Since 2024, the Academies of Sciences of the Baltic States and the National Commissions for UNESCO, in cooperation with the Ministries of Education and Science, award "Baltic Women in Science" fellowships. The aim of the fellowships is to enhance the visibility of female scientists, promote gender equality in the scientific world, and inspire the next generations of researchers. The contest will be held independently in each country, the laureates will be announced at a joint ceremony.
The fellowship is awarded in recognition of previous work and to support the execution of a one-year research project as described in the application. The fellowship must be used for conducting scientific research in Estonia. The use of funds is not monitored; however, a brief report on the research and the results is required after one year.
FELLOWSHIPS 2025
On 2025 three fellowships of €7,000 each will be awarded in Estonia to female scientists as follows:
- For 1 PhD student in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agriculture and veterinary sciences (areas 1–4 of classification according to Frascati Manual)
- For 1 PhD in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agriculture and veterinary sciences (areas 1–4 of Frascati Manual). Degree obtained no more than 7 years ago
- For 1 PhD in social sciences and humanities (areas 5–6 of Frascati Manual). Degree obtained no more than 7 years ago.
The fellowship is awarded in recognition of the research so far and to support the implementation of a one-year research project proposed in the application. The amount of the Fellowship must be used for the pursuit of scientific research in the relevant Baltic country. The use of fellowship is not monitored, but a brief report on the research conducted and its results must be submitted at the end of the year.
TIMELINE OF THE 2025 CALL
- June 16 – deadline, proposal can be submitted at ta-konkursid.ee
- Mid-September – the results will be revealed
- October or November – joint Balti Award Ceremony in Riga
EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSALS
The evaluation will primarily focus on the previous research work and accomplishments of the applicant and the content of the planned research project: the importance of solving the raised problem in the given scientific field, the scientific level of the project, objectives, chosen methodology and content, originality of the scientific approach and clarity of the research questions and problem description, the achievability of the objectives within the given timeframe. All other submitted documents and information will also be considered.
In Estonia, candidates will be evaluated by a committee formed by the Estonian Academy of Sciences lead by Secretary General of Academy Anne Kahru. The committee is under development.
Contact: Terje Tuisk, terje.tuisk@akadeemia.ee, +372 511 0356
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Until 2023, fellowships were awarded within the "Women in Science" initiative by L’Oréal Baltic. The program operated in Latvia from 2005 to 2023, in Estonia and Lithuania from 2017 to 2023. The program supported the professional development of female scientists in the Baltics in cooperation with the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO and the Estonian Academy of Sciences, helping them achieve new goals and benefiting both science and society at large. Science addresses societal challenges, and science needs both men and women equally.
The global "For Women in Science" initiative was established in 1998. Since then, UNESCO and L’Oréal have jointly contributed to the development of science through this program. The program recognizes young female scientists and supports them in achieving their goals and widely disseminating their scientific achievements.
Programme website: www.forwomeninscience.com
Website of the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO: www.unesco.ee/
„BALTIC WOMEN IN SCIENCE“ SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS IN ESTONIA
| 2024 7000 euros | • Dr Mari Tõrv, Associate Professor of Archaeology at Institute of History at University of Tartu and Research Fellow in Analytical and Physical Chemistry at Institute of Chemistry • Kadri-Ann Pankratov, Junior Research Fellow in Technology at Institute of Technology at University of Tartu • Dr Marju Himma, Associate Professor of Journalism Studies at Institute of Social Studies at University of Tartu See the news about the winners here. The awards ceremony can be viewed on-demand here. The joint awards ceremony took place in Vilnius. |
WINNERS OF THE L'ORÉAL BALTIC „WOMEN IN SCIENCE“ INITIATIVE
| 2023 7000 euros | • Dr. Triin Laisk, Associate Professor of Reproductive Genetics and Genomics at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu • Kertu Liis Krigul, Junior Researcher in Microbiomics at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu |
| 2022 6000 euros | • Dr. Ester Oras, Researcher at the University of Tartu • Karolina Kudelina, PhD Candidate at Tallinn University of Technology |
| 2021 6000 euros | • Dr. Kaija Põhako-Esko, Researcher • Mari-Ann Lind, PhD Candidate at the University of Tartu |
| 2020 6000 euros | • Prof. Maarja Grossberg, Researcher at Tallinn University of Technology • Lisandra Marina Da Rocha Meneses, Junior Researcher at the Estonian University of Life Sciences |
| 2019 6000 euros | • Dr. Tuul Sepp, Researcher in Animal Ecology at the University of Tartu • Kaarin Parts, PhD Candidate in Botany and Ecology at the University of Tartu |
| 2018 6000 euros | • Dr. Karin Kogermann, Associate Professor and Lead Researcher at the Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu |
| 2017 6000 euros | • Dr. Els Heinsalu, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Physics |