NSERC L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Supplement

What you will need

• ✓ Invitation via email from NSERC
• ✓ One- to two-page summary covering your career goals
• ✓ Academic research summary in lay terms (maximum 200 words)
• ✓ Description of extracurricular activities demonstrating science promotion, mentorship, and leadership
• ✓ Letter of support from your current supervisor testifying to your suitability and leadership skills
• ✓ Signed copy of the terms and conditions of applying form

About this award

You receive a $10,000 supplement for one year. This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. The total is split evenly, with $5,000 coming from NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada — the federal agency that funds science and engineering research) and $5,000 from L’Oréal Canada. This is for you if you are a woman scientist in natural sciences and engineering who has been awarded a CPRA and is passionate about mentoring others and promoting science to the public. The application deadline is in April, but the exact date is only announced to those who are invited to apply. You will be notified of the result in June. A committee with representatives from NSERC, L’Oréal Canada, and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (the agency that promotes international cooperation in education, sciences and culture) chooses the winner. They prioritize candidates who show a strong aptitude for sharing their passion for science through leadership and mentorship. Only one supplement is offered annually. Payment is issued as two separate $5,000 payments from NSERC and L’Oréal Canada. You can only receive the money once you have activated your CPRA (the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award — a federal grant for postdoctoral fellows). The supplement is added to your CPRA for one year only.

Who qualifies

To qualify for this supplement, you must meet all of these requirements: you must be a woman, you must be involved in a research project in natural sciences and engineering, and you must have been awarded and accepted a CPRA (Canada Postdoctoral Research Award). You must also take up your CPRA in Canada. Finally, you must be invited to apply: NSERC invites the top-scoring woman candidate from each Scholarships and postdoctoral awards review committee who is awarded and accepts a CPRA.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Studying natural sciences and engineering

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• SummaryAvoid writing your research summary in overly technical language. Instead, describe your academic research in lay terms using 200 words or fewer so a non-expert can understand your impact. Focus on the real-world relevance of your work.
• SupportAvoid a generic letter of recommendation. Instead, ask your current supervisor to provide specific testimony about your leadership skills and your actual involvement in science promotion and mentorship. Ensure they highlight your passion for science.
• StrategyAvoid focusing only on your academic achievements. Instead, emphasize your extracurricular activities and your willingness to share science with others. Mention any specific groups you have mentored or public events you have led.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will be invited. Instead, remember that you must first be the top-scoring woman candidate on your CPRA review committee to be considered for this supplement. Treat the CPRA application as your primary gateway.

Questions students ask

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