Femmes et sciences - Jeunes chercheuses" prize

Femmes et sciences - Jeunes chercheuses" prize: a call for projects launched by the Aix-Marseille Métropole

The Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis has launched a new call for projects with the creation of the "Femmes et sciences - Jeunes chercheuses" prize, designed to highlight the scientific excellence of female researchers at the start of their careers and support their professional advancement.

Prize objectives

The award is part of a strong commitment to gender equality and aims to :

• promote the role of young female researchers in research,

• encourage their academic careers,

• enhance the scientific attractiveness of the metropolitan area.

Three research themes

Three prizes will be awarded, each in one of the following areas:

1. Life sciences/health, with a particular focus on projects in oncology and immunology,

2. Engineering sciences,

3. Environment.

Conditions of eligibility

The prize is open exclusively to female post-doctoral researchers without a permanent position, who have defended their thesis after January 2020 (an extra year is granted for each child). Candidates must be based in a research laboratory in mainland France, and be working on one of the selected themes.

Application and selection criteria

Applications must include :

• a scientific CV,

• a covering letter,

• a presentation of the research project,

• a letter of support from the laboratory director,

• a list of publications and symposia attended.

Entries will be evaluated on four criteria:

• scientific excellence and originality,

• project relevance and quality,

• potential impact and value,

• commitment to local research.

Jury and prizes

The jury will be chaired by Emmanuelle Charafe, vice-president in charge of Health, Higher Education and Research for the Metropole. It will bring together representatives from the academic world (AMU, CNRS...), metropolitan services and the two metropolitan winners of the L'Oréal Jeunes Talents 2024 Prize.

Parity and neutrality will be strictly respected.

Three prizewinners will each receive an endowment of €5,000, to be paid to the establishment to which they belong, following signature of an agreement.

Timetable

• July 1, 2025: publication of call for projects

• October 17, 2025: closing date for applications

• November 2025: Jury meeting and awards ceremony

• November 2025 - January 2026: agreement with establishments

The prize is a great opportunity for young female researchers from Aix-Marseille-Provence to showcase their work, raise their profile and benefit from concrete financial support in their academic careers.

Background: find out more

Eligibility requirements: find out more

Selection criteria and procedures: find out more