8.14.2006 - 10:31am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY, August 14, 2006 - L'Oréal USA announced today the start of the application period for its esteemed L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program. Now in its fourth year, this national program aims to annually recognize, reward and support five women post-doctoral researchers in the U.S. who are pursuing careers in the life and physical/material sciences, as well as mathematics, engineering and computer science. As part of its commitment to further help exceptional women scientists reach their goals, L'Oréal USA has doubled the value of its fellowship grants from a current $20,000 to $40,000 for the 2007 program.

Since its inception in 2003, the L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program has awarded 15 fellowships to women scientists across the U.S. Each year, the program has attracted a number of talented applicants from diverse scientific fields, representing some of the nation's leading academic institutions and laboratories. A distinguished jury of nine eminent scientists - presided over by Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences - reviews the applications, and selects the L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science recipients each year.

The five beneficiaries of the 2007 L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science will be invited to attend a week of events that include an awards ceremony, professional development workshops, media training and networking opportunities. In 2007 these workshops, developed and facilitated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will encompass job search techniques, interviewing skills and strategies for peer review publication.

The L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program is open to women post-doctoral researchers only. Candidates interested in applying may visit the L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science site at http://www.lorealusa.com/forwomeninscience, to obtain more information about program eligibility and requirements. All applications must be post marked by October 31, 2006.

The L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science compliment the international L'ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science program -- which annually awards $100,000 each to five leading women career scientists, one from Europe, Asia, North America, South American and Africa - and the UNESCO-L'ORÉAL International Fellowships, which annually grant $20,000 each to 15 promising young women scientists, doctorate or post-doctorate, from around the globe. Depending on the research project of the applicant, in 2007 this grant may also be increased to a maximum of $40,000 over a two year period.

The L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program, and its aim to boost the careers of women post-doctoral researchers in the U.S., is especially relevant in light of a recent publication by the InterAcademy Council (IAC) entitled "Women for Science", which urges science and engineering academies to formally commit to the full inclusion of women in their organizations and research institutes. The IAC is a multi-national association of science organizations created to mobilize the world's best minds to provide knowledge and advice to national and international governments and entities. The advisory report was funded in part by a $50,000 grant from L'Oréal and co-chaired by Johanna Levelt-Sengers, member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), scientist emeritus at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2003 L'ORÉAL-UNESCO North American laureate, and a member of the 2006 L'Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science jury.

For more information, please visit: www.forwomeninscience.com

ABOUT L'ORÉAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
L'Oréal is the beauty industry's leader in scientific and consumer research. L'Oréal invests more than 3% of sales in Research and Development each year, and in 2005 committed $625 million to cosmetic and dermatological research. Over 3,100 employees work in the group's 14 research centers and 13 evaluation centers, which span three continents. Last year, L'Oréal's scientists developed over 4,000 formulas and filed over 500 patents.

ABOUT L'ORÉAL USA
L'Oréal USA, headquartered in New York City, with 2005 sales of over $4 billion and 7,900 employees, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of L'Oréal SA, one of the world's leading beauty companies. L'Oréal USA has Research and Development, Manufacturing and Distribution facilities across eight states in the U.S., including New York, New Jersey, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado and Texas. L'Oréal's impressive portfolio of brands includes Lancôme, Giorgio Armani, Shu Uemura, L'Oréal Paris, Garnier, Vichy, Biotherm, La Roche-Posay, L'Oréal Professionnel and Kérastase. The U.S. is the base for the product development, international marketing and advertising for L'Oréal's eight American brands: Maybelline New York, Soft-Sheen.Carson, Kiehl's Since 1851, Ralph Lauren, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Matrix, Mizani and SkinCeuticals.

For more information please contact: