New funding award for women researchers

A new programme aimed at encouraging women to seek employment in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, has been announced.

The Advance Award programme, which is supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), will offer successful applicants funding with a maximum value of up to €175,000 in direct costs for a period of up to two years.

To be eligible for the Advance Award programme a woman must hold a PhD, MD or equivalent qualification and should not hold or have held a significant, independent research award of greater than one-year duration.

Minister of State for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock welcomed the announcement of the new award.

“With only 26 per cent of researchers in the Irish Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) private sector being women, we applaud this initiative and are hopeful that with funding such as this being made available we can look forward to a greater increase of women working in what is one of Ireland’s most rapidly growing sectors,” he said.

The deadline for submissions of proposals for the award is May 28th, 2014.