FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award

The FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award is a joint initiative of FEBS and EMBO. Launched in 2007, the aim of the award is to highlight the major contributions made by female scientists to life sciences research. Winners of the award will serve as inspiring role models for future generations of women in science.

Each year an individual woman working in the life sciences will be recognized for her exceptional achievements. The winner will be honoured at the annual FEBS Congress, where she will receive a prize of €10,000 and a statuette*, and present a special plenary lecture.

The winner of the 2020 FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award is Elly Tanaka (Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna BioCenter, Austria); see the press release in the news section of the website to read about her selection and career. Previous winners were Sara Linse (2019), Frauke Melchior (2018), Ottoline Leyser (2017), Fiona Watt (2016), Caroline Dean (2015), Pascale Cossart (2014), Geneviève Almouzni (2013), Susan Gasser (2012), Carol Robinson (2011), Ingrid Grummt (2010), Anne Houdusse (2009) and Naama Barkai (2008).

Nomination and selection

The nominee must be a woman who has made significant contributions to her field of science in the past 5 years. The award is generally not meant to be for lifetime achievements. The nominee’s research must be based in one of the FEBS or EMBO member countries and in a scientific field covered by FEBS and EMBO, i.e. the life sciences, including medical and agricultural research.

Nominations for the FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award

Nominations for the 2021 FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award close on 15 October 2020. The nomination steps for the 2020 award are retained below for reference and will be updated later in 2020 for 2021 nominations.

• The following documents are required: (1) the filled FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Nomination Form, (2) letters of support from two other scientists, and (3) the nominee's CV (max. three pages, including list of most relevant publications). 
• The nomination form should give details of the nominee's contribution(s) to the field and describe any outstanding achievements; please include evidence of international recognition, leadership and mentorship qualities, as well as honours and awards.
• Please submit the documents via the EMBO website here.

An award committee of eight members will evaluate the nominees and make the selection. The official announcement will be made via a press release prior to the FEBS Congress.

Award ceremony

The awardee is expected to receive the award in person at the FEBS Congress; exceptions can be made only under special circumstances, such as ill health. The recipient of the award is expected to give a plenary lecture at the FEBS Congress. During the award ceremony she will receive a cheque of €10,000 and a commemorative statuette. The awardee’s travel and accommodation will be covered.

For further information from FEBS concerning the FEBS | EMBO Women In Science Award and/or the nomination process, please contact the FEBS Women in Science Working Group Chair via the Contact Us section of the website.

*The FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award statuette ('Touching the Sun') was designed by Marloes Eerden [pdf link to artist details; video link (in Dutch with English subtitles)].