Canada - 2026 Call for Applications

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Canada - 2026 Call for Applications

The L'Oréal Canada For Women in Science Young Talents fellowships, with the support of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, aim to highlight the role of women in searching for scientific solutions to the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. This program provides support for major research projects led by Canadian female researchers at the postdoctoral level. Additional information on the national and international excellence fellowship programs for women in science can be found at: https://www.forwomeninscience.com/.

As part of the 2026 competition, the research fellowships are intended for female researchers whose work focuses on life sciences as well as engineering or pure and applied sciences, including the following fields:

Life Sciences

  • Medical Sciences – human genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, toxicology, respiratory systems, cardiac and cardiovascular systems, oncology, hematology, endocrinology, dentistry and oral surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, critical care and emergency medicine, anesthesiology, surgery, transplantation, radiology and medical imaging, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
  • Health Biotechnology – technologies related to the manipulation of cells, tissues, organs, or organisms (assisted reproduction), technologies related to DNA and protein function, biomaterials, and forensics.
  • Health Sciences – epidemiology, infectious diseases, environmental protection and public health, parasitology, nutrition/dietetics, occupational health, and addiction.
  • Biological Sciences – molecular biology, cell biology, stem cell biology, microbiology, reproductive biology, genetics and heredity, epigenetics, virology, enzymology, cryobiology, and chronobiology.
  • Ecology – agriculture, agronomy, botany, plant sciences, veterinary sciences, forestry, fisheries, marine and freshwater biology, zoology, ornithology, entomology, mycology, evolutionary biology, and paleontology.

Engineering / Pure and Applied Sciences

  • Engineering – agricultural engineering, biological engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, materials science, and software engineering.
  • Mathematics – pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics and probability.
  • Computer and Information Sciences – theoretical computer science, computer systems, computer applications, and bioinformatics.
  • Physics – astrophysics (including astrophysics and space sciences), experimental physics, nanomaterials, particle physics, plasma physics, quantum physics, and nuclear physics.
  • Chemistry – analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry.
  • Earth Sciences – meteorology, climatology, geology, mineralogy, geophysics and geochemistry, oceanography, hydrology, soil science, and waste contamination and management.

Selected candidates must accept the terms and conditions of the research fellowship. They must also submit all information necessary for the payment of the fellowship, such as proof of a doctoral degree, their Social Insurance Number (SIN), and their banking information.

Fellows must also be aware that, for publicity and promotional purposes, L’Oréal Canada will disclose, among other things, their names and photos, information regarding their current and past employment (including workplaces and job titles), their scientific research activities, as well as a video showing them at work.

Fellows will also be invited to participate in an awards ceremony to be held in Ottawa in November 2026. Travel expenses for the fellow and one guest will be paid by L’Oréal Canada.

Fellows must not disclose the results of the competition before the awards ceremony.

Calendar

  • FEBRUARY 16, 2026: Opening of the call for applications
  • APRIL 17, 2026: Closing of the call for applications
  • JUNE 2026: Final selection of candidates
  • February 16, 2026 Start of the call for application/nomination
  • April 17, 2026 Closing of the call for application/nomination
  • June 30, 2026 Candidates' final selection

Program Overview

Partners
  • Canadian Commission for UNESCO
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
  • France-Canada Research Fund
Award(s) of the Prize
  • 2 fellowships per year
  • Leadership and Communication Training
Amount per endowment

Up to two (2) postdoctoral research fellowships will be offered. Each research fellowship is valued at $20,000 CAD and is valid for one academic year (from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027). The fellowships cannot be deferred to subsequent years.

Main eligibility criteria

To be eligible, a candidate must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada as of the application deadline;
  • Plan to complete their doctoral studies before September 1, 2026, or have completed them within the last five (5) years (i.e., candidates must have obtained their doctorate between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2026. This period may be extended to six [6] years if the candidate took a one-year parental or sick leave);
  • Plan to enroll or be currently enrolled in a postdoctoral research program at a recognized Canadian university or research institute;
  • Commit to participating in at least two activities supporting women and girls in science (e.g., mentoring, classroom visits, media presence) during the funding period (from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027);
  • Be available during the week of November 23, 2026, for the For Women in Science awards ceremony to be held in Ottawa, Canada (travel expenses will be paid by L’Oréal Canada);
  • Agree to submit a report providing an overview of their research results at the end of their funding period.

Note:

  • Candidates who have already received a L’Oréal Canada Excellence Fellowship for Women in Science, with the support of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, are not eligible.
  • Candidates who currently hold or have already received the NSERC and L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Supplement are not eligible.
  • A candidate holding a medical degree (MD) may also be eligible. To be eligible for a research fellowship, candidates must be considered postdoctoral fellows by their host institution and pursue research activities on a full-time basis.
Selection criteria
  • Research Skills and Potential:
    • Progressive research experience demonstrating the candidate's commitment to the scientific community as well as their potential to make significant contributions to their field of research or to their country;
    • Experience in international collaboration, particularly regarding research, is an asset.
  • Research Project:
    • Considers solutions to problems facing humanity in the 21st century;
    • Will contribute to knowledge in the candidate's field of research and could showcase the scientific contributions of Canadians on the world stage;
    • Is formulated in clear terms.
  • Research Proposal:
    • Describes the research plan as a whole, including objectives and methodology;
    • Details the importance, novelty, and potential impact of the research in Canada and abroad;
    • Is realistic given time and resource constraints;
    • Clearly demonstrates how the training or practical and theoretical knowledge acquired at the host institution or organization will contribute to the research work and the candidate's career.
  • Community Service:
    • Volunteer work or extracurricular activities demonstrating a commitment to the promotion of women and girls in science.
  • Quality and relevance of recommendation letters.
Initial launch date
2003
Total number of endowments awarded since launch
105

Information document(s)

The supporting documents described below must be attached to the online application form.

1) Letters of Recommendation Two (2) letters of recommendation must support the application. The first letter must come from a professor who knows the candidate and her work. The second letter must come from the candidate’s research supervisor at the university or research institute where she will conduct her postdoctoral research. These two letters must not be written by the same person. All letters must be typed electronically and include the date, an original or valid electronic signature, and the contact information of the respondent. The respondent must describe their relationship with the candidate in the letter. Recommendation letters must have been written less than one (1) year before the application deadline.

2) Letter of Support Each candidate must provide a letter of support from the institution or organization where she intends to conduct her research. This letter must indicate the start date and duration of the project, and specify that the host institution or organization agrees to provide the candidate with the necessary facilities in her field of research. Support letters must be dated less than one (1) year before the application deadline.