plants resistant to drought and to viral infections, in an effort to respond to the continent's chronic food shortage
Asia and the Pacific Nancy Ip  Hong Kong Professor at Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology discoveries concerning proteins which favour the growth and preservation of neurons in brain development
Europe Christine Petit  France Researcher at Genetics of Sensory Defects Laboratory Institut Pasteur research on the molecular and cellular bases of human hereditary deafness and other sensorial deficiencies
Latin America and the Caribbean Lúcia Mendonça Previato  Brazil Professor and Researcher of Biophysics Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro studies which enable progress in the understanding, treatment and prevention of the Chagas disease
North America Philippa Marrack  United States Professor at National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado the characterization of lymphocyte T functions in the immune system and the discovery of superantigens
2005 PMC Africa and the Arab States Zohra ben Lakhdar  Tunisia Professor of Physics Laboratory of Atomic-Molecular Spectroscopy and Applications, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tunis El Manar experiments and models in infrared spectroscopy and its applications to pollution detection and medicine
Asia and the Pacific Fumiko Yonezawa  Japan Professor Emeritus of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Kanagawa-Tokyo pioneering theory and computer simulations on amorphous semiconductors and liquid metals
Europe Dominique Langevin  France CNRS Directeur de Recherches Laboratory of Solid State Physics, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay fundamental investigations on detergents, emulsions and foams
Latin America and the Caribbean Belita Koiller  Brazil Professor of Physics at the Institute of Physics Federal University of Rio de Janeiro innovative research on electrons in disordered matter such as glass
North America Myriam P. Sarachik  United States Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Physics Department of Physics, City College of New York important experiments on electrical conduction and transitions between metals and insulators
2006 LS Africa and the Arab States Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni  Tunisia Professor of Medical Genetics at University of Tunis contribution to the analysis and prevention of hereditary disorders
Asia and the Pacific Jennifer Graves  Australia Emeritus Professor in molecular science at Australian National University, Canberra Head, Comparative Genomics Research Group Director, ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genomics studies on the evolution of mammalian genomes
Europe Christine Van Broeckhoven  Belgium Research Project Investigator - Laboratory Director - Department director - VIB Department of Molecular Genetics Campus Drie Eiken University of Antwerp - UA Universiteitsplein 1 genetic investigation of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard  Germany Since October 2014 Director Emeritus of Research Group "Colour Pattern Formation" at the Max Planck Institute of Developmental Biological Sciences, Tübingen efforts in supporting highly qualified women with children to facilitate their progress in science
Latin America and the Caribbean Esther Orozco  Mexico Professor, Patología Experimental Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City discovery of the mechanisms and control of infections by amoebas in the tropics
North America Pamela Bjorkman  United States Max Delbruck Professor of Biological Sciences and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute California Institute of Technology (CalTech) Pasadena, California discovery of how the immune system recognizes targets
2007 PMC Africa and the Arab States Ameenah Gurib-Fakim  Mauritius exploration and analysis of plants from Mauritius and their bio-medical applications
Asia and the Pacific Margaret Brimble  New Zealand Chair of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Auckland, Auckland contribution to the synthesis of complex natural products, especially shellfish toxins.
Europe Tatiana Birshtein  Russia contribution to the understanding of the shapes, sizes and motions of large molecules
Latin America and the Caribbean Ligia Gargallo  Peru Professor, Department of Physical Chemistry Pontifical Catholic University of Chile contributions to understanding solution properties of polymers
North America Mildred Dresselhaus  United States research on solid state materials, including conceptualizing the creation of carbon nanotubes
2008 LS Africa and the Arab States Ada Yonath  Israel Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Weizmann Institute of Science structural studies of the protein biosynthesis system and its disruption by antibiotics
Lihadh Al-Gazali  Iraq Professor in Clinical Genetics and Paediatrics contributions to the characterization of inherited disorders
Asia and the Pacific V. Narry Kim  South Korea Professor of biochemestry, cell Biological Sciences and Molecular Biological Sciences at Seoul National University elucidating the formation of a new class of RNA molecules involved in gene regulation
Latin America and the Caribbean Ana Belén Elgoyhen  Argentina Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Buenos Aires and independent researcher of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council contributions to the understanding of the molecular basis of hearing (sense)
North America Elizabeth Blackburn  Australia Researcher at molecular Biological Sciences at the University of California, member of the Institute of Medicine the discovery of the nature and maintenance of chromosome ends and their roles in cancer and aging
2009 PMC Africa and the Arab States Tebello Nyokong  South Africa Professor of Medical Chemistry and technology at Rhodes University, and a recipient of the Presidency of South Africa's Order of Mapungubwe in Bronze work on harnessing light for cancer therapy and for environmental clean-up
Asia and the Pacific Akiko Kobayashi  Japan Professor of chemistry emeritus at the University of Tokyo and Nihon University contribution to the development of molecular conductors and the design and synthesis of a single-component molecular metal
Europe Athene M. Donald  United Kingdom Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge and Master of Churchill College, Cambridge work in unraveling the mysteries of the physics of messy materials, ranging from cement to starch
Latin America and the Caribbean Beatriz Barbuy  Brazil Professor of astrophysics at the Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG) at the University of São Paulo, vice-president of the International Astronomical Union work on the life of stars from the birth of the Universe to the present time
North America Eugenia Kumacheva  Canada Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto and a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Functional Materials the design and development of new materials with many applications including targeted drug delivery for cancer treatments and materials for high density optical data storage
2010 LS Africa and the Arab States Rashika El Ridi  Egypt Professor of Immunology, Department of Zoology Faculty of Science, Cairo University paving the way towards the development of a vaccine against the tropical disease schistosomiasis
Asia and the Pacific Lourdes J. Cruz  Philippines Professor of Immunology, at the University of Philippines Marine Science Institute, Founder of the rural Livehood Incubator in Bataan the discovery of marine snail toxins that can serve as powerful tools to study brain function
Europe Anne Dejean-Assémat  France Research Director at INSERM and Professor at the Pasteur Institute, head of the Laboratory of Nuclear Organization and Oncogenesis at the Pasteur Institute and the INSERM Unit 993 Molecular and Cellular Biological Sciences of Tumors contributions to our understanding of leukaemia and liver cancers
Latin America and the Caribbean Alejandra Bravo  Mexico Researcher at the Institute of Molecular MicroBiological Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) work on a bacterial toxin that acts as a powerful insecticide
North America Elaine Fuchs  United States Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor of Mammalian Cell Biological Sciences and Development at The Rockefeller University contributions to our knowledge of skin biology and skin stem cells
2011 PMC Africa and the Arab States Faiza Al-Harafi  Kuwait Professor of chemistry at Kuwait University, member of the Board of Director of Kuwait University work on corrosion, a problem of fundamental importance to water treatment and the oil industry; notable contributions to electrochemistry with particular emphasis on corrosion and catalysis
Asia and the Pacific Vivian Wing-Wah Yam  Hong Kong Professor in chemistry and Energy at the University of Hong Kong work on light-emitting materials and innovative ways of capturing solar energy; pioneering contributions in the molecular design of photo-active materials that are particularly relevant to solar energy conversion
Europe Anne L'Huillier  France Professor of atomic physic at Lund University in Sweden work on the development of the fastest camera for recording the movement of electrons in attoseconds (a billionth of a billionth of a second); pioneering experimental and theoretical contributions to harmonic light generation as a base technology for attosecond science
Latin America and the Caribbean Silvia Torres-Peimbert  Mexico President of the International Astronomical Union and member of the American Astronomical Society and the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World, Mexico work on the chemical composition of nebulae which is fundamental to our understanding of the origin of the universe; fundamental contribution to the studies of nebulae that have led to a better understanding of the chemical evolution of galaxies and the universe
North America Jillian Banfield  Australia Professor at the University of California, Berkeley with appointments in the Earth Science, Ecosystem Science and Materials Science and Engineering departments work on bacterial and material behavior under extreme conditions relevant to the environment and the Earth; for pioneering achievements in environmental science integrating chemical, biological, mineralogical, and proteogenomic influences
2012 LS Africa and the Arab States Jill Farrant  South Africa Professor of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town the elucidation of mechanisms by which plants overcome drought conditions
Asia and the Pacific Ingrid Scheffer  Australia Paediatric neurologist and senior research fellow at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health Sciences identifying genes involved in some forms of epilepsy
Europe Frances Ashcroft  United Kingdom Royal Society GlaxoSmithKline Research Professor at the University Laboratory of Physiology at the University of Oxford discovery of an ATP-sensitive potassium channel linking glucose metabolism and insulin secretion and its role in neonatal diabetes
Latin America and the Caribbean Susana López Charretón  Mexico Professor of virology at the Institute of Biotechnology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico elucidating the mechanisms of rotavirus infections
North America Bonnie Bassler  United States Professor in Molecular Biological Sciences and chair of the Department of Molecular Biological Sciences at Princeton University discovering the chemical signals and mechanisms bacteria use to communicate and coordinate group behaviors
2013 PMC Africa and the Arab States Francisca Nneka Okeke  Nigeria Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria significant contributions to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere which may further our understanding of climate change
Asia and the Pacific Reiko Kuroda  Japan Foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in its class for chemistry, Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo discovering the functional importance of the difference between left handed and right handed molecules which has wide applications including research on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's
Europe Pratibha Gai  United Kingdom Microscopist and Professor and Chair of Electron Microscopy and former Director at The York JEOL Nanocentre, Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of York ingeniously modifying her electron microscope so that she was able to observe chemical reactions occurring at surface atoms of catalysts which will help scientists in their development of new medicines or new energy sources
Latin America and the Caribbean Marcia Barbosa  Brazil Freelance Biogeography consulting and training at Portugal discovering one of the peculiarities of water which may lead to better understanding of how earthquakes occur and how proteins fold which is important for the treatment of diseases
North America Deborah S. Jin  United States having been the first to cool down molecules so much that she can observe chemical reactions in slow motion which may help further understanding of molecular processes which are important for medicine or new energy sources
2014 LS Africa and the Arab States Segenet Kelemu  Ethiopia Director General of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Director of Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA); Vice President of Programs at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Leader of Crop research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change
Asia and the Pacific Kayo Inaba  Japan Director, Kyoto University Gender Equality Promotion Center / Executive Vice-President for Gender Equality, International Affairs, and Public Relations, Kyoto University/ Guest Investigator critical discoveries concerning the mechanisms triggered by the immune system when it is faced with a threat such as a virus or bacteria or by abnormal cells such as cancer cells
Europe Brigitte Kieffer  France Professor at Strasbourg University, Director of INSERM at Strasbourg and Institut Douglas at Montreal decisive work on the brain mechanisms involved in pain and mental illness
Latin America and the Caribbean Cecilia Bouzat  Argentina Principal Investigator of the CONICET and Deputy Director of the Institute of Biochemical Research of White Bay (INIBIBB) contribution to our understanding of how brain cells communicate among themselves and with muscles
North America Laurie Glimcher  United States President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Member of the American Philosophical Society discovering key factors involved in controlling immune response (T-bet) in allergies and in autoimmune, infectious and malignant diseases
2015 PMC Africa and the Arab States Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli  Morocco Professor of nuclear physics at Mohammed V's Rabat University key contribution to one of the greatest discoveries in physics: proof of the existence of the Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for the creation of mass in the universe
Asia and the Pacific Xie Yi  China Chemist, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, professor and doctoral supervisor at University of Science and Technology of China significant contributions to inorganic solid state solvothermal chemistry at the nanoscale, particularly unconventional semi-conductor materials and graphene-like structures a few atoms thick
Europe Carol Robinson  United Kingdom Chemist and President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Society Researcher Professor at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Oxford groundbreaking work in macromolecular mass spectrometry and pioneering gas phase structural biology by probing the structure and reactivity of single proteins and protein complexes, including membrane proteins
Molly S. Shoichet  Canada Professor, Chemistry and biomedical engineering at Toronto University Head of the research program Shoichetlab specialized to the regenerative medecine pioneering work on advanced laser photochemistry for creating 3D patterns in hydrogels that enable regeneration of nerve tissue
Latin America and the Caribbean Thaisa Storchi Bergmann  Brazil President of Cross-Division D-J Commission Supermassive Black Holes, Feedback and Galaxy Evolution at UFGRS / Head of Research Group Department of Astronomy - IF-UFRGS outstanding work on super-massive black holes in the centers of galaxies and their associated regions of dense gas, dust, and young stars surrounding them, as well as their role in the evolution of galaxies
2016 LS Africa and the Arab States Quarraisha Abdool Karim  South Africa Associate Scientific Director of the AIDS research center, CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology at the Columbia University, honorary professor in Public Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal remarkable contribution to the prevention and treatment of HIV and associated infections, greatly improving the quality of life of women in Africa
Asia and the Pacific Chen Hualan  China Member of the World Organisation for Animal Health Sciences (OIE), member of the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), Researcher and PhD Supervisor at Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy outstanding research into the biology of the bird flu virus, leading to the development and use of an effective vaccine
Europe Emmanuelle Charpentier  France Professor and researcher in microbiological Sciences, Genetics and Biochemistry, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biological Sciences, Berlin game-changing discovery, alongside Professor Jennifer Doudna, of a versatile DNA editing technique to “rewrite” flawed genes in people and other living organisms, opening tremendous new possibilities for treating, even curing, diseases
Latin America and the Caribbean Andrea Gamarnik  Argentina Professor, Molecular Virology Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir, CONICET, Buenos Aires seminal discoveries on how mosquito-borne viruses reproduce and cause human diseases, particularly Dengue Fever.
North America Jennifer Doudna  United States Li Ka Shing Chancellor Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular and Cell Biological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley game-changing discovery, alongside Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, of a versatile DNA editing technique to “rewrite” flawed genes in people and other living organisms, opening tremendous new possibilities for treating, even curing, diseases
2017 PMC Africa and the Arab States Niveen Khashab  Lebanon Associate Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) contributions to innovative smart hybrid materials aimed at drug delivery and for developing new techniques to monitor intracellular antioxidant activity
Asia and the Pacific Michelle Simmons  Australia United Kingdom Professor and Director of the Center of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, University of New South Wales pioneering contributions to quantum and atomic electronics, constructing atomic transistors en route to quantum computers
Europe Nicola Spaldin  United Kingdom Professor and Chair of Materials Theory, ETH Zürich groundbreaking multidisciplinary work predicting, describing and creating new materials that have switchable magnetic and ferroelectric properties
Latin America and the Caribbean María Teresa Ruiz  Chile Professor, Department of Astronomy, Universidad of Chile discovery of the first brown dwarf and her seminal work on understanding the faintest stars, including stars at the final stages of their evolution (white dwarfs)
North America Zhenan Bao  China Professor of Chemical Engineering and Material Science and Engineering, Stanford University outstanding contribution to and mastery of the development of novel functional polymers for consumer electronics, energy storage and biomedical applications
2018 LS Africa and the Arab States Heather Zar  South Africa Professor and Chair, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health Sciences, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Director SAMRC Unit, University of Cape Town establishing a cutting-edge research programme in pneumonia, tuberculosis and asthma, saving the lives of many children worldwide
Asia and the Pacific Meemann Chang  China Professor, Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences pioneering work on fossil records leading to insights on how aquatic vertebrates adapted to life on land
Europe Caroline Dean  United Kingdom Professor, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park groundbreaking research on how plants adapt to their surroundings and climate change, leading to new ways for crop improvement
Latin America and the Caribbean Amy T. Austin  Argentina Professor, IFEVA-CONICET, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Buenos Aires remarkable contributions to understanding terrestrial ecosystem ecology in natural and human-modified landscapes
North America Janet Rossant  United Kingdom Senior Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada Professor, University of Toronto, Canada, President, Gairdner Foundation, Director, Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine outstanding research that helped us to better understand how tissues and organs are formed in the developing embryo
2019 PMC Africa and the Arab States Najat A. Saliba  Lebanon Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Nature Conservation Center at the American University of Beirut pioneering work in identifying carcinogenic agents and other toxic air pollutants in the Middle East
Asia and the Pacific Maki Kawai  Japan Director General, Institute for Molecular Science, University of Tokyo, Japan, member of the Science Council of Japan, President of the Chemical Society of Japan ground-breaking work in manipulating molecules at the atomic level, in order to transform materials and create innovative material
Europe Claire Voisin  France Director at CNRS, Institute of Mathematics of Jussieu - Professor, Chair of Algebraic Geometry at the Collège de France outstanding work in algebraic geometry
Latin America and the Caribbean Karen Hallberg  Argentina Professor of Physics at the Balseiro Institute and Research Director at the Bariloche Atomic Centre, CNEA/CONICET developing cutting-edge computational approaches that allow scientists to understand the physics of quantum matter
North America Ingrid Daubechies  Belgium Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University exceptional contribution to the numerical treatment of images and signal processing, providing standard and flexible algorithms for data compression
2020 LS Africa and the Arab States Abla Mehio Sibai  Lebanon Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences, American University of Beirut pioneering research and advocacy to improve healthy ageing in low- and middle-income countries and their impact on health and social policy programmes
Asia and the Pacific Firdausi Qadri  Bangladesh Senior Director, Infectious Diseases Division, International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Dhaka outstanding work to understand and prevent infectious diseases affecting children in developing countries, and promote early diagnosis and vaccination with global health impact
Europe Edith Heard  United Kingdom Director General of the European Molecular Biological Sciences Laboratory, Professor and Chair of Epigenetics and Cellular Memory at the Collège de France fundamental discoveries concerning the mechanisms governing epigenetic processes, which allow mammals to regulate proper gene expression and are essential for life
Latin America and the Caribbean Esperanza Martínez-Romero  Mexico Professor of Environmental Science, Genomic Science at the Center of the National Autonomous University of Mexico pioneering work on the use of environmentally friendly bacteria to support plant growth for increased agricultural productivity and reduced use of chemical fertilizers
North America Kristi Anseth  United States Distinguished Professor, Tisone Professor, Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado, Boulder outstanding contribution in converging engineering and biology to develop innovative biomaterials that help tissue regeneration and drug delivery
2021 PMC Africa and the Arab States Catherine Ngila  South Africa Acting Executive Director of the African Academy of Sciences, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic and Student Affairs (DVC-AA) at Riara University, Kenya, and Visiting Professor of Applied Chemistry at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa: introducing, developing and applying nanotechnology-based analytical methods to monitor water pollutants. Her innovative work is of vital importance for the development of water resource management in an environmentally sustainable way
Asia and the Pacific Kyoko Nozaki  Japan Professor of Chemistry at the University of Tokyo, Japan pioneering, creative contributions within the field of synthetic chemistry, and their importance to industrial innovation. Her research has led to new, highly effective and environmentally friendly production processes to manufacture molecules useful for medicine and sustainable agriculture
Europe Alicia Dickenstein  Argentina Professor and Galaxies and Cosmology Chair at the Collège de France in Paris, and Astrophysicist at the Paris Observatory - PSL, France: outstanding contributions at the forefront of mathematical innovation by leveraging algebraic geometry in the field of molecular biology. Her research enables scientists to understand the structures and behaviour of cells and molecules, even on a microscopic scale. Operating at the frontier between pure and applied mathematics, she has forged important links to physics and chemistry, and enabled biologists to gain an in-depth structural understanding of biochemical reactions and enzymatic networks
Latin America and the Caribbean Shafi Goldwasser  Israel  United States Professor of Mathematics at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina pioneering and fundamental work in computer science and cryptography, essential for secure communication over the internet as well as for shared computation on private data. Her research has a significant impact on our understanding of large classes of problems for which computers cannot efficiently find even approximate solutions
North America Françoise Combes  United States Director of the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at University of California Berkeley, RSA Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, United States of America and Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Weizmann Institute, Israel : outstanding contribution to astrophysics which ranges from the discovery of molecules in interstellar space to supercomputer simulations of galaxy formation. Her work has been crucial to our understanding of the birth and evolution of stars and galaxies, including the role played by supermassive black holes in galactic centers
2022 LS Africa and the Arab States Agnès Binagwaho  Rwanda Professor of Pediatrics and Vice-Chancellor of Global Health Equity University, Kigali, Rwanda central role in expanding access to public healthcare for the most vulnerable communities in Rwanda, Africa and beyond, helping reduce the global burden of disease and improving lives.

In particular, she focuses on best practices in building resilient health systems and improving the quality, availability, and affordability of healthcare services for people suffering with diseases including HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. This has never been more important than now as overwhelmed healthcare systems across the world struggle to build back stronger in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Asia and the Pacific Hailan Hu  China Professor and Executive Director of the Neuroscience Center of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China major discoveries in social and emotional neuroscience. Her ground-breaking work has revolutionized scientific understanding of mental health and, deciphered the mechanism of depression to inform innovative treatment strategies and new medicines. These breakthroughs are vital in the wake of the mental health crisis sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic, with nearly 30% of the global population suffering from depression according to Lancet.

She is passionate about raising awareness and illuminating pathways to high impact solutions, particularly given that in many parts of the world, the illness remains largely under diagnosed and still taboo.
Europe Ángela Nieto [es]  Spain Professor at the Institute of Neuroscience (CSIC-UMH) fundamental discoveries in embryonic development, which have paved the way for understanding how cancer extends to other organs and forms metastases, the secondary tumours that cause more than 90% of cancer-related deaths.

In particular, she explores how cells change identity in the embryo to disseminate and form different tissues. This in turn stands to illuminate how cancer spreads and inform better therapeutic strategies.
Latin America and the Caribbean María Guzmán [es]  Cuba Infectious disease and virology, Director of the Research Center of the Pedro Kouri Institute (IPK), Institute of Tropical Medicine pioneering work to address the devastating human infections caused by the dengue virus, one of the world's most serious diseases in terms of morbidity and mortality, causing 390 million dengue virus infections annually¹.

Her research has led to a better understanding of its pathogenesis and risk factors, the origin of several epidemics of dengue haemorrhagic fever, the development of diagnosis and monitoring, and the search for potential new vaccines. It will also strengthen training for medical students and personnel, helping to ensure the next generations are better equipped to fight these viruses.
North America Katalin Karikó  Hungary United States Adjunct Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, United States of America, and Senior Vice President at BioNTech RNA Pharmaceuticals, Philadelphia, United States of America ground-breaking development of a non-inflammatory mRNA, as a potent vaccine to prevent viral and parasitic infections. Her research has contributed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

She has been conducting years of research which led to a solution for one of the basic problems of RNA, namely the low and short-lived protein production. Professor Karikó discovered that nucleoside-modified mRNA – compared to unmodified and non-optimized mRNA – had a better tolerability and could be administered at higher doses.

Her research has paved the way for future therapies in complex diseases such as cancer, heart failure, stroke, anaemia, and autoimmune diseases.
2023 PMC Africa and the Arab States Suzana Nunes [fr]'  Brazil Professor of Chemical and Environmental Science and Engineering, Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia outstanding work in developing innovative membrane filters to achieve highly efficient chemical separations with a lower carbon footprint. Her research has proven to be particularly beneficial to the water, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries in achieving a more sustainable environment
Asia and the Pacific Lidia Morawska'  Australia Poland Distinguished Professor, School of Earth Sciences and Climate, Queensland University of Technology, Australia and Director of the International Laboratory for air quality and health excellent research in the field of air pollution and its impact on human health and the environment, with a specific focus on atmospheric particulate matter. Her extraordinary dedication and impact have built a bridge from fundamental science to real-world policy and practice to provide clean air for all
Europe Frances Kirwan'  United Kingdom Savilian Professor of Geometry, University of Oxford exceptional work in pure mathematics combining geometry and algebra in order to develop techniques to understand the classification of geometric objects. These techniques have been used by theoretical physicists searching for mathematical descriptions of our universe. Her recent work has the potential to help scientists to extract crucial information from large complex data sets
Latin America and the Caribbean Anamaría Font'  Venezuela Professor of Physics, Central University of Venezuela important contributions in theoretical particle physics, in particular to the study of String Theory. Her research has furthered the theory's implications for the structure of matter and quantum gravity, which is also relevant to the description of black holes and the first instants after the big bang
North America Aviv Regev'  Israel Executive Vice President and Global Head of Genentech Research and Early Development, Genentech/Roche, San Francisco pioneering work applying mathematics and computer science to revolutionize cell biology. Her research enables scientists to discover and characterize the trillions of cells within the body and enhances scientists’ ability to decipher and target the mechanisms that cause disease, in order to develop better diagnostics and therapies
2024 LES Africa and the Arab States Rose Leke'  Cameroon Former Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Former Director of the Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon dedicated leadership, outstanding research and pioneering efforts to improve outcomes in pregnancy-associated malaria, support the eradication of polio and improve immunization in Africa, as well as for her efforts to improve the career path of young scientists. Dr Leke’s national, regional, and global influence has had a profound impact on public health in her native Cameroon and across Africa. Her achievements position her as a role model, leading educator and advocate for young female scientists.
Asia and the Pacific Nieng Yan  China University Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University; Founding President of Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation; Director of Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China for discovering the atomic structure of multiple membrane proteins that mediate the traffic of ions and sugars across the cell membrane, revealing principles that govern cross-membrane transport. Her exceptional research has informed multiple disorders such as epilepsy and arrhythmia and guided the treatment of pain syndrome. As a leading authority in her field, Dr Yan inspires female scientists globally and is a strong advocate for gender equality in research and science education.
Europe Geneviève Almouzni'  France Director of Research from The National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Curie Institute, France seminal contributions to understanding how DNA is packaged with proteins inside the cell nucleus. Her pioneering work in epigenetics has furthered our understanding of how cell identity is determined during normal development and disrupted by cancer. Her extraordinary successes in advancing research, training the next generation of scientists and promoting women in science are inspirational
Latin America and the Caribbean Alicia Kowaltowski'  Brazil Professor of Biochemistry, University of São Paulo, Brazil fundamental contribution to the biology of mitochondria, which are "the cell’s main energy source, acting as their batteries". Her work has been critical for our understanding of the implication of energy metabolism in chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, as well as in ageing. Her outstanding contribution as an investigator and mentor, as well as her advocacy for science in Latin America and its dissemination to the public, are an inspiration for young scientists.
North America Nada Jabado'  Canada  Lebanon  France Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pediatric Oncology, McGill University, Canada revolutionizing our comprehension of the genetic defects responsible for aggressive pediatric brain tumours. Her seminal discovery of the first-ever histone mutations in human disease, referred to as oncohistones, has sparked a fundamental change in the cancer research sphere. Through her innovative research and effective leadership in establishing a global collaborative network, she has reshaped the medical approach to pediatric cancer, advancing both diagnostic capabilities and clinical treatments for young patients

Special tributes

On the 25th anniversary of the award (2023), a special tribute was given to three researchers in exile, who were or had been forced to interrupt their scientific career in their home country and have pursued their career abroad. A financial reward and a medal of honor was awarded to Mursal Dawodi (artificial intelligence) from Afghanistan, Ann Al Sawoor (mathematics) from Iraq, and Marycelin Baba (molecular biology) from Nigeria.

Fellows - International rising talents

From 2000 to 2014, fellowships were awarded yearly to doctoral and post-doctoral women to allow them to pursue their research in host laboratories outside their home countries.

Established in 2015, the International Rising Talent Grants are awarded annually to 15 PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows. They replace the former International Fellowships.

2000 Fellows

  • Yézoumi Akogo, Togo
  • Dorsaf Essebaï, Tunisia
  • María del Pilar Jiménez Alzate, Colombia
  • Rhoda Kariba, Kenya
  • Margarita Marqués Martínez, Spain
  • Sonia Nasr, Lebanon
  • June Young Park, Republic of Korea
  • Marcia Roye, Jamaica
  • Tatyana Savchenko, Azerbaijan
  • Yufeng Wang, China

2001 Fellows

  • Rebecca Salu Livingstone, Nigeria Zoology
  • Reine Raïssa Note, Congo Pharmacology
  • Analilia Arroyo Becerra, Mexico Plant biology
  • Jacqueline Chaparro Olaya, Colombia Parasitology
  • Suraini Abd-Aziz, Malaysia Biochemistry
  • Allison Joy Haywood, New Zealand Planktonology
  • Amaal Mohamadein Ahamad, Egypt Ecotoxicology
  • Chantal Farra, Lebanon Human genetics
  • Miroslava Atanassova, Bulgaria Microbiology
  • Jarmila Nahalkova, Slovakia Plant biology

2002 Fellows

  • Namrita Lall, South Africa Bacteriology
  • Djeneba Konate Keita, Mali Environment
  • Giovanna Elizabeth Sotil Caycho, Peru Biodiversity
  • Rahanna Alicia Juman, Trinidad And Tobago Environment
  • Hasina Akhter, Bangladesh Biotechnology
  • Jennifer Louise Smith, New Zealand Enzymology
  • Salma Bisbis, Morocco Nutrition
  • Mounira Hmani Aifa, Tunisia Genetics
  • Anila Paparisto, Albania Molecular Biology
  • Andrea Hickel, Austria Biophysics

2003 Fellows

  • Sodangi Abdulkarim Luka Gesinde (Nigeria) Parasitology
  • Darie Alikaj (Syria) Virology
  • Rocío Díaz-Benjumea Benavides (Venezuela) Parasitology/Cell Biology
  • Shiva Seyed Forootan (Iran) Molecular Biology
  • Dionicia Gamboa Vilela (Peru) Molecular Biology
  • Karin Jacobs (South Africa) Mycology
  • Adriana Jalba (Romania) Plant Biology
  • Mary George Kaileh (Palestinian Authority) Molecular Biology
  • María Gabriela Palomo (Argentina) Marine Ecology
  • Samia Rejiba (Tunisia) Molecular Biology
  • Ahou Edwige Siransy (Côte d'Ivoire) Physiology
  • Devi Stuart-Fox (Australia) Ecology/Evolutionary Biology
  • Ahu Altinkut Uncuoglu (Turkey) Molecular Biology
  • Victoria Yavelsky (Israel) Molecular Biology/Immunology

2004 Fellows

  • María Teresa Abreu (Venezuela) Cellular Biology
  • Salwa Hamid Al Khayat (Yemen) Microbiology
  • Mouna Al-Sabbagh (Syria) Biotechnology
  • Maryam Aminu (Nigeria) Virology
  • Ines Atmosukarto (Indonesia) Microbiology
  • Semra Aygün (Turkey) Molecular Biology
  • Silvia Bilokapic (Croatia) Molecular Biology
  • Elena Luminita Bradatan (Romania) Medicine/Oncology
  • María Laura Guichón (Argentina) Ecology
  • Bibi Rehana Jauhangeer (Mauritius) Molecular Microbiology
  • Blandina Lugendo (Tanzania) Marine Biology
  • Ghinwa Naja (Lebanon) Physical Chemistry
  • Rosa Estela Navarro (Mexico) Developmental Biology
  • Farzana Shaheen (Pakistan) Chemistry
  • Diana Webster (New Zealand) Medical Science

2005 Fellows

  • Aisha Abubakar Abdulwahab (Nigeria) – Prevalence of tuberculosis in humans and animals in Nigeria
  • Mariam Allach (Morocco): Rehabilitation, protection and sustainability of the argan tree
  • Cho N’Din Catherine Boni-Cisse (Côte d'Ivoire) – Characterization of haemophilus influenzae of isolated strains of meningitis
  • Marlein Miranda Cona (Cuba): Development of radiopharmaceuticals to detect and treat malignant tumors
  • Michelle Lucinda de Oliveira (Brazil): Liver cancers: link between liver resection and metastasis development
  • Habiba Drici (Algeria): Molecular Biology: lactic bacteria used in the production of fermented foods
  • Özlem Zehra Keskin (Turkey): Structural biochemistry of proteins
  • Ketsiri Kueseng (Thailand): Polymer Science: water and oil repellency of Thai silk
  • María Valeria Lara (Argentina): Genetic Engineering: tobacco and other drought-resistant plants
  • Yong Sun Kye (North Korea): Genetic Engineering: insect-resistant soybean plants
  • Katharine Arwen Michie (Australia): Biochemistry: SMC protein complex and interaction with DNA
  • Agnieszka Elzbieta Sadowska (Poland): Neurobiology: polarization of developing neurons
  • Reema Fayez Tayyem (Jordan): Epidemiology of colon cancer: inhibitory effect of curcuma
  • Paola Tiberia Zanna (Italy): Melanogenesis: Expression of the MC1R gene

2006 Fellows

  • Zeina Daher (Lebanon) Biochemistry: Study Of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations
  • Juana del Valle Mendoza (Peru) Immunology: Development Of A Therapeutic Vaccine Against Hiv-1, The Virus Responsible For Aids
  • Dilfuza Egamberdiyeva (Uzbekistan) Environmental Microbiology: Development Of Environmentally Friendly, Bacteria-Based fertilizer
  • Ghada Ahmed Mohamed Abu El-Heba (Egypt) Molecular Biology: Improvement Of Nitrogen-Fixation In Leguminosae
  • Sabah Ben Fredj (Tunisia) Microbiology: Study Of The Genetic Variability Of Fungi Found On Grapes In Tunisian Vineyards
  • Valérie Gbonon (Côte d'Ivoire) Microbiology: Study Of The Virulence Factors Of Group B Streptococcus Bacteria Infections To Improve Antibiotic Treatment For Pregnant Women And Newborns
  • Stéphanie Jenouvrier (France) Ecology: The Impact Of Global Warming On The Population Dynamics Of Emperor Penguins
  • Anita Krisko (Croatia) Structural Biology: Computer Modeling To Investigate How Degradation Of Proteins In The Eye Lens Can Lead To Blindness
  • Priyadharshini Madhou (Mauritius) Plant Biotechnology: Study Of Genes Controlling Plant Resistance To Fungus Infection
  • Irene Maier (Austria) Biomedicine: Development Of An Immunological Biochip To Facilitate Clinical Diagnosis Of Food Allergies
  • Andréa Mantesso, (Brazil) Health Sciences: Study Of Dental Stem Cells To Provide Innovative Solutions For Cavities And Craniofacial Deformities
  • Prudence Mutowo (Zimbabwe) Molecular Biology: Study Of Gene Regulation In Archaea
  • Mun Peak Nyon (Malaysia) Structural Biology: Determining The Three-Dimensional Structure Of Cutinase
  • Diana Pérez Staples (Mexico) Behavioral Ecology: Study Of Biological Pest Control To Reduce The Use Of Environmentally Dangerous Insecticides
  • Ruchi Singh (India) Parasitology: Identification Of Genes Involved In Drug-Resistance Of Leishmaniasis

2007 Fellows

  • Fatima Musbah Abbas (Sudan) Plant Molecular Biology
  • Mestawet Taye Asfaw (Ethiopia) Food Science
  • Rhimou Bouhlal (Morocco) Marine Biology
  • Venetia Briggs (Belize) Behavioral Ecology
  • Nancy Chandia (Chile) Organic Chemistry
  • Irene Chiolo (Italy) Molecular Biology
  • Gisella Cruz Garcia (Netherlands Conservation Biology/Ecology
  • Khady Nani Dramé (Senegal) Plant Biotechnology
  • Fenny Dwivany (Indonesia) Molecular Biology
  • Laura Echarte (Argentina) Crop Physiology
  • Petra Klepac (Croatia) Epidemiology
  • Sarrah Ben M'barek (Tunisia) Plant Biotechnology
  • Christine Ouinsavi (Benin) Forest Biology
  • Barno Sultanova (Uzbekistan) Biotechnology
  • Chawanee Thongpanchang (Thailand) Medicinal Chemistry

2008 Fellows:

  • Hakima Amjres, Morocco
  • Naranjargal Dashdorj, Mongolia
  • Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat, Lebanon
  • Made Tri Ari Penia Kresnowati, Indonesia
  • Federica Migliardo, Italy
  • Yonelle Dea Moukoumbi, Gabon
  • Susanna Phoboo, Nepal
  • Maria João Rego Rodrigues, Mozambique
  • Lina María Saavedra Díaz, Colombia
  • Hanneline Adri Smit, South Africa
  • Alma Tostmann, the Netherlands
  • Carolina Trochine, Argentina
  • Andrea Von Groll, Brazil
  • Maja Zagmajster, Slovenia
  • Jamillah Zamoon, Kuwait

2009 Fellows

  • Marie Abboud (Lebanon) Non-invasive optical methods for the study of biological structures
  • Rima Al-Besharat (Syria) local probiotic bacteria for use in functional food products
  • Ishrat Bano (Pakistan) Development of magnetic nanoparticles for use in drug delivery
  • Yean Yean Chan (Malaysia) Electrochemical DNA biosensors for molecular diagnosis of infectious disease
  • Nonhlanhla Dlamani (South Africa) African traditional medicine used in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma
  • Berta González Frankenberger (Mexico) speech and voice processing in neonates and premature babies
  • Cecilia Gonzales-Marin (Peru) oral infections and medical complications in pregnant women
  • Fina Kurreeman (Mauritius) Study of genes specifically associated with rheumatoid arthritis
  • Khadijetou Lekweiry (Mauritania) Transmission of malaria in the Nouakchott
  • Lydia Lynch (Ireland) human omentum as an immunological tool
  • Joan Munissi (Tanzania) Antimicrobial compounds isolated from cultures of Tanzanian marine-derived fungi
  • Ivana Pešić (Serbia) identification of urine proteins, renal disease
  • Mareike Posner (Germany) resistance of enzyme structures within organisms adapted to extreme conditions
  • Jingyi Shi (China) Genetics of acute myeloid leukemia
  • Paula Villar (Argentina) computer-based model of the heart in 3D

2010 Fellows

  • Diana Marcela Bolaños Rodríguez (Colombia)
  • Nawal Bouayayne (Morocco)
  • Ghalia Boubaker (Tunisia)
  • Hadeer El-Dakhakni (Egypt)
  • María Gabriel Gei (Costa Rica)
  • María-Teresa Guardiola-Claramonte (Spain)
  • Antima Gupta (India)
  • Elisabeth Lendoye (Gabon)
  • Irene Margiolaki (Greece)
  • Margoth Mitchela Moreno Vigo (Peru)
  • Marietta Solange Soupi Nkeutcha (Cameroon)
  • Djoudi Roukia (Comoros)
  • Yifen Tan (Malaysia)
  • Marissa Teo (Singapore)
  • Svitlana Yablonska (Ukraine)

2011 Fellows

  • Mais Absi (Syria) molecular endocrinology
  • Reyam Al-Malikey (Iraq) ecology
  • Andia Chaves Fonnegra (Colombia) marine ecology
  • Isabel Cristina Chinchilla Soto (Costa Rica) ecology
  • Samia Elfékih (Tunisia) molecular biology
  • Hagar Gelbard-Sagiv (Israel) neurobiology
  • Alejandra Jaramillo Gutiérrez (Panama) parasitology
  • Tatiana Lopatina (Russia) cell biology
  • Nilufar Mamadalieva (Uzbekistan) plant biochemistry and pharmacology
  • Germaine L. Minoungou (Burkina Faso) virology
  • Justine Germo Nzweundji (Cameroon) plant biotechnology
  • Jiban Jyoti Panda (India) biotechnology
  • Ladan Teimoori Toolabi (Iran) medical biotechnology
  • Triin Vahisalu (Estonia) plant molecular biology
  • Fadzai Zengeya (Zimbabwe) agricultural sciences

2012 Fellows

  • Kathrin Barboza Márquez (Bolivia) Behavioural Ecology
  • Dana Bazzoun (Lebanon) Cell and Molecular Biology
  • Giomar Helena Borrero-Pérez (Colombia) Marine Biology
  • Naama Geva-Zatorsky (Israel) Molecular and Systems Biology
  • Emna Harigua (Tunisia) Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
  • Zoë Hilton (New Zealand) Marine Biology
  • Gladys Kahaka (Namibia) Biotechnology/Biochemistry
  • Aziza Hassan Kamel (Egypt) Virology
  • Vita Majce (Slovenia) Molecular Biology and Chemistry
  • Dora Medina (Mexico) Bioengineering
  • Peggoty Mutai (Kenya) Medicinal Chemistry
  • Sidrotun Naim (Indonesia) Molecular Virology
  • Patricia Miang Lon Ng (Singapore) Protein Engineering
  • Johannie Maria Spaan (South Africa) Wildlife Biology
  • Elza Van Deel (The Netherlands) Cardiology and Molecular Genetics

2013 Fellows

  • Naima Abattouy, Morocco Biology
  • Beatriz Álvarez Sanna, Uruguay Biochemistry
  • Ariana Barbera, Cuba Immunology
  • Enkhmaa Davaasambuu, Mongolia Maternal Health
  • Laure El-Chamy, Lebanon Molecular Biology
  • Marina Faiella, Italy Biochemistry and Biotechnology
  • Sri Fatmawati, Indonesia Natural Products Chemistry
  • Lina Gallego, Colombia Cancer Genomics
  • Florencia Linero, Argentina Virology
  • Allison Louthan, United States of America Ecology
  • Kanika Mitra, Bangladesh Food science
  • Marie Florence Ngo Ngwe, Cameroon Plant Biotechnology
  • Sahwa Adil Nourein, Sudan Clinical immunology
  • Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi, Nigeria Environment and Toxicology
  • Osnat Penn, Israel Computational Biology
  • Anita Takura, Ghana Agricultural and Environmental Science

2014 Fellows

  • Francisca Barake, Chile Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Katalin Czondor, Hungary Neurobiology
  • Adila Elobeid, Sudan Medicine
  • Selena Giménez Ibánez, Spain Plant Molecular Genetics
  • Emma Gray, South Africa Ecology
  • Jingmei Li, Singapore Human Genetics
  • Sandra López-Verges, Panama Virology
  • Farah Ouechtati, Tunisia Neuroscience
  • Mio Ozawa, Japan Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Tania Pozzo, Bolivia Biotechnology
  • Bhama Ramkhelawon, Mauritius Obesity and diabetes
  • Gul Shahnaz, Pakistan Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Science
  • Alia Shatanawi, Jordan Cardiovascular Pharmacology
  • Aramide Dolapo O Shingboye, Nigeria Food science
  • Ahu Arslan Yildiz, Turkey Biotechnology

2015 International Rising Talents

Established in 2015, the International Rising Talent Grants are awarded annually to 15 PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows. Fellows are chosen from among the winners of the 236 fellowships awarded locally by L’Oréal subsidiaries and UNESCO around the world, to give additional support at the international level to promising young women researchers. They replace the former International Fellowships. The 2015 International Rising Talents are:

  • Nourtan Abdeltawab, Egypt Immunogenetics of Infectious Diseases
  • Carolina Andrade, Brazil Medicinal Chemistry
  • Aurore Avarguès-Weber, France Cognitive Neurosciences
  • Yoke-Fun Chan/Chan Yoke-Fun, (Chan is the surname) Malaysia Molecular virology
  • Vanessa D’Costa, Canada Immunogenetics of Infectious Diseases
  • Kathryn Holt, Australia Pathogen Genomic Epidemiology
  • Matilde Jiménez Coello, Mexico Infectious Diseases
  • Adriana Marais, South Africa Physics, Quantum Biology
  • Signe Normand, Denmark Plant Ecology, Macroecology, Biogeography
  • Eva M. Pellicer, Spain Materials Science, Nanotechnology
  • Trần Hà Liên Phương, Vietnam Pharmaceutical sciences
  • Bhama Ramkhelawon, United States Medicine (diabetes and obesity)
  • Sanaa Sharafeddine, Lebanon Computer and Communications Engineering
  • Mary Stoddard, United States Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Ornithology
  • Ariela Vergara Jaque, Chile Computational Structural Biology

2016 International Rising Talents

The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme established the International Rising Talent Grants, awarded annually to 15 PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows who are chosen among the former winners of the 236 fellowships awarded locally by L’Oréal subsidiaries and UNESCO around the world. The goal is to support promising women researchers and give them more visibility so that, through the awards, these young scientists can achieve the increased recognition that their talent deserve, but dod not always receive, both within their country and by their peers. International Rising Talents are chosen from countries in each world region, Africa & Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. The 2016 L'Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talents are:

Technology and engineering: innovations that could change the face of medicine
  • Dr. Eszter Farkas (Hungary) Biological Sciences
  • Prof. Jasmeen Merzaban (Saudi Arabia) Biological Sciences
  • Dr. Yilun Ying (China) Chemistry
  • Dr. Elisa Orth (Brazil) Chemistry

Physical sciences: a profound impact on our world

  • Dr. Dorthe Ravnsbæk (Denmark) Chemistry
  • Dr. Sabrina Stierwalt (United States) Astronomical and space sciences

The study of galaxy mergers with implications for a new understanding of how galaxies evolve

  • Dr. María del Rocío Vega Frutis (Mexico) Biological sciences

Life and environmental sciences: critical issues for the future of our planet

  • Dr. Ira Didenkulova (Russia) Physics
  • Dr. Anaïs Orsi (France) Earth sciences
  • Dr. Habiba Alsafar (United Arab Emirates) Medical engineering

Solutions in health sciences through modern medicine

  • Dr. María J. Buzón (Spain) Biological sciences
  • Dr. Hiba El Hajj (Lebanon) Clinical medicine
  • Dr. Risa Mukai (Japan) Biological sciences
  • Dr. Bernadeta Szewczyk (Poland) Biological sciences
  • Dr. Elena J. Tucker (Australia) Biological sciences

2017 International Rising Talents

In 2014, the L’Oréal-UNESCO programme has established the International Rising Talent Grants, awarded annually to 15 PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows. These young researchers are chosen among the former winners of the 250 fellowships awarded locally by L’Oréal subsidiaries and UNESCO Field Offices around the world. By recognizing their achievements at a key moment in their careers, the For Women in Science programme aims to help them pursue their research.

Watching the brain at work
  • Doctor Lorina Naci, Canada, Fundamental medicine. In a coma: is the patient conscious or unconscious?
  • Associate Professor Muireann Irish, Australia, Clinical medicine. Recognizing Alzheimer’s before the first signs appear.

On the road to conceiving new medical treatments

  • Doctor Hyun Lee, Germany, Biological Sciences. Neurodegenerative diseases: untangling aggregated proteins.
  • Doctor Nam-Kyung Yu, Republic of Korea, Biological Sciences, Rett syndrome: neuronal cells come under fire
  • Doctor Stephanie Fanucchi, South Africa, Biological Sciences. Better understanding the immune system.
  • Doctor Julia Etulain, Argentina, Biological Sciences. Better tissue healing.

Finding potential new sources of drugs

  • Doctor Rym Ben Sallem, Tunisia, Biological Sciences. New antibiotics are right under our feet.
  • Doctor Hab Joanna Sulkowska, Poland, Biological Sciences. Unraveling the secrets of entangled proteins.

Getting to the heart of matter

  • Ms Nazek El-Atab, United Arab Emirates, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering. Miniaturizing electronics without losing memory.
  • Doctor Bilge Demirköz, Turkey, Physics. Piercing the secrets of cosmic radiation.
  • Doctor Tamara Elzein, Lebanon, Material Sciences. Trapping radioactivity.
  • Doctor Ran Long, China, Chemistry. Unlocking the potential of energy resources with nanochemistry.

Examining the past to shed light on the future – or vice versa

  • Doctor Fernanda Werneck, Brazil, Biological Sciences. Predicting how animal biodiversity will evolve.
  • Doctor Sam Giles, United Kingdom, Biological Sciences. Taking another look at the evolution of vertebrates thanks to their braincases.
  • Doctor Ágnes Kóspál, Hungary, Astronomy and Space Sciences. Looking at the birth of distant suns and planets to better understand the solar system.

2018 International Rising Talents

Each year, the International Rising Talents programme selects the 15 most promising women scientists among the 275 national and regional fellows of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science programme. These young women are the very future of science and recognizing their excellence will help ensure that they reach their full potential.

  • Dr. Areej Abuhammad (Jordan) Fundamental medicine
  • Danielle Twilley (South Africa) Biological Sciences, medicinal plant sciences
  • Dr. Hanifa Taher Al Blooshi (United Arab Emirates) Chemical Engineering
  • Dr. Ibtissem Guefrachi (Tunisia) Microbiology
  • Dr. Weang Kee Ho (Malaysia) Heath sciences, epidemiological statistics
  • Dr. Hiep Thi Nguyen (Vietnam) Medical engineering
  • Dr. Yukiko Ogawa (Japan) Material engineering
  • Dr. Radha Boya (United Kingdom) Physics
  • Dr. Agnieszka Gajewicz (Poland) Chemistry
  • Dr. Anna Kudryavtseva (Russia) Biological sciences
  • Associate Prof. Duygu Sag (Turkey) Biological sciences, immunology
  • Dr. Ai Ing Lim (United States of America) Fundamental medicine
  • Dr. Selene Lizbeth Fernández Valverde (Mexico) Biological sciences and genomics
  • Dr. Rafaela Salgado Ferreira (Brazil) Chemistry
  • Dr. Anela Choy (United States of America) Biological sciences, oceanography
  • Dr.Priscilla Kolibea Mante (Ghana) Neurosciences

2019 International Rising Talents

Among the 275 national and regional fellowship winners supported each year, the For Women in Science programme selects the 15 most promising researchers for this international recognition.

Africa and the Arab States
  • Dr. Saba Al Heialy – Health sciences (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Dubai), Mohammed Bin Rashid University for Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Dr. Zohra Dhouafli – Neuroscience/ Biochemistry (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Tunisia), Center of Biotechnology of Borj-Cédria
  • Dr. Menattallah Elserafy – Molecular biology/Genetics (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Egypt), Zewail City of Science and Technology
  • Dr. Priscilla Kolibea Mante – Neurosciences (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Ghana), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

North America

  • Dr. Jacquelyn Cragg – Health sciences (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Canada), University of British Columbia

Latin America

  • Dr. Maria Molina – Chemistry/Molecular biology (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Argentina), National University of Rio Cuarto
  • Dr. Ana Sofía Varela – Chemistry/Electrocatalysis (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Mexico), Institute of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico

Asia-Pacific

  • Dr. Sherry Aw – Neuroscience (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Singapore), Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
  • Dr. Mika Nomoto – Molecular biology / Plant pathology (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Japan), University of Nagoya
  • Dr. Mary Jacquiline Romero – Quantum physics (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Australia), University of Queensland

Europe

  • Dr. Laura Elo – Bioinformatics (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Finland), University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University
  • Dr. Kirsten Marie Ørnsbjerg Jensen [Wikidata] – Material chemistry, structural analysis (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Denmark), University of Copenhagen
  • Dr. Biola María Javierre Martínez – Genomics (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Spain), Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute
  • Dr. Urte Neniskyte – Neuroscience (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Lithuania), University of Vilnius
  • Dr. Nurcan Tuncbag – Bioinformatics (L'Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship Turkey), Middle East Technical University

2020 International Rising Talents

Among the national and regional fellowship winners supported each year, the For Women in Science programme selects the 15 most promising researchers for this international recognition.

Africa and the Arab States
  • Dr Laura-Joy Boulos – Neuroscience. Levant, Saint-Joseph University, Lebanon
  • Dr Nowsheen Goonoo – Biomedicine. Sub-Saharan Africa, University of Mauritius
  • Dr Nouf Mahmoud – Health Sciences. Levant, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan
  • Georgina Nyawo – Molecular Biology, Medical Microbiology. Sub-Saharan Africa, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

North America

  • Dr Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert – Earth Science /Environmental Science. United States of America, Arizona State University

Latin America

  • Dr Paula Giraldo Gallo – Physics. Colombia, University of the Andes
  • Dr Patrícia Medeiros – Biological sciences. Brazil, Federal University of Alagoas

Asia-Pacific

  • Dr Rui Bai – Biological sciences. China, Westlake University
  • Dr Huanqian Loh – Physics. Singapore, National University of Singapore
  • Dr Mikyung Shin – Biomaterials. Republic of Korea, Sungkyunkwan University

Europe

  • Dr Vida Engmann – Material Engineering. Denmark, University of Southern Denmark
  • Dr Serap Erkek – Molecular biology / Epigenetics. Turkey, Cancer Epigenomics Laboratory, Biomedicine and Genome Center
  • Dr Jennifer Garden – Chemistry. United Kingdom, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Cristina Romera Castillo – Marine sciences. Spain, Institute of Sea Sciences
  • Dr Olena Vaneeva – Mathematics. Ukraine, Institute of Mathematics of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine

2022 International Rising Talents

Africa and the Arabs states
  • Dr. Lina Dahabiyeh, Basic medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan
  • Dr. Ndeye Maty Ndiaye, Material engineering, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal
  • Dr. Waad Saftly, Physics, Al-Baath University, Syria

Asia and the Pacific

  • Dr. So Young Choi, Industrial biotechnology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
  • Dr. Van Thi Thanh Ho, Chemical engineering, Hochiminh City University of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam
  • Dr. Pantana Tor-ngern, Earth and related environmental sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
  • Dr. Daria Smirnova, Physics, Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

Europe

  • Dr. Natalia Bruno, Physics, National Institute of Optics of the National Research Council, Italy
  • Dr. Karolina Mikulska-Ruminska, Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
  • Dr. Ieva Plikusiene, Chemistry, Vilnius University, Lithuania
  • Dr. Beatriz Villarroel, Physics, Stockholm University, Sweden

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Dr. Maria Florencia Cayrol, Biological science, Institute of Biomedical Research - UCA - CONICET, Argentina
  • Dr. Irene del Real, Earth and related environmental sciences, Austral University, Chile

North America

  • Dr. Daphné Lemasquerier, Physics, University of Texas at Austin, United States of America
  • Dr. Alison McAfee, Biological science, University of British Columbia and North Carolina State University, Canada

Regional programmes

"Women in Science" has national and regional awards.

  • L’Oréal Korea-UNESCO for Women in Science Award

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Premios L'Oréal-UNESCO a Mujeres en Ciencia para niños

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