Women Who Will Shape the Future of Science: L'Oreal USA Announces Call for Applications for 2009 Fellowships For Women in Science Program

    NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oreal USA announced today the
 start of the application period for its respected L'Oreal USA Fellowships
 For Women in Science program. This national award program, now in its sixth
 year, aims to annually recognize, reward and support five women
 postdoctoral researchers. The awardees are U.S.-based researchers beginning
 careers in the life and physical/material sciences, mathematics,
 engineering and computer science.
 
     As part of L'Oreal USA's commitment to help women scientists achieve
 their goals, the grant awarded to L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women In
 Science recipients will increase in 2009 from $40,000 to a maximum of
 $60,000. The amount of the grant will be based on each candidate's research
 experience as well as the quality of their proposal. The grant increase is
 a result of L'Oreal USA's dedication to supporting women within the
 scientific fields.
 
     The L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science program launched in
 2003 and has since awarded 25 fellowships to women scientists across the
 U.S. The application and review process is administrated by the American
 Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The program has
 attracted a number of ambitious researchers from diverse scientific fields,
 representing some of the nation's leading academic institutions and
 laboratories. A jury of nine distinguished scientists -- presided over by
 Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences -- reviews
 the applications, and selects the L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in
 Science recipients.
 
     The five L'Oreal USA 2009 Fellows will be invited to attend a week of
 events in New York City that include an awards ceremony, professional
 development workshops, media training and networking opportunities.
 Organized and facilitated in partnership with AAAS, these workshops
 encompass job search techniques, interviewing skills, budget development
 for grant requests and strategies for peer-reviewed publication.
 
     The L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science is a component of the
 international L'OREAL-UNESCO For Women in Science program -- which annually
 awards $100,000 each to five leading women career scientists -- one each
 from Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Africa and the
 Arab States.
 
     The program also features the UNESCO-L'OREAL International Fellowships,
 which annually grant, over a two-year period, $40,000 each to 15 promising
 young women scientists, at doctoral or postdoctoral levels, from around the
 globe.
 
     The L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science program, and its aim
 to advance the careers of women postdoctoral researchers in the U.S., is
 especially relevant in light of America's weakening competitiveness in the
 global marketplace. There is an urgent need to increase the funding for
 basic science research in the U.S., and also the number of students,
 particularly girls and young women, majoring in science, mathematics and
 engineering.
 
     Earlier this year, L'Oreal USA commissioned a national survey conducted
 by Harris Interactive of adults and teens, to uncover attitudes and
 perceptions of women in science in America. Survey results found that 80%
 of adults believe that more women and minorities are needed in science,
 technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields to best
 achieve scientific and technological progress.
 
     L'Oreal also understands the need to attract more women to science and
 to raise awareness of their contributions to the field. Last year, L'Oreal
 USA launched its For Girls in Science initiative, as an extension of the
 L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science program. The For Girls in
 Science program strives to engage, inspire and advance young girls'
 interest in STEM. Young girls are encouraged to participate in hands-on
 after school science programs.
 
     The L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science program is open to
 women postdoctoral researchers only. Candidates interested in applying may
 visit the L'Oreal USA Fellowships For Women in Science web site at
 http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience, to obtain more information
 about program eligibility and requirements. All applications must be
 postmarked by October 31, 2008. http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience
 
     ABOUT L'OREAL
 
     A worldwide leader in the cosmetics industry, L'Oreal develops
 innovative products to meet the diverse needs of customers in 130 countries
 worldwide. Nearly 3,000 people work in the Group's 16 research centers,
 located in France, Asia and America. Their findings are responsible for the
 registration of hundreds of patents annually. Women represent 55% of the
 research workforce -- a percentage unmatched anywhere else in the industry.
 www.loreal.com
 
     ABOUT AAAS
 
     The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an
 international, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science
 around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and
 professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities,
 AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters,
 books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of
 understanding for science worldwide. www.aaas.org
 
     ABOUT THE SURVEY
 
     The STEM survey was conducted by telephone within the United States by
 Harris Interactive on behalf of L'Oreal USA between March 31 and April 21,
 2008 among 1,003 adults ages 18+, of whom 382 were male and 621 were
 female. For complete methodology, including weighting variables, please
 contact Dana Ropper, L'Oreal USA at (212) 984-4742.
 
 
 

SOURCE L'Oreal USA