The purpose of the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Prize with support from the Young Academy of Sweden, is to acknowledge, encourage, and reward female researchers who have shown great potential in natural sciences (including medicine), physics, engineering, or mathematics, and whose work contributes to sustainable development and solving humanity’s major challenges.
The initiative for For Women in Science (FWIS) was launched in 1998 by Fondation L’Oréal, France, and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to support and recognize outstanding women in research.
Video: 2021 awardee Beatriz Villarroel shares what the prize has meant.
The prize recognizes two promising female researchers for the quality of their research and their progress towards independence and aims to encourage continued career paths in science. The prize can be awarded to researchers who have completed their PhD in 2020 or later and who are affiliated with a university or research institute in Sweden.
The prize is 150,000 SEK per person and the awardees will also be invited to a one-year mentorship program organized by the Young Academy of Sweden.
The L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Prize in Sweden has been awarded in cooperation between L’Oréal Sweden, the Swedish National Commission for Unesco, and the Young Academy of Sweden since 2015.
Every year, five senior researchers are awarded the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards, one for each continent/region, at a ceremony at UNESCO in Paris. Among the laureates are several women who have later been awarded the Nobel Prize: Elizabeth Blackburn, in physiology or medicine, and Ada Yonath in chemistry in 2009, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2020, Katalin Karikó in physiology or medicine, and Anne l’Huillier in physics in 2023, the latter being affiliated with Lund University.
There are also awarded fifteen “International Rising Talents” (IRTs) among younger researchers. These are nominated through the national and regional FWIS prizes. In 2022 Beatriz Villarroel was named the first Swedish IRT.
For a younger target group, there is the project For Girls in Science in France, initiated by French L’Oréal, which offers research-interested girls from the age of 15 the opportunity for workshops, internships, and mentorship.
Katalin Karikó is awarded the FWIS Award 2022. Photo: SUA
The researcher submits an application themselves, nominations are not accepted. The application can be written in Swedish or English. The applicant must meet the following criteria:
For complete information on eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria for applications, and more:
Rules and regulations Signature Head of department (template)
Photo: Emma Burendahl
The L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Prize with the support of the Young Academy of Sweden 2023, awards Audrey Campeau, postdoctoral researcher in biogeochemistry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, “for innovative experimental research that contributes to important mapping of melting permafrost and its effect on the release of greenhouse gases“, and Kathlén Kohn, lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and AI at the Royal Institute of Technology, “for innovative use of algebraic methods in computer vision and her ambitious vision for an interdisciplinary research environment”.
Anna-Karin Johansson (Secretary-General of UNESCO Council), Sverker Lundin (CEO of YAS),
Maria Mossenberg (Director of Corporate Affairs & Engagement at L’Oréal),
Mia Liinason (Chair of SUA), Kathlén Kohn (prize recipient), Mats Persson (Minister of Research) and
Audrey Campeau (prize recipient). Photo: Emma Burendahl
In 2021, Mariana Dalarsson, associate professor in electrical engineering at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, was awarded the prize “for her innovative combination of electrical engineering and biophysics, studying how gold nanoparticles can be doped with nutrients to selectively target and neutralize cancer cells”, and Beatriz Villarroel, a postdoctoral researcher in astrophysics at Nordita and Stockholm University, was awarded the prize “for her unique ability to link astronomy, artificial intelligence, and citizen science to identify missing light sources in the night sky”.
Astronomer Beatriz Villarroel receives her award from CEO Anna Wetterbom at a pandemic-adapted ceremony.
In 2019, Aishe A. Sarshad, a biomedical researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, was awarded for: “A concise message: for identifying a new mechanism of gene expression regulation in stem cells. Her groundbreaking research has revealed a new role for non-coding RNA in the cell nucleus. This may contribute to new treatment methods for cancer and other diseases in the future.” Eleni Stavrinidou, Associate Professor of Organic Electronics and leader of the research group for electronic plants at Linköping University, for: “Back to the roots: Eleni Stavrinidou is awarded for her innovative technical basic research in which she develops methods for integrating electronics into living plants. Her research aims to develop stable manufacturing methods where the plants themselves integrate the electronics, enabling exciting future applications on a large scale.”
From left: Amaury Alibaux, L’Oréal, Lena Sommestad, UNESCO Council, Matilda Ernkrans, Minister for Higher Education and Research, FWIS Prize awardee Eleni Stavrinidou, Linköping University, FWIS Prize awardee Aishe Sarshad, Sahlgrenska Academy, Maria Tenje, Chair of the Swedish Young Academy. Photo: Erika Petersdotter
In 2018, Marianne Liebi, research assistant in condensed matter physics at Chalmers, was awarded for “constructive use of advanced imaging methods for biomaterials to understand the connection between molecular and mechanical properties”, and Ruth Pöttgen, associate professor in particle physics at Lund University, was awarded for “experimental exploration of dark matter in the universe”.
Marianne Liebi, awardee, Helene Hellmark Knutsson, Minister for Research, and Ruth Pöttgen, awardee.
Photo: Emma Burendahl
In 2017, Kirsten Leistner, PhD in chemical engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, was awarded “for her successful research on the fundamental understanding of catalysts’ temperature-dependent activity. She has made a discovery that can lead to the development of improved catalysts“, and Julia Uddén, PhD in cognitive neuroscience and Pro Futura researcher at Stockholm University, “for research characterized by intellectual boldness and aimed at understanding how human language communication develops”.
Awardees Julia Uddén, Minister of Research Helene Hellmark Knutsson, and awardee Kirsten Leistner.
Photo: Emma Burendahl
In 2016, Annica Black-Schaffer, associate professor in condensed matter physics at Uppsala University, was awarded “for outstanding research results in superconductivity and its exciting applications regarding quantum computers”, and Kristiina Tammimies, researcher in neuropsychiatry at Karolinska Institute, was awarded “for her successful research in genetics regarding autism spectrum disorders”.
Recipients Annica Black-Schaffer, Minister of Research Helene Hellmark Knutsson, and
recipient Kristiina Tammimies. Photo: Emma Burendahl
The Academy covers travel and hotel expenses for meetings and when members represent the Academy. There’s no additional compensation for the time put in.
We’re pretty flexible with language and switch to English when necessary. However, we strongly encourage members to learn Swedish to fully engage in all types of external activities and make the most of the network.
No, but we expect members to be based at a Swedish research institution during their membership period (5 years).
No. The Academy is open to researchers from all disciplines, but not every discipline may be represented at all times. In selecting new members, we aim for diversity in scientific background, various universities, and gender. The best way to achieve this diversity is by ensuring we receive top-notch applications from a wide range of researchers.
We usually get around 65–80 applications and bring in 6–8 new members annually. This means it’s pretty competitive. If you don’t make it on your first try, we encourage you to apply again. It’s not uncommon for members to apply multiple times before getting in.
As a member, you will have access to a platform where a selection of Sweden’s foremost younger research leaders convene to discuss and address issues broadly pertaining to research and science.
The work of the Young Academy of Sweden is based on support from funders who want to strengthen young researchers and the impact of research. Support for the academy gives a stronger voice and greater opportunities for new academic leaders to emerge.
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