L’Oréal Foundation has awarded 14 fellowships to 14 young women scientists conducting research in sub-Saharan Africa. The fellowships are part of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science regional programme.
The 14 fellows, 12 doctoral and 2 post-doctoral, are from Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. The fellows will benefit from a three-day training course provided by international experts selected by the L’Oréal Foundation addresses different disciplines such as leadership development, management, negotiation, communication and public speaking, as well as modules such media training and personal digital branding. They will also receive a research grant.
“The world needs science, and science needs women: nowhere is this more clearly illustrated than in African countries, which face significant challenges including climate change, access to energy or food security. Science and technology are key to addressing these challenges, and this will not be possible without women. Their talents and perspectives enrich relevant research,” says Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice President of the L’Oréal Foundation.
The program will in 2019 be split with South Africa getting its own program and the rest of Africa getting their own. The fellowships will also increase to 20.
The fellows are as follows:
Olanike Akinduyite – Federal University of Technology,Nigeria
Specialty: Computer science
Title of project: Fingerprint-based key-binding biometric cryptosystem
Rima Beesoo– University of Mauritius,Mauritius
Specialty: Biology – Biochemistry
Title of project: Investigation of the biochemical characterisation, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic potentials of some selected marine invertebrate species
TakalaniCele – UNISA,South Africa
Specialty: Environmental science -Condensed matter physics
Title of project: Platinum group metals (PGM) nano-particles & hybrid nano-composites by gamma radiolysis/EISA
Dr. MarilizeEverts – University of Pretoria,South Africa
Specialty: Mechanical engineering – Fluid mechanics
Title of project: Heat transfer and pressure drop of high viscosity fluids in solar receiver tubes
Charlene Goosen – StellenboschUniversity,South Africa
Specialty: Health sciences – Epidemiology
Title of project: Effect of oral iron supplementation on the gut microbiome in HIV-infected children
LeratoHlaka – University of Cape Town,South Africa
Specialty: Health sciences – Infectious diseases
Title of project: Characterization of minor groove binders (MGBs) as novel lead compounds and the use of non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NIVs) to improve their efficacy for treatment of tuberculosis
HarshnaJivan– University of Witwatersrand,South Africa
Specialty: Physics – Nuclear physics
Title of project: Study on the influence of nuclear deformation on the pygmy dipole resonance in samarium isotopes
Dr. Priscilla KolibeaMante – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana
Specialty: Environmental science – Neuroscience
Title of project: Anticonvulsant activity of cryptolepine and its solid-lipid nanoparticles in the management of neurocysticercosis-induced epilepsy
Gladys Mosomtai – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE),Kenya
Specialty: Environmental science – Geoscience
Title of project: Influence of landscape dynamics, microclimate variability and agronomic practices in the coffee pathosystem of smallholder farms in Murang’a County, Kenya
Fiona Mumoki – University of Pretoria,Kenya
Specialty: Biology – Entomology
Title of project: Role of brood pheromones in inhibiting dominance in Apismelliferacapensis reproductive parasites
ShalenaNaidoo– Stellenbosch University,South Africa
Specialty: Health sciences – Immunology – Virology
Title of project: Longitudinal perspective on the impact of immune Status on the HIV-1 latent reservoir and neurocognitive outcomes in virologically suppressed children
OlaperiOkuboyejo- University of Witwatersrand,Nigeria
Specialty: Computer science – Artificial intelligence
Title of project: Enhanced automatic feedback generation for the learning of regular expressionsb
Andrea Wilson – University of Pretoria, South Africa
Specialty: Biology – Genomics
Title of project: Sexual reproduction in Huntiella species
Madelien Wooding – University of Pretoria, South Africa
Specialty: Chemistry -Health sciences
Title of project: Chemical communication between the malaria carrying mosquito, anopheles arabiensis, and its human host
THE L’OREAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE PROGRAMM